WASHINGTON D.C. - In an exciting back-and-forth contest on Tuesday afternoon, Eastern Women's Basketball emerged victorious with a 57-51 triumph over TCNJ on the final day of the Jamie L. Roberts Holiday Classic. The Eagles rebounded from a two-point second quarter and scored 38 second-half points en route to their fourth victory of the season to close out 2023. 

Miranda Liebtag recorded her first double-double in an Eastern uniform, leading the Eagles with 17 points on five-of-eight shooting, two-of-four from beyond the arc, and five-of-six from the charity stripe. It was her second-highest scoring output this season. Additionally, the Abington native brought down a season-high 11 rebounds. With her five rebounds yesterday, Liebtag eclipsed the 500-career rebound mark. 

Taryn Woodson recorded her third straight double-double and her sixth of the season with 13 points on five-of-nine shooting to go along with 10 rebounds. Furthermore, it was Woodson's seventh double-digit scoring effort in Eastern's last eight contests. Jeriyah Johnson rounded out Eastern's double-digit scorers, collecting a season-high 14 points to go along with two rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

The Eagles got off to a strong start in the first quarter, knocking down eight of their 13 field goal attempts and three of their four triples. Liebtag opened the contest with a three on the Eagles' first possession, and both Woodson and Johnson followed with buckets of their own to make it a 7-0 Eastern lead just under two minutes into the contest. The Lions finally got on the board at the 7:15 mark, but three straight points from Wynter Bess, including a triple, put the Eagles ahead 11-2. After a Johnson basket, Liebtag knocked down another pair of field goals to increase the Eastern lead to 17-6 with 2:38 to play in the period, and a Johnson triple in the final minute put the Eagles ahead 21-13 at the first quarter break. 

Eastern could not buy a basket in the second quarter, scoring just two points, courtesy of a Jakaylah Holland jumper with just under six minutes to go in the first half. The Eagles shot a measly one-of-12 from the field in the quarter and missed all five of their three-point attempts. The Lions took advantage, scoring 15 points in the frame to turn their seven-point deficit into a five-point halftime advantage. From the 2:38 mark of the first quarter to halftime, the Lions outscored the Eagles 22-8. 

The Eagles regrouped in the third quarter, and some clutch baskets from Woodson helped the Eagles regain the momentum. The Harrisburg native scored the first basket of the second half, and later knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a 30-29 TCNJ lead. Holland put the Eagles back ahead for good with a layup with 6:41 to play in the quarter, and back-to-back baskets in the paint from Woodson made it a five-point Eastern advantage. Following a lengthy scoring drought, Liebtag hit a big triple with 2:08 remaining in the frame and a pair of free throws a few moments later to make it 40-35 Eastern with 1:33 on the clock. TCNJ knocked down a pair of free throws on their next possession, and the Eagles took a 40-37 advantage into the fourth frame. 

The fourth quarter belonged to Johnson, who made tough shot after tough shot to keep the Eagles in the driver's seat. After Liebtag scored the first basket of the quarter, Johnson followed with a tough finish inside to push the Eagles' advantage to seven. The Lions trimmed the Eagles' lead to four, but Johnson answered with another big-time make in the paint to put Eastern back ahead by six. A triple from the Lions made it a one possession game with 6:01 on the clock, but Johnson again came up clutch with another tough make in close to put the Eagles ahead by two possessions. 

The Lions (6-6) trimmed the Eastern lead to three two more times in the fourth frame, but the Eagles answered the bell both times. In the final 15 seconds, Holland blocked TCNJ's final shot attempt and recorded a clutch offensive rebound on an Eastern free throw attempt to help seal the deal. Liebtag knocked down a pair of free throws in the final eight seconds to secure the victory. 

For the contest, Eastern shot 21-of-48 (43.8 percent) from the field and outrebounded the Lions 42-33. After an 0-5 start, the Eagles have won four of their last five games.

After the holiday break, the Eagles (4-6) return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they begin conference play in Owings Mills against the Stevenson Mustangs. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm.