ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College used a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to wipe out a 12-point Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University lead, but the Saints could not hold on in a 62-59 loss in a non-conference women's basketball game Tuesday afternoon at Flagler Gymnasium.
The game was played in front of 391 screaming fans. Many were from several local middle schools on "Education Day."
Embry-Riddle remains undefeated at 3-0 while Flagler picks up its first loss of the season and slips to 2-1.
Tabitha Odabe led the Saints with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. She also grabbed seven rebounds.
Chris Wilson added 14 points, eight steals and seven rebounds.
Ivana Boyd grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Flagler out-scored Embry-Riddle 38-12 in the paint and scored 23 points off 19 Eagle turnovers.
Nicole Tucker led Embry-Riddle with 18 points and eight rebounds. Lauren Ellenberger added 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Ellenberger drained three of Embry-Riddle's 11 three-pointers.
The Eagles were hot from the field in the first quarter draining 7-of-13 for a 53.8 percentage. They chilled in the second half, only making 27.6 percent (8-29) of their shots.
Embry-Riddle took its largest lead (47-33) after Tucker sank a pair of free throws late in the third quarter.
With 5:57 left to go in the game, Wilson scored the first of three layups she had in the five-minute spurt that gave Flagler its first lead since the early stages of the game. Odabe capped the run with her layup that gave the Saints a 59-58 lead with 56 seconds left.
The next time down the floor, Tucker was able to draw a foul on Odabe and made both free throws to give the lead back to Embry-Riddle. A turnover by Flagler gave Embry-Riddle the ball back and the Saints were forced to foul with eight seconds left to go. Ellenberger drained a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a three-point lead.
After a Saints timeout, the ball was advanced to half-court, and a desperation three-pointer by Crane as time ran out failed to find its mark.
The Saints struggled from the line as they knocked down 1-of-9 from the charity stripe.
Flagler will venture out on the road for the first time this weekend when it travels to Melbourne to play in the Florida Tech Classic. The Saints open with Rollins College on Friday at noon.
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