Box Score Embry-Riddle made it a season sweep of Simpson University with a 71-53 win over the Red Hawks in the Activity Center on Saturday afternoon.
ERAU started the game with an Aryana Gonzales (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) three point basket and two Zakiirah King (Chandler, Ariz.) free throws as the Eagles took an early 5-0 lead. Simpson scored four points to bring the Embry-Riddle lead to four but then the ERAU defense held strong and didn't give up any points until the Eagles had raced out to a ten point lead. Hannah Urbano (Kailua, Hawaii) made a jump shot with 1:20 left in the first quarter to give Embry-Riddle their largest lead of the quarter of 16 with the score 24-8. At the end of the 1st, the score was ERAU 24 Simpson 13.
The Red Hawks came out strong in the second quarter as the Embry-Riddle lead was quickly diminished to four points. Nicole Evenson (Bemidji, Minn.) and King made back to back layups to put the Eagles back up by eight points with 5:19 remaining until halftime. The teams went back and forth the last five minutes and Embry-Riddle led 34-28 at the half.
In the third quarter, ERAU was able to extend their lead over Simpson. Mehgan Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) scored five points in the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the quarter and her three point basket put the Eagles up 43-33 with 7:32 left. Gonzales made a layup with 6:57 left that extended the lead to 12 points and then both teams played strong defense as neither scored until King made a layup with 4:59 to go in the third quarter. After a jump shot by the Red Hawks, a three point basket by Urbano gave Embry-Riddle an 18 point advantage at 57-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
Neither team scored for the first two minutes of the 4th quarter. Simpson scored the first five points to get back within 15 points, but Embry-Riddle had built up a large lead as they went on to win the game 71-53.
Gonzales led ERAU with 24 points this afternoon as she shot 6-8 from three point range. Strickler had another double-double for the Eagles with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
ERAU is on the road next week in Northern California to take on Pacific Union in Angwin on Thursday at 6:30pm MST.
