MADISON, N.J.– Eastern University Women's Basketball saw an upset bid fall just short as the host and top-seeded FDU Florham Devils (23-3) scored 11 of the final 15 points in the game to claim a 66-60 win in the first round of the MAC Freedom Tournament. Senior forward Emily Lavin led Eastern's upset bid with 21 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Eagles led or were tied for much of the early part of the game. Led by Lavin and Taylor Price, the Eagles had a 15-13 lead at the end of one quarter. That lead grew to 27-20 a the midway point of the second period when Price found Regie Robinson for a layup. The Devils answered with multiple defensive stops and seven-straight points. Kendrea Williams sparked the run with a 3-pointer. The FDU freshman was 6-of-12 from behind the arc for the game and finished with a game-high 25.

The two teams went to the locker room tied at 27. Price had 10 and Lavin had eight on only five shots. The Eagles shot significantly better from the floor by percentage, but the Devils picked up extra attempts by forcing 12 Eastern turnovers grabbing seven offensive rebounds.

The Eagles went inside to Lavin early in the third period, and the senior responded with six points in a 12-3 run to start the half. Kayla Holmes had two points, a steal and and a pair of assists as the Eagles led 41-32 only four minutes into the second half. The Devils responded with an 8-0 run to quickly close the gap. Williams again did the damage with a pair of 3-pointers.

Lavin stopped the run briefly with another inside basket before Williams tied the game at 43. The Devils built their edge to 47-43 before Amanda Riiff hit a 3-pointer to close out the third period and bring the Eagles within a point.

Neither team led by more than a possession for the first nine and a half minutes of the final period. The Eagles trailed 63-60 with 40 seconds left, and FDU's Raven Dowling came up with a steal, her seventh of the game.

The Eagles were forced to foul, and the Devils made enough free throws down the stretch to close out the game.

"The team played very hard tonight." Head Coach Eric Houston said after the game. "We competed on both ends of the floor. I am so proud of the way this group battled to the end."

The loss brings an end to Lavin's standout career. With five blocks tonight, she tied her school single-season record total of 100. She finishes with 378 for her career. She saw her scoring and rebounding average increase in each of her four seasons. She finishes with 1326 points and 939 rebounds.

"Lav played like beast tonight," Houston said, "I am so proud of her and what she has done for the program moving forward."

Lavin made 10-of-13 shots from the floor. Price was 3-of-7 from behind the arc and finished with 17 points. The Eagles shot 48 percent from the floor, but the FDU pressure forced the Eagles into 26 turnovers.

The Devils will host DeSales, who won in double-overtime at Misericordia in the MAC Freedom Championship game on Saturday.