MARIETTA, GA. — After struggling early against Middle Georgia State University, the Life University women's basketball team used a second-half surge to pull close before dropping the thrilling SSAC contest 76-73. The Running Eagles used a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter to get back in the game and outscored the Knights 25-15 in the final quarter before falling just short.

After struggling to shoot the ball in the first half, the Running Eagles shot 46% from behind the arc in the second half to ignite the comeback.  Scoring a total of 24 points in the entire first half, the Running Eagles got hot in the second half scoring 24 and 25 in the third and fourth, respectively.

Entering the fourth down eleven, the Running Eagles went on a 14-2 run that included a three and a pair of free throws from Tanit Calsapeu, a pair of treys from Santavia Grant, and a layup from Kierra York.  Tierra Tullis capped the run with a split at the free throw line to bring the game down to a one-point deficit, 65-64.

After that, the Knights built the lead back up to six, 72-66, but with less than a minute to play a Calsapeu fast-break layup and a good 3-ptr from Tullis brought the game back to a one possession contest, 72-71.

Just seconds later the Running Eagles forced a steal and then garnered a transition layup from Sienna Bailey to give Life U. its first lead since the 3:51 mark of the first quarter. After the layup, the Knights immediately countered with a break towards the basket, but as the Knights' starting guard drove into the paint, veteran graduate student Andrea Martin Ruiz slid over, putting her body on the line, to draw a crucial offensive foul.

With the change of possession, and less than thirty seconds on the clock, the Running Eagles then coughed up a pair of costly turnovers which doomed the team's chances of completing the comeback win.

Overall, the Running Eagles were led by solid performances from Tanit Calsapeu and Kierra York, with York tabbing a double-double scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 boards. Defensively, Calsapeu snatched a game-high six steals before fouling out. Additionally, Fapou Semebene fought foul trouble all night recording a season-low of 15 minutes.

The Running Eagles will next host Talladega College on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff in the Eagles' Nest is set for 12 PM EST.