Women's Basketball Falls at WCU

Box score.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team closed the non-conference portion of the schedule on a down note, falling 69-61 to Western Carolina Saturday afternoon here at the Ramsey Center. The Eagles again found themselves in a big hole late in the first half and were able to close the gap in the second half, but the Catamounts were too much to overtake down the stretch.

With the loss EMU falls to 5-6 while WCU improves to 8-5.

Junior Patrice McKinney led the Eagles with 14 points and five rebounds while freshman Kelly Watts finished with 11 points. Freshman Alyssa Pittman was the only other EMU player in double figures, as senior Sarah VanMetre was held below her 17 points-per-game average, posting just nine points in the loss.

Four Catamounts reached double-digits in points, including Brooke Johnson with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Lauren Powell scored 16, Chevon Keith had 13 and Monique Dawson posted 10.

Both sides were evenly matched out of the gate, with the team’s tied at 8-8 after four minutes of play. McKinney poured in four the Eagles points, while Chevon Keith combined for seven of the Catamonts scores. Then WCU went on an 8-0 run as the Eagles suffered though a five minute scoring drought until freshman Kelly Watts was able to corral an offensive rebound and put the shot back up with 11:11 left. Pittman then connected on back-to-back three-pointers to knot the score at 16-16 with just over ten minutes left in the half.

The paced picked up as EMU three consecutive fast-break lay-ups to take a 22-20 edge with 6:58 to play. However, that would the Eagles’ last lead of the game as Western Carolina would close the half on a 16-4 run to take a 36-26 led into the locker room.

Both team’s shot well from the floor, EMU managed a 37 percent clip (10-of-27) compared to a 42.4 percent clip (14-of-33) for WCU. The Catamounts dominated the glass, grabbing 27 caroms to just 10 for the Eagles. Keith led all-scorers with 10 points and Pittman keyed EMU with eight.

Following the break the Eagles looked on a mission, posting a 10-4 run over the opening five minutes of the half, cutting the difference to just four, 40-36, with 14:44. But the ‘Cats would control the next two minutes, pushing the advantaged back to double-figures on an Ashley Pellom fast-break lay-up.

WCU’s lead grew to as many as 16 points, 61-45, as Brooke Johnson made a pair of free-throws with 6:45 to go. Once again it was the pesky Eagles chipping away at the deficit, making a fast and furious a 16-5 run over the next six minutes to pull within five at 66-61.

However, that would be all the close the Green and White would get as WCU made 3-of-4 free throws during the final :42 seconds to seal the eight-point decision, 69-61.

Eastern returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Wednesday, Jan. 3, for the Mid-American Conference opener with Northern Illinois University. Game time is set for 6 p. with the EMU men’s basketball team playing host to North Dakota State University 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women’s game. For ticket information, call 734.487.2282 or visit EMUEagles.com

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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