A slow start plagued Embry-Riddle on Thursday evening in the Activity Center as Park Gilbert won 70-55. 

Embry-Riddle scored a quick six points and led 6-2 just 49 seconds into game but then did not score again until there was 3:52 left in the quarter when Ella Schott (Cave Creek, Ariz.) made a jump shot.  At the end of the first quarter Park led 21-8. 

In the second quarter, the Buccaneers scored first to extend their lead, but Liz Behan (St. Peters, Mo.) made a layup.  After another Park basket, Susie Reynoso (Escondido, Calif.) made a layup and Aryana Gonzales (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) made a three point shot to bring ERAU to within ten with the score at 25-15.  Micaela Hidalgo (Greeley, Colo.) made a layup with 6:33 left in the quarter but the Buccaneer defense didn't allow another Eagle basket until there was just 3:33 remaining in the half.  At halftime, Embry-Riddle was down 39-21. 

ERAU outscored Park in the third quarter 21-18.  Gonzales made another layup followed by a three point basket by Mehgan Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) to make the score 43-26 with 7:32 left in the quarter.  The Eagles made four three point baskets in a row as Strickler had two, Gonzales added one, and Schott made another.  With 15 seconds remaining Reynoso sunk two free throws to bring the score to 57-42 with Park leading. 

The Buccaneers scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to extend their lead back to twenty points.  Kate McBride (Atlanta, Ga.) started the scoring for ERAU in the fourth quarter with a jump shot.  Behan cut the Park lead to 14 as she scored back to back layups for the Eagles. With 4:18 remaining in the game, the Buccaneers led 66-48.  Zakiirah King (Chandler, Ariz.) made a three point shot with 2:16 to go to bring Embry-Riddle within 13 and the score 68-55.  ERAU played tough but fell to the Buccaneers 70-55.

Gonzales led the Eagles with 11 points and Strickler added 9.  Behan, King, and McBride all picked up 6 rebounds.  Strickler added four steals defensively for ERAU.

Embry-Riddle will play again next on Saturday in Phoenix as they visit Benedictine Mesa for a Cal Pac matchup.