DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Husson University women's basketball team battled No. 14 Amherst College to an 81-71 decision in the final game of the Florida Sunshine Shootout Tournament on Friday. 
 
Amherst (8-0) jumped out to an early 24-12 advantage following the opening quarter and looked to be in control, however Husson (4-6) matched Amherst with a 20-point second quarter to trail 32-44 at the half. 
 
The Eagles came out of the halftime break on fire, rolling off 23 third-quarter points to Amherst's 16 to cut the deficit to 60-55 heading into the deciding fourth quarter. 
 
Amherst managed to outscore the Eagles 21-16 in the final 10 minutes to come away with the 81-71 decision, but Husson battled the No. 14 ranked team in the nation to a hard-fought, 10-point decision 
 
Graduate student Bailey Donovan and junior Hannah Richards led the charge for the Eagles, scoring 17 points apiece, while Donovan pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. 
 
Junior Sophia McVicar added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench, while junior Lauren Cook added eight points and senior Trinity Montigny added seven rebounds. 
 
Husson finished the matchup shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and an impressive 87.5 percent from the free throw line, while Amherst was limited to 38.5 percent from the floor and under 30 percent from the 3-point line. 
 
Next up for the Eagles is a home matchup against Bowdoin College on Jan. 2 with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m.