Eagles Fall to Broncos, 83-72

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team fell to in-state rival Western Michigan University, 83-72, here at the Convocation Center Wednesday evening.

After EMU climbed back to take a 68-67 lead, WMU took control of the game scoring 14 unanswered points to take an 81-68 lead with :47 seconds to go. With the loss, EMU falls to9-8 (3-2 MAC) on the year, while WMU improves to 7-12 (4-1 MAC).

The Eagles were led by sophomore Alyssa Pittman (Elkhart, Ind.-Elkhart Memorial) who had 20 points on the evening, including six triples. Sophomore Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-East Chicago Central) notched her second double-double of the season, with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Senior center Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ontario-Brennan) hit double figures as well for the Eagles, chipping in 11 points before fouling out.

The Broncos had four players in double figures, led by Amanda Parker with 18. Tiera DeLaHoussaye hit for 17, with Molly Dwyer scoring 16 and Brenna Bankston chipping in 15 for Western. The Broncos also out-rebounded the Eagles, 42-38.

For the game, the Eagles shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63), including 11-of-21 from beyond the arc (52.4 percent). The Broncos shot well from the field, hitting 29-of-64 shots (45.3 percent), including 9-of-22 from deep

Canea Williams (Mansfield, Ohio-Mansfield Senior) opened the game with a three from the top of the key before Russell hit a jumper in the lane to give the Eagles a quick 5-0 lead. The Broncos would go on a 10-3 run to give them their first lead of the game, 10-9, with 15:13 to go in the half.

Amanda Compton (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Huron) halted the Bronco run with five straight points of her own to give the Green and White back the lead, 13-10, at the 14:54 mark.

The two teams picked up the pace, as they combined for 25 points over the next three minutes. WMU then went on a 9-2 tear to retake the lead, 32-27, with 8:58 to go in the first half.

The Eagles answered with an 8-0 run of their own to go up 35-32 with 5:47 to go, on a Russell jumper and threes from Brittany Tyson and Pittman. EMU took its biggest lead of the first half, 44-37, with 1:23 showing on the clock after a Watts put-back.

The Broncos scored the last four points of the half, giving EMU a 44-41 halftime lead. Pittman led all scorers with 15, hitting on all five of her trey attempts. Tyson came off the bench to chip in eight points as well for the home team. Dwyer led the Broncos with 14 points in the half, while Parker hit double-digits with 11.

The two teams shot well in the first half, with EMU shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30), compared to Western’s 47.1 percent (16-of-34) clip. The Eagles were hot from behind the arc, hitting almost 70 percent (9-of-13) of their trey attempts.

WMU started the second half with five straight points, before Watts scored four points of her own to give the Eagles a slim two point, 48-46, lead with 16:19 on the clock. The Broncos scored nine of the next 13 points, forcing AnnMarie Gilbert to take a timeout with 13:06 remaining.

Western took a six-point lead with 9:25 to go before two more free throws by Watts cut the lead back to four. A free throw by WMU’s Parker pushed the lead back to five before Pittman connected on her sixth trey of the evening to pull the home team back within a basket at the 8:26 mark.

After taking a five point lead, 67-62, the Eagles reeled off six straight points to take their first lead in over 10 minutes. Following a Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) missed free throw, Russell picked up her fifth foul, sending her to the bench. Parker hit both free throws, putting the Broncos back up by one, 69-68, with 4:05 remaining.

WMU then took control of the game, scoring the next five points to take a 74-68 lead. Eastern was forced to foul, but the Broncos missed four consecutive free throws, giving the Eagles a chance to get back in the game. A key turnover by the Eagles led to a DeLaHoussaye steal and lay-up. DeLaHoussaye then notched another steal, leading to two free throws to put the visitors up by 10 with 1:08 to go.

The Eagles will be in action again Saturday, Jan. 26, when they travel to Buffalo, N.Y., to take on the University at Buffalo Bulls. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Alumni Arena.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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