Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Central Connecticut State
Women's Basketball Downs Central Connecticut State, 58-49
11/18/2005 9:00:05 PM | Women's Basketball
Sarah VanMetre and Patrice McKinney Post Double-Doubles
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team opened the 2005-06 season by defeating a visiting Central Connecticut State University squad, 58-49, Friday night here at the Convocation Center. The Eagles were paced by senior Nikki Knapp’s 13 points and junior Sarah VanMetre’s 12. With the victory the Eagles improve to 1-0, while the Blue Devils drop to 0-1.
Eastern started off the game leading 7-4, connecting on three of seven shooting from the field and holding the Blue Devils to one of seven. Central Connecticut then went on a 10-0 run sparked by a three-pointer by Kim Boone and a jumper by Denee Burgess to take a 14-7 lead with 13:01 to play in the first.
The Eagles went on a 13-7 to cut the lead to 21-20 with help from buckets by Nikki Knapp and Patrice McKinney. EMU then took the lead 25-24 off of Colleen Russell’s first basket of the game. The Eagles built the lead to three 29-26 at the 3:29 mark and eventually a six point lead into the break lead 34-28.
Both teams started off the second half struggling but the Eagles built their lead to 13, 43-31, off an Annie Malatinsky jumper and a pair of buckets by Kivilicim Yamanoglu. Central Connecticut would cut into the Eagles lead with 4:43 to play off of lay up by Gabriella Guegbelet, to make it 51-43.
VanMetre and McKinney each posted double-doubles for the Eagles with each pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds, as EMU out-rebounded CCS 61-37. McKinney finished with 10 points. CCSU was paced by Guegbelet who poured in 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Kim Boone added 12 points.
The Eagles shot just 1-of-17 from beyond the three point-arch, including missing all seven attempts in the second half. Eastern also raised the 2005 WNIT banner at halftime of the men’s game versus California-Berkeley.
The Green and White are in action again Tuesday Nov. 22 when they host Massachusetts. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
