Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Detroit
Women's Hoops Rolls Past Detroit
12/6/2006 9:30:59 PM | Women's Basketball
VanMetre notches 20 points to eclipse 1000 point career mark
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team got back on track with a dominating second half performance to cruise to a 71-55 victory over a visiting University of Detroit Mercy squad Wednesday night here at the Convocation Center. The Eagles out-scored the Titans 38-25 in the second half after leading by only three at the half. Sarah VanMetre poured in 20 points along with 12 boards to become the 14th player in EMU history to score 1,000 career points.
The victory snaps EMU’s three-game losing skid and pushes its record to 3-3 on the season. The decision was also head coach Suzy Merchant's 147 victory at the helm of the Eagle program, surpassing Kathy Hart for the most wins as the head coach in the program’s 31-year history at 146. On the other side of the court Detroit falls to 1-6.
Patrice McKinney reached double figures in points and rebounds for the second time in the young season tallying 16 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman Emily Hanley also had a hand in the action with eight points and seven rebounds.
Two Titans reached double figures led by Heather Hatter and Chanica Hall who both had 13 points.
Hot second half shooting by Eastern was the story the storyline of the night as EMU connected on 15-of-34 shots from the field for a 44 percent clip while hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers.
Both sides’ struggles to open the contest, as UDM held a 7-6 edge with 15:54 to play in the half. The Eagles were cold from the field shooting just 25 percent (2-of-8), but on the flipside, the Titans were plagued with a trio of turnovers to limit their scoring opportunities.
The pace picked up considerably but it still remained a single possession game as neither side was able to get its shot to consistently fall. The Eagles took its biggest lead of the half at 29-26 via a Hanley layup with 2:52 left before the break. EMU’s 9-2 run continued as VanMetre hit a jumper in the lane at the 1:33 mark.
Detroit’s defense would clamp down not allowing an EMU field goal the rest of the period, while answering with back-to-back scores of its own to make it a one-point game, 31-30, in the waning moments. A pair of VanMetre tosses from the charity stripe sent the Eagles into the locker room with the three-point lead, 33-30.
For the period, EMU shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the floor compared to a 32.3 percent (10-of-31) for Detroit. The Green and White controlled the glass grabbing 24 caroms to just 16 for the Red and White. UDM’s Katy Dunlop poured in a half-best 11 points while VanMetre and McKinney keyed the Eagles’ scoring with eight points apiece.
Following the intermission, Detroit rolled off a 14-8 run over the opening six minutes to regain the lead at 44-42. But the host Eagles would respond with a 9-0 run of its own over the next 3:34 capped off by a VanMetre fast break layup which forced Detroit to burn a timeout as EMU led 51-44.
Detroit was able to break a four minute scoring drought as Dunlop made a jumper from the corner to end the run. UDM was able to claw within a six, 57-51, on a jumper by Sandi Brown with 7:23 to play. The Titans also had opportunities for easy points from the free throw line but were unable to capitalize.
That would be all the closer Detroit would get as the Eagles controlled the final four minutes, using a 13-4 run to seal the 71-55 victory.
Eastern will hit the road for the next five contests games, taking the court next Dec. 9 at Wright State University. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in the Nutter Center.
