The Eastern University women's basketball team played one of their best halves of the year in the opening 20 minutes at Misericordia University (10-10, 6-6). The host Cougars, however, put together 12-0 run at the start of the second half and hit  21 straight free throw attempts after the break to earn a 68-56 win. Bekah Roland paced the Eagles with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Eagles gave up the first basket of the game to fall behind 3-0, but proceeded to reel off twelve straight points to seize the early control of the game. Hannah Tobin scored  four points in the run, and Roland added six. The Eagles kept the lead throughout the first half. Every time the hosts would piece together a run of two straight baskets, a different Eastern player seemed to step up with a big basket. Roland finished the first half with ten points, Tobin had eight, and Lizzie Wilson had seven including a deep three pointer late in the shot clock.

The Eastern success in the first half was the result of solid post defense and wise decision-making with the ball. Wilson led the way with five assists and just one turnover as the Eagles made it to the break with an 11-5 assist to turnover ratio. Misericordia enjoyed a slight advantage at the foul line in the first half. They made eight of ten while the Eagles hit five of six.

The second half saw the Cougars turn these numbers very quickly. Eastern allowed just nine second half field goals, but the Cougars made it to the line and connected with regularity. The Cougars finished with just 30% shooting for the game, but their 88% from the line was enough as they outscored the Eagles 29-8 from the charity stripe. The Eagles also struggled to find quality looks as the Cougars held them to 28% shooting for the second half.

Eastern (6- 13,  2-11) will return to action Wednesday night in a 6:00 p.m. home game against Delaware Valley College.