WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Eastern Women's Basketball opened MAC Freedom play with a 49-28 win at Wilkes University. Reggie Robinson scored 15 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double.  

Eastern (5-1, 1-0 MAC Freedom) led 8-0 four minutes into the game, but the Colonels worked their way back into the game with a tight zone defense and patient offense. Taylor Azer hit a jumper at the mid-point of the first period to put the Eagles up 10-3, and then the Eastern shooters went cold. Wilkes (1-5, 0-1 MAC Freedom) closed the first period on a 6-1 run to be within a basket at the start of the second.

The Eagles outscored Wilkes 17-6 in the period to take control of the game. With Emily Lavin patrolling the paint, the Colonels settled for perimeter shots. They shot 3-for-15 in the period.

The Eastern offense showed some signs of life in the period. Robinson and Taylor Price sparked a 12-2 run to open the quarter. Price, who struggled with foul trouble for most of the night, scored five of her ten points in the opening minutes of the second period. With the Eastern defense playing well, the 28-15 halftime lead seemed bigger than 13 points.

Eastern shot 36 percent from the floor in the opening half. Wilkes made 23 percent from the floor and did not shoot a free throw.

Lavin, who entered the game leading the MAC Freedom in scoring, had just three points in the first 20 minutes. She had put up some career numbers against Wilkes in the past, but the Colonels collapsed their defense around her immediately. After getting limited touches in the first half, she found some opportunities early in the third period and converted on a pair of inside baskets to help her team maintain the double-figure lead. Lavin finished the night with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.

While the Eagles struggled on offense, shooting only 27 percent, the Eastern defense held the Colonels to 3-for-23 shooting in the second half. The Eagles did not allow a point in the fourth period.

"It was not pretty." Head Coach Eric Houston said of the game. "Sometimes you just have to get the 'W' and get out of there. We struggled with foul trouble and some execution, but we found a way to win the game at the defensive end. That's a good thing."

Catey McFadden scored eight points to lead Wilkes.

Eastern hosts Delaware Valley University this Saturday at one.