ST.DAVIDS (PA) – Eastern University opened the second half with a 12-0 run and it sparked the Eagles to a 60-50 victory over visiting Delaware Valley University in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom contest.

Eastern improved to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference. The Aggies dropped to 7-11 overall, 3-4 and one game behind the Eagles for the fourth and final playoff spot in the MAC Freedom as the first half of conference play came to an end.

DelVal trailed 10-8 before ending the first quarter with a 7-0 run thanks to a jumper from Ashley Smink, two free throws from Amber Grohowski and a 3-pointer from Nicole Smythe. Eastern, behind a pair of treys from Amanda Riff, responded with a 16-7 second quarter and it took a slim, 26-22 advantage into the intermission.

It was all Eagles to start the second stanza as six points from Emily Lavin, four from Taylor Price and two from Ashley Kurdziolek upped their lead to 38-22 midway through the third quarter. The Aggies got their deficit down to 10 with 27 seconds in the third as Smink drilled a 3-pointer, but Lavin had a putback at the buzzer for a 46-34 score.

DelVal made it an eight-point ballgame, 51-43 when Danielle Skedzielewski hit her fourth bomb of the game with 5:32 remaining. Eastern turned the ball over on its next three possessions, giving the Aggies numerous chances to close the gap even further. However, they missed five shots during that stretch and the Eagles put the game away with an 8-2 run.

Eastern shot 52 percent from the field in the second half while DelVal struggled to hit shots, making just eight of 33 shots (24.2%) in the second half and 16-for-63 (25.4%) for the game. Ten of the Aggies' baskets came from beyond the arc and they were also a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line.

Skedzielewski finished with 16 points to pace DelVal. Sam Foy had 14 points and nine rebounds while Smink ended the evening with 11 points and three assists. Monika Smallwood grabbed 12 boards in the loss.

Riff hit five 3-pointers and notched a game-high 18 points. Lavin nearly had a triple-double thanks to 10 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots. Taylor Price and Regie Robinson combined for 22 points and 21 rebounds.

The Aggies will start the second round of MAC Freedom play on Saturday, January 28 (2 p.m.) when they host Wilkes University.