Women's Basketball Drops Double Overtime Thriller to Detroit

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich.- After being down by 17 points at halftime, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team rallied to force two overtimes before falling to the University Detroit Mercy, 76-75, Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Convocation Center.

With the loss, EMU falls to 3-7 while Detroit improves to 4-6. Sophomore Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) led the Eagles with 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Shana McKinney (Detroit, Mich.-Osborn (Wayne C.C.)) notched her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Sophomore Sydney Huntley-Rogers (Cincinnati, Ohio-Pucell Marian) went for 16 points and eight assists while freshman Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) chipped in 17 points.

The Titans placed six players in double-figures en route to shooting 44.9 percent (31-for-69) compared to 36 percent (27-for-75) for the Eagles. EMU struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 7-of-35 (20 percent) compared to 41.7 percent (5-for-12) for the Titans.

Both teams struggled offensively in the second overtime, as Detroit scored the first basket with 1:14 remaining. The Eagles answered on the next possession, tying the contest at 72. Detroit's Jalesa Jones then came up big on the Titans' next possession, converting an acrobatic lay-up while picking up a foul. Despite missing the free throw, the Titans were able to corral the rebound. After hitting a pair of free throws to increase the lead to four, James answered with a three-pointer to trim the lead to one point. Needing a steal, the Eagles were unable to come up with one, ending the game.

The Eagles gave up the first four points of the first extra frame before scoring four of their own to tie the game at 70 with 2:22 to go. Neither team would score again, forcing another session of play.

After being down by 17 at the break, the Eagles tied the game at 62 with 2:59 to go in the second half off a pair of McKinney free throws. EMU came up empty in its next two possessions, while Detroit was able to push its lead to four with 1:23 to go in the contest. Schrock then scored on consecutive possessions to knot the game at 66. Coming out of a timeout, Detroit misfired on three-pointer to send the game to overtime.

After giving up 41 points in the first half, the Eagles switched it up defensively, employing an attacking full-court press. The moved paid off, as EMU went on a quick 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the second half to get within seven off a Huntley-Rogers three-pointer, 43-36, with 15:53 to go.

The Titan lead stayed in double digits until a pair of James' three-pointers on consecutive possessions brought the Eagles back within six with 8:17 to go in the second half, forcing a Detroit timeout. On the ensuing possession, Huntley-Rogers came up with a steal in the backcourt before laying one off the glass to bring the home team within four.

The Titans started the game strong, hitting four treys to take a 13-2 lead, forcing AnnMarie Gilbert to use a quick timeout with 14:47 to go in the first frame. The Eagles would then slowly chip away at the lead, getting within seven off a pair of Schrock free throws with 5:47 remaining in the first frame.

The Titans then closed the half with a 17-7 run, taking advantage of an attacking zone defense to take a 41-24 halftime lead. UDM shot 48.5 percent (16-for-33) in the first frame compared to just 32.1 percent (9-for-28) for the Eagles. The Titans were hot from beyond the arc as well, hitting 5-of-9 trey attempts to just 2-for-12 for EMU. James led the Green and White in the first half with eight points while Brittany Simmons (Zion, Ill.-Zion Benton) chipped in six off the bench.

The Eagles will take some time off for the holiday before returning to the hard-court Monday, Dec. 29, when they host Weber State University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Women's Basketball Drops Double Overtime Thriller to Detroit

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