WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The No. 20 Huntington University women’s basketball team capped its Arizona trip with grit and composure Friday night, edging Embry-Riddle 65-59 at the ERAU Activity Center to head home with two more wins in hand.

The Foresters improved to 11-3, while the Eagles slipped to 2-9, in what marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The opening quarter and a half played out as a tug-of-war, with neither side able to create breathing room. That changed midway through the second quarter when Huntington caught fire, scoring on seven straight possessions. Kyndra Sheets and Allison Price delivered old-fashioned three-point plays before Annaka Nelson buried a triple to turn a one-point game into a 32-24 HU advantage.

Offense was harder to come by late in the half, but Huntington still carried a 38-27 lead into intermission, leaning on defensive pressure and timely stops. The Foresters managed just 10 points in the third quarter, yet still protected their cushion, entering the final period up 48-42. From there, Huntington made its move.

Midway through the fourth, Nelson took charge in the paint with a pair of buckets down low – one an and-one – while Price jumped a passing lane for a steal and uncontested layup. The quick 7-0 spurt gave HU the separation it needed. Embry-Riddle never seriously threatened again as Huntington calmly closed out the win to secure its seventh straight victory.

Huntington leaned on balance and toughness. All five starters scored in double figures, accounting for all but six of the team’s points. Liv Raby led the way with 15, while Addie Shank posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Nelson added 11 points and seven boards, while Sheets and Price chipped in 10 apiece.

Off the bench, Lauryn Merritt delivered a game-changing effort, finishing with six points and 10 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass, giving the Foresters valuable extra possessions in a tightly contested game.

Despite shooting just 37.9 percent from the floor and 1-for-11 from three, the Foresters controlled the glass with a 40-37 rebounding edge and lived at the free-throw line, converting 20 of 32 attempts.

Embry-Riddle was led by Morgan Mann, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Jordyn Smith added 13 points, while Makenzie Alapai chipped in 10 in the loss.

Friday’s win closes the 2025 calendar year for Huntington. Coach Maggard and crew return to action January 3, traveling to Mishawaka to face Bethel at 1:00 p.m.