Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland
Second Half Rally Keys OU Past EMU
11/22/2006 10:10:18 PM | Women's Basketball
Senior Sarah VanMetre posts 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in the setback
YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team suffered its first setback of the season Wednesday night falling to the visiting Oakland University Golden Grizzlies, 68-62, in non-conference action here at the Convocation Center. Oakland connected on 14-of-28 shots in the second half to overcome a five-point halftime deficit and snap the Eagles’ five-game winning streak over over the Grizzlies dating back to the 1982 season.
Despite the loss, the Eagles (2-1) received a strong, double-digit scoring performance from three players. Sarah VanMetre (Noblesville, Ind.-Noblesville) led EMU with 18 points, while Anne Malatinsky (Holt, Mich.- Holt) added 12 and Brittany Tyson (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Huron) chimed in with 10. Patrice McKinney (Lansing, Mich.-Everett) grabbed double-digits in rebounds (13) for her third consecutive game.
Oakland went shot 43.5 percent (27-for-62) from the floor and was led by Jessica Pike who scored 16 second half points to give her 23 on the day to lead all scorers. Nicole Piggott also chipped in with 19 points for the Grizzlies.
Through the first four minutes of the opening half, the Eagles held a slim 7-6 lead with the help of a three-pointer from VanMetre and four points in the paint by Emily Hanley (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community). The Eagles led 22-19 at the 10:00 mark as Brittany Tyson (Ypsilanti, Mich.- Huron) held a team-high six points, connecting on all three shots from the floor.
The Eagles’ extended their lead to five by the end of the first half, 33-28. VanMetre led the Eagles in scoring with eight points while Oakland’s Nicole Piggott led all scorers with 11. Both teams struggled from downtown in the first half, as EMU shot 4-for-16 while the Grizzlies were 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Following the break, the Grizzlies took their first lead since the opening monents in the game at 36-35 with 17:10 left in the stanza via a three-pointer from Piggott. The Eagles quickly jumped back ontop, 40-38, thanks to a shot from outside by Malatinsky.
VanMetre extended the Eagles’ lead to seven, 53-46, with two consecutive baskets from the paint, giving her 18 points on the day.
The Grizzlies would claw back with a 10-3 run and tie the game at 56-56 with 4:27 left. After an Eagle timeout, Malatinsky put her team back in the lead, 59-56, with her third three-pointer of the contest. But Oakland would again reclaim the lead, 63-62 with under three minutes to play and held on for the 68-62 victory.
Head Coach Suzy Merchant and her Eagles will return to action next Friday, Dec. 1, in Tempe, Ariz., when they face Northern Arizona in the first game of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic. That game will begin at 8:30 p.m. PST.
