ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Taylor Price scored a game-high 24 points and Eastern University Women's Basketball held off the visiting Manhattanville College Valiants for an important MAC Freedom win. The Eagles can now secure a spot in the MAC Freedom Tournament with a win on Tuesday at Delaware Valley.

Entering the game, the Valiants, who lost by two points in overtime in the first meeting between the two teams, had a chance to reach the Tournament with a win. The Eagles (15-8, 6-6 MAC Freedom) were able to go up a game on Delaware Valley with the win.

After Manhattanville scored the first basket of the game, the Eagles ground out a 12-2 lead after eight minutes. Regie Robinson attacked the basket for seven points in the run. The Valiants scored the final six points of the first period to close the deficit to 14-8.

The Valiants (8-15, 4-8 MAC Freedom) continued their run and closed the gap to a single point with five straight to start the second quarters. At that point, Price began to take over the game at the offensive end of the floor. The junior guard had seven points and an assist over the final seven minute of the half, but the Valiants hit the final shot of the half to remain within a possession at 25-22 at half.

Robinson and Price each had nine points to lead the Eagles at halftime.  

The Eastern lead grew to 10 points at the midway point in the third period when Kayla Holmes found Amanda Riiff on a back-door cut for a layup. Holmes finished with a  game-high seven assists. With the Eastern defense playing well, the 36-26 lead felt bigger than it was. With their backs against the wall, the Valiants recovered to close out the third period on a 13-to-8 run.

"She hit some big shots," Head Coach Eric Houston said, "when she is hitting those mid-range shots, it opens things up and she is able to find teammates as well. Taylor put us on her back for a little today."

Price had seven points and two assists in the fourth period. The lead grew to 12 points on a Riiff 3-pointer from in front of her own bench, but the Manhattanville defense began to force turnovers and the visitors went on a quick 7-0 run to pull within five.

"We had that one little blip," Houston said, "but then we played with a lot of composure down the stretch. We got it together."

The Valiants earned another stop and were poised to close the gap further, but Lavin turned away her seventh shot of the game and finished a good pass from Price at the other end for a seven-point lead with a minute to play. Lavin finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks.

"Lav is incredible with blocking shots," Houston said. "She is so long, and her timing is good. They were not hitting from the outside, so we needed her to protect the inside. We know what we have to do, and I think the team is looking forward to a good game on Tuesday."

Kayleah McGuire led Manhattanville with 16 points.

The Eagles play at Delaware Valley on Tuesday and will wrap up the regular season at home against Wilkes on Saturday. The team will honor Lavin, the program's only senior, before the game.