EMU Escapes with 68-66 Win at CMU

Box score.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team continued its dominance over instate rival Central Michigan University, posting a 68-66 victory Saturday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action here at Rose Arena. The Eagles have won the last 15 meetings versus the Chippewas dating back to the 2000-01 campaign, including eight in a row on CMU’s home court.

Eastern Michigan has won its last 12 contests versus instate rivals Western Michigan University and CMU. The streak dates back to the 2004-05 campaign. The Green and White’s last loss to either the Broncos or Chippewas occurred Jan. 15, 2005, when the Broncos walked away with an 85-80 decision at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Senior center Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ontario-Brennan) tallied her first career double-double with a personal-best 25 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes of work. Junior guard Amanda Compton (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Huron) continued her sharp-shooting, posting 13 points in a career-high 30 minutes off the bench. Sophomore forward Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-East Chicago Central) chipped in eight points while freshman guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) added eight.

For the Chippewas, Brittany Houghton scored a team-high 17 points, but was held to just two in the second half. Sherryia Armstrong and Angel Chane were the only other CMU player in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively.

The Eagles, now 9-7 overall and 3-1 in MAC action, connected on 28-of-59 field-goal attempts for 47.5 percent and the Eagles made 4-of-16 triples for 25 percent. The Chippewas, now 4-13 overall and 0-4 in the MAC, made 26-of-59 shots from the field for 44.1 percent clip along with winning the battle of the boards, 36 to 35.

The first half was a struggle for the Eagles, who got on the board first, pulling out an early 4-1 edge. However, the Chippewas would take their first lead of the game at 5-4 and expand the margin to five points, 22-17, due en large part to 11 consecutive points by Houghton.

Eastern would cut the deficit to just two points, 28-26, when Russell chipped in three consecutive lay-ups with 6:56 left in the period. That would be all the closer the Green and White would get the rest of the period, as Central closed the stanza on a 12-8 run to take a 40-34 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Eagles, who were plagued by fouls during the first 20 minutes, were led by Russell with 10 points and four rebounds. The Chippewas were paced by Houghton’s 15 points and seven boards in 16 minutes of work. For the period, EMU was 15-of-31 shooting from the field and grabbed 14 caroms. CMU was 15-of-32 shooting and grabbed 24 rebounds.

Following the intermission both teams struggled to get shots to fall, it was not until the 17:23 mark before the first field goal of the period went when Compton completed a fast break lay-up. Eastern would cut it to a pair, 43-41, on junior guard Canea Williams (Mansfield, Ohio-Mansfield Senior) runner with 15:40 showing on the clock. And the momentum would continue in the Eagles’ favor as Compton connected on a three-pointer with 14:06 to play to give EMU a 46-45 advantage, its first since the opening moments of the contest.

The Eastern edge would grow to as many as eight, 55-47, on Compton’s third triple on the game, but CMU would answer with an 8-0 run on its own to knot the score at 55 with 9:13 left. The host Chippewas would retake control at 60-57 on a Sherryia Armstrong jumper.

The teams would exchange possessions as lead changes as Russell would post seven consecutive points during one span to give EMU a 65-62 advantage with 3:45 to go. CMU would recapture the lead at 66-65 on a Houghton put-back jumper but Williams drive to the hoop gave EMU control with just over two minutes showing on the clock.

CMU would have three chances to retake the advantage, including a Stacey Verhoff lay-up with nine seconds remaining, but the shots would not drop. Eastern’s Watt’s would grab the Verhoff miss with 4.9 seconds remaining and was fouled. Watts made first of two free throw attempts to make it 68-66. However, she missed the second which was grabbed by Armstrong. Central had one final half court heave with 1.8 seconds left, but it was off target as time expired to give Eastern the thrilling two-point decision.

Eastern Michigan returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Wednesday night, Jan. 22, for a match up with Western Michigan University. Wednesday’s contest also wraps up the Green and White’s first run through of West Division opponents. The team will then turn its attention of the five East Division opponents before returning to divisional action Feb. 19 in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Additional Notes:

· Following the women’s game, assistant coach Leonard Drake was honored at halftime of the CMU-Northern Illinois men’s basketball game. Drake was a member of CMU’s 1977 MAC Championship team.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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