After a slow start, Embry-Riddle picked up the pace in Riverside as the Eagles beat the Golden Eagles on Thursday evening 68-54. 

It was a low scoring first quarter between the Eagles and the Golden Eagles as after ten minutes of play, ERAU led 10-6 over LSU.  Zakiirah King (Chandler, Ariz.) scored the first five points of the game as Embry-Riddle jumped out to a 5-0 lead.  After a La Sierra layup, Susie Reynoso (Escondido, Calif.) connected on a three point basket to bring the score to 8-2 with 7:22 left in the first quarter.  ERAU would not score again until there was just over three minutes left on two free throws from Mehgan Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) to bring the Eagle lead to six points at 10-4.  The Golden Eagles answered with two free throws of their own to bring the score to 10-6. 

Embry-Riddle scored 16 points in the second quarter but La Sierra answered with 22 to take a two point lead into halftime at 28-26.  Grace Meshanko (Fairfax, Va.) scored first for the Eagles on two free throws and King followed with two as well to make the score 14-10 with 7:45 to go in the half.  A Kate McBride (Atlanta, Ga.) layup brought the ERAU lead back to six points but that lead was quickly diminished as LSU scored the next nine points in just over a minute and a half of play to take a three point lead.  Liz Behan (St. Peters, Mo.) scored the next four points for the Eagles to match the Golden Eagles scoring and with just over a minute left in the half, Embry-Riddle retook their lead as Ella Schott (Cave Creek, Ariz.) made a three point basket. La Sierra scored with no time left on the clock to take the two point advantage into the half.    

The Eagles defense started strong in the second half as LSU didn't score for the first four minutes and thirty seconds.  Just like the first half, King scored the first two points of the second half on free throws followed by a three from Aryana Gonzales (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) as Embry-Riddle retook the lead.  ERAU rattled off 13 straight points to take an eleven point lead with 5:51 to go in the third quarter.  Embry-Riddle held the Golden Eagles to just nine points in the third quarter and the Eagles scored 29 as they held an 18 point lead after the third with the score 55-37. 

Neither team scored for the first 2:20 of the final quarter when Behan made a layup to extend the ERAU lead to 20 points.  La Sierra cut the lead back to 15 points, but Imani Alegria (Goodyear, Ariz.) sunk a three to make the score 60-42 with just 4:53 left in the game.  The Golden Eagles comeback attempt fell short as Embry-Riddle went on to win the game 68-54. 

King led Embry-Riddle with 21 points and Behan added a double-double as she scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

ERAU will play their last regular season game on Saturday afternoon at 3pm MST in Lancaster against Antelope Valley at the Pioneer Event Center.