Embry-Riddle used timely shooting and strong defense to start conference play 1-0 as they beat the Red Hawks of Simpson 57-55 on Thursday evening in Redding, Calif.  

In the first quarter, neither team scored until there was 8:49 left in the period.  After a Simpson layup, Mehgan Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) put the Eagles on the board with a layup of her own.  The Red Hawks scored the next six points to take an 8-2 lead over ERAU.  Zakiirah King (Chandler, Ariz.) made a layup with 5:42 to go in the quarter and neither team scored for the next two minutes until Kate McBride (Atlanta, Ga.) brought Embry-Riddle within one with the score 7-8.  ERAU took the lead at 9-8 on a Liz Behan (St. Peters, Mo.) layup.  McBride added two free throws as the quarter ended with the Eagles up 11-8. 

Embry-Riddles defense held Simpson to zero points for almost seven minutes as the Red Hawks made a layup with 8:55 to go until halftime.  The teams traded baskets until a three point shot from Susie Reynoso (Escondido, Calif.) put ERAU up 20-14.  Simpson worked their way back into the game, but at the end of the second quarter the Eagles had a 23-20 lead. 

The third quarter started with King making two free throws to extend the ERAU lead but once again the Red Hawks scored the next four points to get back within one point.  Micaela Hidalgo (Greeley, Colo.) scored the next eight points in the game as she ran the Eagle lead up to nine with 5:13 to go in the third quarter.  Embry-Riddle found themselves up 36-24 after Reynoso sunk three free throws.  Hannah Urbano (Kailua, Hawaii) made a layup just before the quarter ended as ERAU went into the final ten minutes up 40-35.    

The fourth quarter of the game was tight as King made two free throws to start followed by McBride sinking two herself.  Every time Embry-Riddle scored though, the Red Hawks answered with a basket of their own to keep the score close.  ERAU was up by ten, but saw their lead slowly diminish as Simpson scored 8 points in a row to make the score 55-53 in favor of the Eagles.  With 1:31 left in the game, the Red Hawks made a free throw as the score went to 55-54.  With 55 seconds left, Simpson tied the game at 55-55, but Reynoso made a layup with four seconds left and Embry-Riddle held on for the 57-55 win. 

King led the Eagles Thursday night with 15 points and six rebounds.  Reynoso finished the game with 14 points and two steals. 

Embry-Riddle will play again on Saturday as they take on UC Merced at 5:30pm PST.