MADISON, N.J.- Eastern University Women's Basketball fell behind early and was never able able to close the gap in a 67-52 loss to the top-seeded College at Florham Devils in the Freedom Conference Semifinals. Sophomore forward Meghan Nowak made 8-of-10 shots from the field but was limited by foul trouble throughout the night.

The Eagles (10-16) trailed 11-5 when Nowak picked up her second foul five minutes into the game. Eastern cut the deficit to 11-9 on a pair of free throws from Kaitlyn Dougherty and a Kelsie Patton layup. The Devils responded with six straight points to stretch the lead back to eight with 11 minutes to play. 

Kaleigh Boreman connected on a pair of three pointers to trim the deficit to four with eight and a half minutes to play in the first half, but the Eagles would not get any closer. FDU held a 33-24 lead at the break. Boreman scored eight first-half points to lead the Eagles. Nowak had only a single point at the intermission.

Gina DiDomenico made one of her two 3-point attempts in the first half to tie the Eastern record for 3-pointers in a season. Her 54 made 3-pointers puts her in a tie with Tiffany Henry who set the mark in the '03-'04 season.

Delisha Thompson scored 10 points in the opening frame to lead the host Devils.

With Nowak back on the floor, the Eastern offense picked up the pace to start the second half, but the Devisl took advantage of an Eastern defense that was compromised by a foul-plagued anchor. Nowak, usually a solid presence in the back of the Eastern defense, had to almost run away from contact after picking up her third foul in the opening minutes of the second half. 

The Devils shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half and scored nine second-chance points on five offensive rebounds. The Eagles, led by Nowak's 8-of-8 performance, made 50 percent from the floor after the intermission. 

Kyra Dayon led FDU with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Thompson had 14 points, and Reachel Groom added 15. Kaitlyn Dougherty scored 10 points for the Eagles.

FDU (23-3) will host second-seeded King's (20-5) in the Freedom Conference Championship this Saturday. King's beat DeSales 80-70 in the other semifinal. 

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