PURCHASE, N.Y.- Eastern University Women's Basketball jumped to an early lead and never looked back on the way to a 75-52 win at Manhattanville College in the Freedom Conference Opener for both sides. Senior guard Shante Jones led three Eagles in double-figures with 24 points.
Bekah Roland's 15 footer immediately following the opening tip, proved to be a sign of things tot come as the Eagles shot nearly 50% in the opening half of play. Kaleigh Boreman hit a three and Meghan Nowak connected on a couple early hoops to put the Eagles up 9-1 less than three minutes into the contest. Manhattanville closed the gap to five with a three pointer, but Roland answered with her only three-pointer of the game.
The host Valiants kept the game within striking distance until the Eastern defense sparked a 13-0 run to close out the first half. Jones had three points, three assists, and three assists in the decisive run.
Roland led all players with 13 points on 6-9 shooting at the intermission. Taylor Wilson had eight points at the half for the Valiants.
Jones had six points, five assists, and five steals in a play-making role early.
"I think she is gradually learning to play with these players," Head Coach Nate Davis said of Jones, who missed preseason with medical issues, "She is feeling out where her spot is and how she is going to help us win. She's only had five practices with these nine new players, so it is going to take time for her to get adjusted."
The Valiants used pressure defense out of the break to close the gap to 15, but Jones moved to the point and broke the pressure with a long pass to Katie Lincoln for an easy ten-footer. The Valiants scored again, but Jones beat pressure and found Nowak for a lay-in. Nowak, playing in her first Freedom Conference game, scored 10 of her 18 points after the intermission.
"She did a good job," Davis said of his freshman post-player, "She kept her composure against the physical play. That's the type of player, honestly, when we recruited her that we thought she had the ability to be. She needs to keep improving and getting stronger, but skill-wise, she is a pretty good player."
Jones seemed to score a basket or hit a key free throw every time the Valiants threatened to close the gap down the stretch. She finished the contest with seven steals, six assists, and five rebounds, and she took only 11 shots. Roland and Nowak each had 18. Led by Jones' seven steals and Lincoln's five thefts, the Eastern defense forced 24 turnovers.
"Manhattanville is a good team," Davis said,"and they didn't quit. We will have to be ready for them when they come back to our place."
Prior to this evening, the Eagles (4-1, 1-0 Freedom) had never won in Purchase. Last year, Eastern Women's Basketball did not gather a conference road win until February.
Eastern will host Delaware Valley College in a Toys for Tots event at 1:00 pm on Saturday. Anyone bringing a new unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots will be admitted to the game free of charge.
