MADISON, N.J. - Eastern Women's Basketball fell to host FDU-Florham on Saturday afternoon 78-64. The Eagles were held to just 22 first-half points and were outscored in the first three-quarters of the game by a total of 58-37.

 

"We played a very good team today in FDU," said Head Coach Eric Houston. "With that said, however, they wanted it more than we did and that is simply unacceptable."  

 

The Devils (16-5, 8-2 MAC Freedom) jumped out to an early 11-4 lead in the first quarter starting the game on a 7-2 run. Eastern (10-11, 4-6 MAC Freedom) was unable to generate any offense early failing to score on back-to-back possessions throughout the whole quarter. FDU-Florham controlled the opening quarter, taking a 15-8 lead into the second. 

 

After the Devils had stretched their lead to 17-8 early in the second quarter, Eastern went on an 8-5 run to cut the deficit to 20-16 with just over five and a half minutes left to play capped off by a Tori Grossi 3-pointer. That was as close as the Eagles would get in the quarter as FDU-Florham closed the quarter with a 5-0 run stretching its lead to 32-22 as the first half came to a close. 

 

In the first half, the Eagles went 8-of-27 from the field shooting (.296) while going 1-of-5 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Devils went 13-of-28 from the field shooting (.464). 

 

Emily McPeak pulled Eastern within eight, 36-28, at the 7:45 mark of the quarter but the Eagles were unable to sustain any offensive rhythm or momentum as FDU-Florham closed the quarter on a 22-11 run scoring 10 points in a row at one point during the spree. Taylor Price hit a layup with three seconds left to go to cut the deficit to 21 at 58-37. 

 

"We couldn't hit a shot in the third quarter," continued Houston. "We were unable to generate any kind of offensive rhythm and couldn't stop them at the other of the floor which is going to hurt you on the scoreboard and in the end it did." 

 

The Eagles managed to outscore the Devils in the final quarter of play 27-20 but were unable to make up the deficit. Eastern never got closer than 12 points throughout the fourth quarter, and that was with 31 seconds left when Grossi knocked down a jumper to make it 76-64, but a buzzer-beating layup by FDU-Florham made the score final 78-64. 

 

Emily Lavin led all Eastern scorers tallying her ninth double-double of the season scoring 19 points and recording 11 rebounds. Regie Robinson scored 15 points while Grossi turned in a season high in points netting 14 going 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range. 

 

"Tori is playing like a senior and continuing to get better every day in practice, and all her hard work is showing in games," said Houston. "She is playing with a lot of confidence, and that continues to grow with every game."     

 

Shalette Brown scored a game-high 31 points and recorded ten rebounds. Alyssa McDonough scored 13 points while Rachel Groom netted ten points to round out the Devils double-digit scoring. 

 

"We just have to keep trying to get better every day," concluded Houston. "We have to finish this season off right and will be working hard to do that."  

 

Eastern hosts King's College on February 10th at 6 pm.