ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Women's Basketball made 15-of-27 3-pointers and scored a season-best 93 points in a convincing 93-79 MAC Freedom win over the visiting Wilkes University Colonels.
Amanda Riiff poured in a career-high 27 points, and
Taylor Price had 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
The Eagles (4-10, 1-3 MAC Freedom) had only scored 70 points in a game twice this year, but from the start, the game was played with pace and good shooting. Riiff was 3-for-4 from behind the arc and Price and
Taylor Azer also made 3-pointers as the Eagles built a 32-28 lead after one quarter. The Eagles were 11-of-21 from the floor, but had six offensive rebounds and only three turnovers in the period.
Da'Naziah Brown and Azer hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second quarter, but the Eagles never able to extend that nine-point edge in the first half.
Maya Harris put the Eagles up 52-43 with a 3-pointer on a good kick-out from Price to close out the half.
Led by Riiff's 3-for-5 effort, the Eagles were 8-of-14 from behind the arc with five different players hitting from distance before intermission. Riiff had 16 points at halftime.
Riiff hit another 3-pointer to start the second half, but it was an 8-0 Eastern run midway through the period that put the game out of reach. Price and Riiff hit 3-pointers on either side of a Young-Harris lay-up to put the Eagles up 65-50. Wilkes would never close the gap to less than 12 points after that run.
Price scored her 21 points on only 12 shots. The senior guard was 4-for-6 from behind the arc and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line.
"We played like a team today," Head Coach
Eric Houston said after the game. "
Taylor Price and Riiff played like leaders and put the team on their backs. Da'Naziah was very aggressive and played under control. It was a great team win overall."
Houston also pointed to the return of
Viki Kneis and MaryKate McGloughlin as important for the Eastern defensive effort. With a career-high 12 rebounds, Young-Harris recorded her first career double-double.
Riiff finished the game 6-of-12 from distance. It is the sixth time an Eastern player has made six or more 3-pointers in a game. Kaieigh Boreman holds the record with seven makes in January of 2012.
Gianna Roberts led Wilkes (4-11, 0-4 MAC Freedom) with 21 points.
The Eagles will return to action with a non-league game at Rowan on Monday.