Eagles' Rally Falls Short Against James Madison

Box Score

CANCUN, Mexico- The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team dropped an 80-76 contest to James Madison University as part of the Caribbean Challenge at Moon Palace Resort, Thursday, Nov. 27. The Eagles were down by 15 with 3:03 remaining and pulled within three with 17 seconds remaining but were unable to complete the rally.

With the loss, EMU moves to 2-3 on the season while JMU improves to 2-1. The Eagles had four players hit double figures, led by sophomore Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) with 21 points and nine rebounds. Junior Mary Lawson (Alexandria, Va.-West Potomac (Jacksonville)) hit for 15, followed by Sydney Huntley-Rogers (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian) and Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) with 12 each.

For the game, JMU shot a scorching 52.6 percent (30-for-57) while the Eagles went 26-for-64, good for a 40.6 percent clip. EMU once again relied on its pressure defense, forcing 28 turnovers en route to 18 steals.

James Madison seemed to have the game in hand, going up by 15 with a little over three minutes remaining. The Eagles did not give up, ratcheting up the defensive pressure to get back in the game. James’ long jumper with 17 seconds remaining brought EMU within three, but a JMU free throw at the other end with eight seconds remaining provided the final margin.

Coming out of the break, the Dukes extended their eight point halftime lead to double digits in the early going. EMU closed within three at the 11:56 mark, 50-53, on Lawson’s three-point play but the Dukes went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, forcing an AnnMarie Gilbert timeout with the Eagles down by 12 with 10:02 showing on the clock.

The Eagles started to whittle down the Dukes’ lead, relying on the hot shooting of Lawson. Two consecutive treys by the junior forced a JMU timeout with the Green and White only down by nine, 68-59, with 6:44 to go in contest. The Dukes would keep a comfortable lead for the next few minutes before the Eagles began to rally at the 3:03 mark.

The Eagles and Dukes stayed close during the first half, with James Madison going to intermission with a 40-32 lead, led by Dawn Evans’ 12 points on four treys. Leading the way for EMU was Schrock with six points. JMU shot 50 percent (17-for-34) from the floor in the first frame, compared to 40 percent (10-for-25) for the Eagles

The Eagles are back in action tomorrow, Nov. 28, when they take on No. 22/24 Texas Christian University. EMU and the Horned Frogs are set to tip-off at 1 p.m. CST in the Galactic Ballroom.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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