MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University women's basketball team used a second half surge on both sides of the ball to take the season-opener over Fisk University at home 71-62 Tuesday night.

Trailing 37-33 at the half, the Running Eagles had their most explosive quarter after the break in the third, outscoring the Bulldogs 23-13 to regain the lead for good. Fisk came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter with 22 points and a 66% shooting percentage. The Bulldogs added 15 in the second, however the Running Eagle defense would not allow them to shoot above 25% in a quarter the rest of the way. Fisk totaled 13 points in the third quarter and 12 in the fourth, as Life U used the surge in the third with 15 more in the fourth to seal the game. 

As a team, Fisk finished 20-for-63 from the field (31.7%), 5-for-18 from three (27.8%) and 17-for-25 from the free-throw line (68%). The tallied 34 points from their bench with 18 points in the paint. They scored nine second chance points and led by as many as nine halfway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs added 40 rebounds with nine steals and 14 turnovers.

Life U shot above 41% for all but one quarter in the game finishing 25-for-59 (42.4%) from the floor. The Running Eagles were 6-for-21 (28.6%) from behind the arc and an even 15-for-30 (50%) from the free-throw line. They rallied off 30 points in the paint with 25 bench points and a staggering 17 second chance points. The Running Eagles capitalized with 15 points off turnovers and totaled seven takeaways in the game. They led with 44 rebounds and 15 assists with a pair of blocks. 

Individually, Lenise Santiago led the way for Life U with 23 points and a pair of assists as she finished 9-for-17 from the floor and 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. Eva Caroline Singlet added 16 points with eight rebounds and three assists as Morgan Collins tallied the double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds with five assists and a pair of steals. Rachel Wilson put in quality minutes for the Running Eagles with nine rebounds and seven points.

The women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, October 30, as they travel to Mount Vernon, Ga. to face Brewton-Parker College at 5 PM.