Box Score In their first ever appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, Embry-Riddle ran into a hot shooting Carroll College as the hosts beat the Eagles 89-49 in Helena on Friday evening.
Zakiirah King (Chandler, Ariz.) scored the first basket of the game and put ERAU up 2-0. The lead didn't last long as Carroll scored just 22 seconds later and went on a 10-0 run as the Fighting Saints led 10-2 with 7:29 to go in the first quarter. King ended the run with another basket. The Eagles worked to cut into the Carroll lead, but the closest Embry-Riddle got was within six points on a three point basket by Aryana Gonzales (San Luis Obispo, Calif.). The Fighting Saints closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run and led 22-10 after the first 10 minutes of play.
Carroll made a three to begin the second quarter and run their lead up to 15 points. Liz Behan (St. Peters, Mo.) made a layup to make the score 12-25 with 8:06 left in the half. Every time the Eagles got a basket, the Fighting Saints got one of their own however as ERAU was unable to cut much into the lead. At halftime, Carroll led Embry-Riddle 42-28.
The Fighting Saints started the second half on a 16-2 run and led the Eagles 58-30 at the 3rd quarter media timeout. Kate McBride (Atlanta, Ga.) made a layup and was fouled and converted the three point play as the score was 61-33 with 3:53 left in the quarter. Carroll scored the final six points of the third quarter and led 69-33 as the teams headed into the final ten minutes of play.
Behan started the fourth quarter well for Embry-Riddle picking up an offensive rebound and the layup. Just a few moments later, King made two free throws to make the score 77-38 with 7:21 left in the game. Gonzales hit another three point basket with 4:19 left in the game. After Carroll made two free throws, Grace Meshanko (Fairfax, Va.) got the layup and converted her free throw for the Eagles with 2:48 to go as ERAU trailed 87-46. Embry-Riddle fell to the Fighting Saints 89-49 as Carroll shot 56.5%.
Gonzales and King each scored 12 points for the Eagles and Susie Reynoso (Escondido, Calif.) added seven.
Embry-Riddle finishes the season as California Pacific Conference Tournament Champions and with a 19-13 record.
