ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Despite being down to their final six healthy bodies, Eastern University Women's Basketball held a 56-55 lead with less than two minutes to play in the team's MAC Freedom home game against Delaware Valley. The visiting Aggies, however, scored eight of the final nine points in the game to pull away to a 63-57 win. Regie Robinson led the Eagles with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

While the two teams started slowly, the Aggies (4-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) built a 9-2 lead with just a little more than a minute to play in the period. Brianna Young-Harris hit her first 3-point attempt of the year with the shot clock running down to give the Eagles their second field goal of the game. Naomi Harris hit a lay-up late to close the gap to 10-7. Eastern (4-5, 0-2 MAC Freedom) hit only 3-of-14 shots (21.4%) in the period. The Aggies made 5-of-8 free throws and only 2-of13 shots from the floor.

Things started to come together for the Eagles in the second quarter. After the teams traded baskets early, the Eagles used an 8-0 run to build an 18-15 lead midway through the second. Robinson started the run,a nd Young-Harris gave the Eagles a 16-15 lead on a second-chance basket after Viki Kneis pulled down an offensive rebound. Naomi Harris made a pair of free throws.

After Del Val's Danielle Skedzielewski made a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and tie the game, the Eagles scored the final five points of the half to lead 23-18 at intermission. The Eastern defense hedl the Aggies to just 5-for-29 (17.2 %) shooting in the first half. Robinson had 12 points and 11 rebounds at halftime.

Jaelyn Harris found the range in the third period the first-year guard hit 3-of-4 3-pointers and scored all 12 of her points in the third period. The Eagles stretched the lead to 43-30 on a pair of free throws from Keis. Jaelyn Harris was called for a charge with a little over a minute to play in the period and had to go to the bench with her fourth foul. With Naomi Harris already playing with four fouls and Da'Naziah Brown out with injury, the Eagles entered the fourth in a precarious position in the guard rotation. Naomi Harris picked up her fifth in the first minute of the fourth and Jaelyn picked up her fifth with over seven minutes to play and the Eagles holding a five point lead.

The Aggies cut the deficit to 46-43 before Robinson hit ona  three pointer on a good pass from Brynn Schmidt. After a pair of Del Val free throws, Robinson made a steal and went coast-to-coast to keep the Eagles up six with six minutes to play. On the battle for the rebound on the ensuing free throw, Kneis went out with injury to further shorten the Eastern rotation.

Young-Harris hit a jumper to keep the Eagles in the lead and scored on a three-point play after the Aggies tied the game at 53. The mixture of fatigue and unfamiliar rotations led to defensive breakdowns. The Aggies grabbed a 59-57 lead in the final minute. The Eagles went to answer, but Robinson was called for an offensive foul. and the Aggies converted again to seal the game.

"We had some mental breakdowns on defense late," Head Coach Eric Houston said. "We did a lot of things right through the middle part of the game. I am hoping that with a week for finals we can get healthy."

Young-Harris joined Robinson and Jaelyn Harris in double figures with 12 points. She also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists. Skedzielewski led the Aggies with 18. Dom Moser had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Eagles have a week for finals. They will play at Haverford College next Saturday.