Prescott, Ariz. – Embry-Riddle delivered a strong fourth-quarter performance to secure a 78–67 victory over Park-Gilbert on Saturday afternoon at the ERAU Activity Center.
The Eagles came out firing, building a 23–12 lead after the first quarter behind sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive defense. ERAU knocked down four triples in the opening frame and held Park-Gilbert to just 16.7% shooting.
Momentum shifted in the middle quarters as Park-Gilbert clawed back, outscoring ERAU 43–33 over the second and third periods. The Buccaneers briefly grabbed their only lead late in the third, but the Eagles responded with poise.
Embry-Riddle dominated the final 10 minutes, outscoring Park-Gilbert 22–12 thanks to clutch free-throw shooting and balanced scoring. The Eagles went a perfect 11-for-11 from the line in the fourth quarter, sealing the win.
Key Performers
- Makenzie Alapai led the way with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, hitting all four of her free throws in crunch time.
- Katie McBride matched her with 14 points and 8 boards, converting 6-of-7 from the stripe.
- Morgan Evenson added 8 points and 4 rebounds, while Kapomaika'i Nakakura chipped in 9 points off the bench.
- ERAU's depth shined with 28 bench points, including key contributions from Morgan Mann (7 pts) and Jaelah Clayton (6 pts).
Team Highlights
- ERAU shot 41.5% from the field and 94.4% from the free-throw line (17-of-18).
- The Eagles controlled the glass with 37 rebounds and scored 30 points in the paint.
- Largest lead: 15 points in the first quarter.
Embry-Riddle will play again on Friday at home against Huntington with tip-off scheduled for 5pm.
