ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Women's Basketball put together a good burst in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start in a 66-49 MAC Freedom loss to the visiting Misericordia University Cougars. Despite making only 2-for-23 from behind the arc, the Eagles chipped away at a 16-point second half lead and trailed 50-45 with five minutes to go in the game, but the Cougars scored 16 of the final 20 points to close out the game.

In the first half, the Eagles (4-16, 1-8 MAC Freedom) made only 9-of-35 shots and trailed 34-19 at the break. The Cougars shot better, but also shot more from the foul line to build their lead.

Things turned for the better in the third quarter, when Da'Naziah Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Taylor Price started to get to the basket. Though they scored 16 points in the period, the Eagles still trailed 48-35 with ten minutes to play in the game.

In the first five minutes of the four quarter, the Eagles showed what they could be. They were active on defense and running in transition. Viki Kneis sparked a 10-to-2 run with a fast break lay-up and a confident jumper on a nice pass from Brown. Brianna Young-Harris came out of nowhere to block a shot at one end and beat everyone to the other end to catch a pass from Price for a fast break lay-up.

When Regie Robinson hit a n elbow jumper with five and a half minutes to play, the Eagles trailed 50-45. Eastern picked up another stop, but Brown's lay-up to cut the game to a single possession rimmed out and the the Cougars scored the next four points to stretch the lead back to nine points and take command of the game.

Price had 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Brown also had 12 points.  Robinson had nine points. Young-Harris had six points, seven steals, and five blocked shots.

Japriya Carroll had 18 to lead the Cougars (12-7, 5-3 MAC Freedom).

Eastern will play at King's on Saturday.