MARIETTA, GA. — It was a night of celebration for the Life University Women's Basketball program as the Running Eagles earned a win over RV Faulkner for the team's first win over a RV (or ranked) team since the 2019-20 season.

The Women improved to 9-3 with the win and moved to 3-2 in SSAC play with four consecutive wins after the 78-72 routing of RV Faulkner.

The first quarter would begin in Life University's favor, jumping ahead to a 6-0 lead before Faulkner (11-2, 3-1 SSAC) scored a layup to stop the bleeding. The Running Eagles then continued to build a lead throughout the first, shooting 67% from three and forcing seven Faulkner first quarter turnovers. At the end of the first, Life U. led 25-12.

The second quarter narrowly fell in favor of Faulkner, with the Eagles outscoring Life U. 19-17 to slightly cut into the first-quarter lead. Headed to the half,  Haley Gantt buried a three-pointer at the buzzer to push the Running Eagle lead to 42-31.

In the second half, the Running Eagles furthered their distance, taking the lead up to 18 points twice in the quarter. Fapou Semebene gave Life U. its latest and largest lead of the game, 60-42, but the Eagles would eventually fight back to cut the Life U. lead down to 14 after three.

At the start of the fourth, the Running Eagles increased their lead to 16 with an initial layup, but a resurgence from Faulkner's offense and costly Life U. turnovers saw the advantage fall to a slim three-point Running Eagle lead just under the four minute mark.

A couple of defensive stands and stops from the Running Eagles ended Faulkner's run, with a timely Fapou Semebene layup ending Life University's three-minute scoreless drought.  With the bucket, the Running Eagles pushed the lead back up to two possessions and held on for the 78-72 win.

The Running Eagles would score 15 points off of turnovers to Faulkners' 12, while Life U. was also able to stretch the court, scoring 24 of their 78 points from beyond the arc. 

Efforts come from Maikya Simmons, who finished with 15 points and Fapou Semebene, who finished with twenty points and ten rebounds fueled the way. Simmons and Santavia Grant would combine for nine of Life University's 14 assists. 

Up next, the Women take on Concordia this Saturday (12/17). Tipoff in the Eagles' Nest is set for 1 PM.