PRESCOTT, Ariz. – One night after opening the regular season with a narrow defeat, the RV Corban University Women's Basketball team responded in emphatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, riding a near record-breaking performance from redshirt junior guard Jersey Huerta to an 89-74 victory over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the Eagle Gym in central Arizona.
Huerta was simply sensational for the Navy and Gold, pouring in 40 points on 14-of-24 shooting while adding four rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Her 40-point outburst finished just one point shy of the Corban program record of 41 points in a single game, set by Jordan Woodvine during the 2019 season.
Corban wasted little time taking control, shooting 62.5% in the opening quarter while building a 22-17 advantage. The Warriors pushed their lead to as many as 11 points in the second period before the Eagles battled back, using a late 11-0 run to erase the deficit and knot the contest at 40-40 heading into halftime. Early foul trouble proved costly in the opening half, as multiple starters entered the locker room with more than one foul and provided ERAU with a 16-5 advantage in free throw attempts.
The contest remained tightly contested throughout the third quarter, featuring eight lead changes and ten ties overall. Huerta continued to carry the offensive load, scoring 13 points in the frame as the Warriors entered the fourth quarter with a slim 61-59 edge.
The Dubs saved their best basketball for the final ten minutes.
After Embry-Riddle cut the deficit to two possessions early in the fourth, Corban ripped off a decisive 20-2 surge to put the game out of reach. Huerta ignited the run with a three-pointer and several key mid-range jumpers, while the Warrior bench provided additional firepower from all angles. Corban outscored the Eagles 28-15 in the final period and led by as many as 20 points down the stretch.
Huerta's 40-point performance headlined an offensive effort that saw three additional Warriors finish with at least seven points. Senior guard Tayla Yost contributed nine points and a team-high nine rebounds, while redshirt freshman guard Ava Mai scored nine points and grabbed five boards. Sophomore guard Izzy McCauley and junior guard Nina Peterson each chipped in seven points, with Peterson knocking down a pair of three-pointers during the second half.
Corban also received valuable production from its bench. Redshirt junior guard Lizzy Bennett recorded five points, four assists, and a game-high four steals, while junior guard Abigail Winslow added four points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Junior guard Kylie Ihrig knocked down two triples and finished with six points.
As a team, the Warriors shot 47.1% from the floor, connected on nine three-pointers, and converted 16-of-18 attempts from the free-throw line. Corban also forced 17 Embry-Riddle turnovers while recording 11 steals and holding the Eagles to just 35.4% shooting overall.
Bella Barrett paced Embry-Riddle with 17 points, while Angelina Whelan added 16 off the bench. The Eagles were limited to just 15 fourth-quarter points after scoring 59 through the game's first three periods.
With the victory, Corban improved to 1-1 on the young season and earned a split of its opening Arizona road trip. The Warriors will now turn their attention toward their home opener on Tim Hills Court, looking to carry the momentum of Sunday's convincing win and Huerta's historic performance into the season's next stretch. The Dubs are set to host the 2026 Corban Classic next weekend, welcoming Simpson University (1-1) and Lewis and Clark College (0-0) to the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Fellow Cascade Collegiate Conference member and Corban's travel partner, Bushnell University, will serve as the fourth program that will play the remaining opponent the Warriors don't play on each given day to close out play on Tim Hills Court with neutral site battles.
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