ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Eastern Women's Basketball rolled past Wilkes University on Wednesday night 76-47. The Eagles used a 27 point second quarter, allowed only 16 points in the paint and just two second chance points by the Colonels all game to help secure the crucial MAC Freedom victory.

 

"I am just happy to get a win right now," said Head Coach Eric Houston. "Sometimes taking losses teach you how to deal with adversity and the losses we have taken have certainly taught us a lot."  

 

Eastern (10-10, 4-5 MAC Freedom) raced out to an early 11-3 lead in the opening quarter. Ashley Kurdziolek scored eight the Eagles first 11 points and bookended the scoring run hitting 3-pointers. Wilkes (3-17, 0-9 MAC Freedom) managed to come all the way back to cut the deficit to just 12-9 by the end of the quarter.

 

After an initial basket by the Colonels to cut the Eastern lead to just one at 12-11, Emily Lavin hit a layup at the other end of the floor to help spark a 14-2 run by the Eagles to extend their lead all the way to 24-13. Amanda Riiff hit two 3-pointers during the run part of her nine-point first half. 

 

Wilkes did manage to pull within eight, 30-22, with just under two and a half minutes left to play before the half but two straight baskets from Lavin stretched Eastern's lead right back to double digits at 34-22. Regie Robinson hit a layup with 12 seconds left to play in the half to give Eastern a 15 point lead and a 39-24 lead heading into the locker room. 

 

"It's about coming out and putting the extra work in," continued Houston. "If you want to be a good basketball player and shooter you have to come in and put the extra work in." 

 

Overall for the first half, the Eagles went 16-of-32 from the field while Kurdziolek and Riiff combined to go 5-of-7 from 3-point range shooting (.714). Defensively Eastern held the Colonels to 10-of-31 from the field shooting (.323) while also forcing ten turnovers. 
 

While Wilkes did manage to outscore the Eagles in the third quarter 16-15. The Colonels could not do enough, however, to pull back within striking distance or ever getting closer than 12 points, 52-40, with less than a minute and a half to play in the quarter. Eastern led by as many as 20 early on in the quarter and held a 14 point, 54-40, advantage after three.

 

A 22 point fourth quarter ended all chances of a comeback with Eastern leading by as many as 31 in the final minute of play. A layup by Wilkes with 26 seconds left to play made the score final at 76-47.

 

Robinson led all Eagle scorers tallying a double-double scoring 18 points and recording 14 rebounds. Riiff finished the game with 17 points going 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Tori Grossi netted 12 points of her own while Lavin and Kurdziolek scored ten points each respectively. 

 

"Kurdziolek comes in and consistently looks to get better and is one of those kids who always gives 110% and as a coach that's all you can ask of your players," said Houston. "She comes in a hits two big three pointers for us tonight and is now starting to reap the benefits of all her hard work."  

 

No Wilkes player tallied double figures on the evening. Catey McFadden led all Colonel scorers with nine points. 

 

"I think this our moment to get hot," concluded Houston. "We have the tools and people to go out there and compete; we just have to go out there and execute. I think we are capable of making a run and right now is our time to get hot. We have to keep it rolling against FDU on Saturday." 

 

Eastern travels to FDU-Florham on February 6th for a 1 pm tipoff.