Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Notre Dame
Eagles Fall to Notre Dame, 83-63
12/2/2008 9:04:02 PM | Women's Basketball
Teams combine for a Convocation Center record 104 rebounds
Box score.
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YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team hung tough with the No. 11/8 University of Notre Dame before falling 83-63, Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Convocation Center. The Eagles pulled within nine points with 9:14 remaining in the second half, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
With the loss, Eastern Michigan falls to 2-5 on the year while Notre Dame remains perfect at 6-0.
The Eagles struggled offensively all game, hitting for just 26.5 percent (18-for-68) compared to 38.9 percent (28-for-72) for the Irish. ND also dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Eagles, 60-44. The 104 combined rebounds set a Convocation Center record for most combined boards in a game. Leading the way for EMU was sophomore Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), who picked up her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 boards. Mary Lawson (Alexandria, Va.-Potomac (Jacksonville)) went for 14 while Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) chipped in nine.
With the Eagles only down 12 at the break, Notre Dame came out of halftime firing, building the lead to 21, 50-29, a little less than five minutes into the frame. EMU would regroup and counter with a 21-9 run over the next six minutes to shave the lead to single digits, 59-50, with a little over nine minutes remaining in the game.
After closing within single digits, the Eagles were held scoreless for almost three minutes, allowing the Irish to inflate the lead back 15 with less than seven minutes to go. EMU continued to chip away when a Lawson triple with 6:31 to go brought the home team back within 12, 65-53. Once again the Irish would answer, going on a 13-3 run over the next 2:14, essentially sealing the game.
The Irish took a 37-25 advantage into the locker room, but neither team got into an offensive groove in the first half, combining for 27 fouls and 20 turnovers. The Eagles were held to 16.7 percent (6-for-36) shooting from the field, while the Irish managed only a 34.3 percent (12-for-35) clip. Schrock led the Eagles in the first half with seven points and six rebounds.
Both teams struggled in the early going, with EMU not scoring until a pair of James’ free throws at the 14:10 mark made it 6-2 in favor of the Irish. ND went cold from the field, along with EMU forcing some early turnovers, allowing the Eagles to close within three, 12-9.
The Eagles hit the road for their next contest, traveling to Normal, Ill. to take on the Illinois State Redbirds Saturday, Dec. 6. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CST.
