ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Eastern Women's Basketball led for most of the contest in their Saturday matinee against Saint Elizabeth University on Saturday, but failed to seal the deal in a heartbreaking 57-51 loss at The NEST. The Eagles led by as many as 10 points in the second frame and held a six-point advantage early in the fourth quarter. Saint Elizabeth, however, outscored Eastern by 10 points in the frame to hand the Eagles their eighth loss of the season.

In a back-and-forth affair from the second quarter on, Eastern gave up the lead just twice, but the second time proved to be costly. A Mojisola Shokeye layup in the opening minute of the quarter put the Eagles ahead by six, but a quick 6-0 run by Saint Elizabeth gave the visiting Eagles their first lead of the game with 6:08 remaining.

The Eagles regained the lead briefly on a pair of Trinity Upton free throws and a layup from Tyerra Jarvis, but Saint Elizabeth, after battling back the entire game, took the lead back for good on another 6-0 surge. A questionable fifth foul call on Jeriyah Johnson and subsequent technical fouls gave Saint Elizabeth four free throws, and thee run was capped by a dagger corner three from Mya Davis. Eastern did not get closer than one point the rest of the way.

Eastern got off to a roaring start as Johnson scored 13 of her team-leading 14 points in the opening frame to help the Eagles build a 17-9 advantage. After an early 4-4 tie, the Lancaster native rattled off the final 13 points off the quarter, which included three triples. Johnson also secured 10 rebounds in the game, tied for the team lead, to record her first collegiate double-double.

The Eagles were unable to keep up their offensive momentum in the second quarter. Dominique Geiger put Eastern up by 10 off a great feed from Shokeye down low, but the Eagles scored just five points the rest of the first half. Saint Elizabeth eventually cut the lead to two before Geiger knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Eagles back ahead by four at the halftime. Geiger had a strong game off the bench with nine points on three-of-six shooting to go along with three rebounds.

The two teams battled in the third quarter with neither team leading by any more than five points. Geiger hit a free throw and a fast break layup to put the Eagles up by five with 6:10 to play in the frame, and baskets from Upton and Maiah Madison put the Eagles ahead by four heading into the final frame. Madison, in her second start of the season, scored eight points on four-of-six shooting to go along four rebounds. Upton put forth another strong all-around performance with eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

The Eagles were unable to slow down Saint Elizabeth's final surge in the fourth quarter. Saint Elizabeth outscored Eastern 22-12 in the frame.

Eastern will be back in action on Tuesday in The NEST against Neumann. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm.