ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Behind a career-best performance from Taryn Woodson and a pair of length scoring runs, Eastern Women's Basketball ran its win streak to three games on Saturday afternoon, defeating MAC Commonwealth rival Hood 78-56. It was the Eagles' second-straight MAC Commonwealth triumph, their fourth win in the NEST, and their fourth triumph in their last five games.
Woodson put together one of the best games of her young collegiate career, scoring a career-best 20 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the field and six-of-10 from the free-throw line. The first-year center from Harrisburg continued her red-hot offensive tear, increasing her double-digit scoring streak to five games dating back to December 18.
Mikayla Wright scored in double-digits for the eighth time in Eastern's last nine contests, while also recording her second straight double-double. The sophomore forward scored 13 points on six-of-13 shooting while also securing 13 rebounds. Camila Sosa scored 14 points for the second straight game while adding six rebounds and six assists. Brynn Schmidt finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Jaelyn Harris and Kayla Jefferson each added eight points in the Eagles' victory.
The two rivals battled closely in the contest's early stages, as Eastern took a 7-6 lead at the 5:42 mark of the first quarter. However, a 14-4 run to end the period put the Eagles in control. All 14 of those points came in the paint, as Wright, Harris, Woodson, Schmidt, and Sosa all were able to find holes in Hood's interior defense.
The Blazers turned the tables on the Eagles in the second frame, beginning the quarter on a 9-0 run to trim Eastern's advantage to a single possession. But that was as close as the Blazers would get the rest of the afternoon. Eastern countered with a 15-4 surge to end the first half, taking a double-digit lead it would not relinquish. Sosa started the run with a layup, before Jefferson scored five straight points on back-to-back possessions to increase the Eagles' advantage to 28-21. Sosa and Jefferson each hit another triple in the final two minutes to give Eastern a 36-21 lead at halftime.
Eastern kept the pedal down in the third quarter, outscoring the Blazers 23-10 and increasing its advantage to as many as 30 points in the process. The Eagles never trailed by any less than 18 points in the fourth and final stanza.
As a team, the Eagles finished 29-of-70 (41.4 percent) from the field, while holding the Blazers to just 38.5 shooting from the floor (20-of-52). Furthermore, the Eagles took advantage of 31 Hood turnovers, scoring 14 points off of those giveaways and collecting 10 steals.
"It was a great team win," Eastern Head Coach Eric Houston said. "Definitely did a great job playing both ends of the floor. We have a big test coming this Wednesday!"
Eastern will hit the road to Reading on Wednesday to take on MAC Commonwealth foe Albright. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm.
