Women’s Basketball Downs NIU, 80-66

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team opened Mid-American Conference play with an 80-66 victory over Northern Illinois here Wednesday night in the Convocation Center. Senior forward Sarah VanMetre led the Eagles (6-6, 1-0 MAC) scoring a career-high 29 points with 13 rebounds while connecting on 11-of-17 shots from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point land. The win was also the first MAC victory for EMU’s interim head coach Shane Clipfell who is filling in for head coach Suzy Merchant currently on a maternity leave.

Hot shooting by Eastern was the story of the game as the Eagles shot a blistering 53 percent from the field hitting 31-of-58 shots while connecting on 9-of-21 from behind the three-point arc. NIU made 28-of-62 shots at a 45 percent clip. Defensively, the Eagles were able to hold NIU’s talented senior guard Stephanie Raymond to 13 points after she scored 30 against Kansas earlier in the year.

EMU had two other players in double figures as junior guard Patrice McKinney just missed her career-high of 25 points tallying 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field with eight rebounds. Freshman guard Alyssa Pittman added 11 points, four rebounds and three steals. Northern Illinois (8-4, 0-1 MAC) was paced by senior forward Kristin Wiener who notched 21 points.

The game was nip and tuck over the first seven minutes of the second half with EMU holding a slim five point advantage, 49-44. Canea Williams connected on a three-pointer and EMU retained possession on a foul away from the basket. Amber Land made the most of the opportunity connecting on a layup to give the Eagles a 57-49 lead with nine minutes left in the game. EMU kept up the pressure, going on a 7-0 run to increase its lead to 64-49. NIU would not go away as the Huskies cut the margin to, 64-56, before VanMetre hit a deep three-pointer to beat the shot clock and put EMU up by 11, 67-56. EMU went on to outscore NIU 13-10 down the stretch en route to the 80-66 victory.

EMU came out of the gate on a 13-4 run over the first five minutes of the game. A VanMetre three extended the Eagles’ lead to 18-7 at the 13-minute mark. Kendra Gallert connected on another three followed by a McKinney layup gave EMU a commanding 23-7 lead. Northern Illinois responded with an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 10 at 25-15 with 8:49 left in the half. The Huskies kept chipping away with yet another run, outscoring the Eagles 13-4 to pull within one, 29-28, at the 4:51 mark. Kristen Wiener hit a turn-a-round jumper to give NIU the led, 30-29. VanMetre and McKinney hit back-to-back layups to give EMU a 33-30 advantage with 1:41 remaining. The Eagles added two baskets to take a 37-32 lead into the lockerroom at halftime. VanMetre and McKinney led the Eagles with 13 and 12 points respectively in the first 20 minutes. Wiener tallied 11 points for the Huskies.

Eastern will hit the road for its next conference match against Toledo, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos