WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team took the floor to face the Embry-Riddle Eagles looking to get a Sunshine State Conference winning streak started. After an ugly opening half at times, the game came down to a thrilling back-and-forth final quarter. The Sailfish missed a shot at the buzzer to tie the game and fell 63-60 to move their record to 8-7 overall and 4-5 in SSC play.

A low-scoring opening quarter where each side struggled to shoot the ball from the floor resulted in an 11-10 lead for ERAU. Each side shot 26 percent and PBA was able to hit just 1-of-7 from three early on. After a great performance in her first career start last game, Claire Davis led the Sailfish with three in the opening quarter of play. However, she would struggle from the floor, finishing with six points on 2-of-12 shooting.

PBA's offense was better in the second quarter as they outscored the Eagles 17-12. Mariyah Fletcher came alive as she scored six points in the quarter while Alma Danielsson and Darria Whitley, who returned from injury today, each knocked down a three. At the half, the 'Fish led 27-23 while shooting 32 percent from the field.

It looked like the Eagles would take control of the game in the third quarter as they outscored PBA 19-8 and stretched their advantage to the biggest of the game at seven points. The game would take off in the fourth quarter however as each side traded punches and runs back and forth.

Kash Ayuso, Fletcher, and Maria Benitez-Zayas were fabulous down the stretch for the 'Fish. The trio combined for 22 fourth-quarter points to claw their way back into the game. A 7-0 run right out of the gate tied up the game for PBA in the fourth. The next five combined possessions were all made three-pointers from both sides ended in a banked in Eagles three to go up by three with six minutes left. Four straight PBA free throws in the final three minutes by Fletcher and Ayuso gave PBA its first lead of the quarter but a 5-0 Eagles run quickly put them back ahead.

Down three with 40 seconds remaining, head coach Manisha Redus called a timeout and got a wide-open look from deep for Danielsson in the corner but she was unable to hit as PBA finished just 8-of-28 from deep. The Sailfish were fortunate to get two missed Embry-Riddle free throws and PBA had a second chance that they capitalized on this time around. Another timeout and drawn-up play led to an open Ayuso three to tie the game with 27 seconds left. A Sailfish foul put the Eagles to the line and they converted on three of their next four attempts. Whitley had a decent look with time expiring to tie the game late but left it on the front rim as the Sailfish fell by three.

Fletcher led the way for the Sailfish once again as she recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Benitez-Zayas was the other PBA player in double figures as she finished with 10 points and six assists before fouling out late. 

The Sailfish are on the road for two games in conference next week. They will be at Barry on Jan. 18 before playing at Eckerd on Jan. 21. The Buccaneers are 8-9 on the season and 3-6 in SSC play.