ANNEVILLE, Pa.– In a game moved forward to accommodate incoming weather, Eastern University Women's Basketball hit a cold spell early in the fourth quarter to fall by a 53-49 margin at Lebanon Valley College.
Mikayla Wright recorded her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Eagles in both categories.
The Eagles led by as much as 11 in the game and held a 40-36 lead heading into the final frame. The host Dutchmen (1-2) took the lead for good with an 11-2 run to start the frame. The Eagles connected on just 1-of-10 shots in the critical five-minute stretch to open the final frame. Eastern shot only 3-of-20 in the final period.
The Eagles (0-3) built a 20-15 lead on 8-of-16 shooting in the first period.
Jaelyn Harris connected on a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers, and the Eagles had five players score in the opening frame.
Portia Shouse made the final basket of the first quarter and the opening basket of the second to put the Eagles up 22-15. That lead grew to 28-17 after Wright answered an Emily Mealy lay-in with back-to-back 3-pointers. The first year forward finished 4-for-6 from behind the arc on the game. The Eagles went without a point for the final 6:32 of the half. The Dutchmen made only two lay-ups in that timeframe, and the Eagles took a seven-point edge to halftime.
Both sides made 5-of-15 shots in the third, but the Dutchmen made four free throws and further narrowed the gap in the period. The Eagles made 4-of-5 free throws in the game.
After Da"Naziah Brown answered an early basket with a lay-up, the Dutchmen scored the next four baskets of the game. Mealy made three inside hoops and Allison Bimmer delivered with LVC's only made 3-pointer of the game to put the Dutchmen up 47-42.
The Eagles had only two fourth-quarter turnovers, but cold shooting proved to be too much to overcome. Brown finished the game with nine points and
Viki Kneis and
Jaelyn Harris each had eight.
"We got the shots we were looking for, we just were no able to convert, "Coach Houston said after the game. "We had stretches int he second and the fourth where we just could not score, and we gave them a chance to get back in the game. We will continue to work and will hope to shoot better when we get on our home floor on Friday."
The Eagles host Lebanon Valley at 7:00 PM on Friday. As a reminder, per MAC policy, fans are not permitted at Athletic events. The game will be available on live stream.
