YORK, Pa.– Amanda Riiff poured in a career-high 23 points and Eastern University Women's Basketball improved to 2-0 on the season with a 74-69 win over the Arcadia University Knights in the first round of the Coaches vs Cancer Classic in York, Pa. Eastern will play the host York College Spartans for the tournament championship tomorrow at 3 pm.

In the opening 20 minutes, the Eagles shot a meager 36.7 percent and turned the ball over 12 times. They trailed 33-27 at half.

Eastern started the second half on a 17-2 run. Four different Eagles scored the first four baskets in that stretch. Riiff opened the half with a 3-pointer, and then Regie Robinson answered an Arcadia basket to cut the Arcadia lead to three. Kayla Holmes scored on a pass from Riiff and then Emily Lavin battled for an offensive rebound and stuck home a layup to give Eastern the lead for good with seven and a half minutes left in the third period.

"We had to make an adjustment at halftime to try to spread the floor," Eric Houston said after the match. "We worked to try to get Riiff in her spots, and when she is hitting, they cannot sag down on Lav and Regie. Riiff was money today. She has been shooting like that all the time leading up to the season, so we are not surprised."

With the floor spaced, the Eagles built their lead to 11 on a Brianna Young-Harris lay-up with two and a half minutes to go in the third. Arcadia scored the only four points in the last two minutes of the third period to cut the Eastern lead to 48-41 heading into the final frame.

The other adjustment came at the defensive end. Houston and his staff encouraged his players to extend pressure a little more and trust the defenders behind them. With Lavin patrolling the area around the rim, Holmes, Riiff, and Taylor Price and Robinson were able to extend pressure and force Arcadia into turnovers and contested shots. Lavin finished the game with five blocks.

The Eastern team continued to share the ball and defend well at the start of the fourth period. The lead grew to 13 on a transition basket from Robinson with 4:27 on the clock. Arcadia refused to go softly. Morgan Phillips hit a pair of 3-pointers to cut into the Eastern lead with an 8-2 run.

The Eastern lead was nine with 97 seconds to play, but Arcadia hit a 3-pointer, forced a turnover and converted a three-point play to cut the Eastern lead to three points. Houston and his team needed to make sure the ball made it into the hands someone who would take care of the ball and make free throws. Riiff wanted the ball and drained both free throws to stop the Arcadia run. Robinson made two Free throws to answer one final push from the Knights.

"We need to be in these experiences," Houston said. "We made some mistakes down the stretch, but I think being in games were you have to check your courage and make plays can only make us better."

Robinson, who was saddled with foul trouble for most of the game, scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half. Lavin had eight of her 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and two assists after halftime. She finsihed with five blocks and 12 rebounds.

Maureen Fiocca scored 20 points to lead Arcadia. The Knights will play Pitt-Greensburg in the consolation game at 1 pm.