WILKES-BARRE, Pa.– Eastern University Women's Basketball held off several late charges from the host Wilkes University Colonels, and held on for a 66-56 win. Taylor Price led the Eagles with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Eagles  (11-4, 2-2 MAC Freedom) jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but the Colonels answered with an 11-2 run to build a 13-11 lead heading into the final possession of the quarter. Price found Kayla Holmes in on the wing, and the freshman guard buried a 3-pointer to put the Eagles up 14-13 after one quarter.

Amanda Riiff took over the scoring load for the Eagles in the second period. The junior guard hit three free throws and a pair of 3-pointers to push the Eagles into a nine-point lead with four minutes to play in the period. Eastern was unable to keep the run going and led 33-27 at the half.

"We knew we had to do a better job on the perimeter shooters," Head Coach Eric Houston said. "We spent halftime talking about how to get into the gaps in their zone and find better looks for our shooters."

The halftime talk seemed to work.

Price hit an open 3-pointer to ignite a 12-2 run to open the second half. The lead was still 15 on Riiff's third 3-pointer of the afternoon with just under two minutes left in the third period, but again the Eagles struggled to close out a quarter and Wilkes cut the deficit to nine on a last-second jumper from Emelie Meinhart.

Regie Robinson picked up her fourth foul early in the fourth quarter, and the Colonels cut the deficit to four with four minutes to play. Brianna Young-Harris came up with a critical put-back basket to change the momentum of the game and restore the Eastern lead to six. Price put the Eagles up eight on the next possession, and the Eagles made their free throws to close out the game.

"It's a credit to the players," Houston concluded. "We found a way to hold on for the win."

Robinson and Riiff each finished with 13 points. Lavin finished with nine points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. The Eagles shot 47.7 percent from the floor and held Wilkes to 30.5 percent shooting.

The Eagles will host league-leading FDU-Florham on Wednesday.