Staff report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —  The winning streak for the Catawba women reached nine games on Monday night, the longest ever for the Indians to start a season.

Catawba, which tries to turn every game into a race was in the right place in Daytona Beach. The Indians won, 82-74, against the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles.

The Catawba program record for consecutive wins at any point in a season is 12 straight. That happened in 2000-01.

Catawba didn’t shoot well on 3-pointers (7-for-26), but made up for it with a 27-17 edge in the turnover battle and a 20-9 edge in offensive boards.

Catawba was credited with 16 steals against the Eagles (5-4).

Taisha DeShazo led the Indians with 20 points. DeShazo was 5-for-5 at the foul line to lead Catawba’s 17-for-22 effort from the stripe.

Shemya Stanback had 13 points and nine rebounds and added three assists.

Lyrik Thorne had 14 points and six steals.

Anna Gardner scored eight. Emily Phillips was 2-for-2 on 3-pointers.

Eleven different Indians scored.

Catawba scored 45 points in the first half to a small lead and used a big defensive third quarter to widen the gap. Embry-Riddle managed just five points in the third quarter.

Sarah Jones scored 23 for the Eagles.

Catawba plays an exhibition game against UNC Wilmington in Myrtle Beach, S.C.,  on Thursday.

Then the Indians will be off for the Christmas break until they return to action at home against Wingate on Jan. 2

CATAWBA (82) — DeShazo 20, Thorne 14, Stanback 13, Gardner 8, Hallman 6, Phillips 6, Garris 4, Barnes 4, Ford 3, Wampler 2, McIntosh 2, Bruce, Downs, Sawyers.

EMBTY-RIDDLE (74) — Sa. Jones 23, Tucker 17, Balabyekkubo 9, Bischoff 8, Murray 6, Sy, Jones 6, I. Jones 5.

Catawba                   25    20   15   22   — 82

Embry-Riddle        16     26    5   27    — 74