Women’s Basketball Posts 77-47 Victory Over Weber State

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Behind 18 point from freshman guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mumford) and 17 from sophomore guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team closed out the 2008 portion of the calendar year with a 77-47 non-conference decision here Monday night, Dec. 29, in the Convocation Center to Weber State University. After leading by six points at the half, 33-27, the Eagles outscored the Wildcats 44-20 in the second half to cruise to the win.

With the victory the Eagles improve to 4-7 on the year while the Wildcats drop to 5-7.

In addition to James and Schrock, De’Ja Wills (Anderson, ind.-Anderson) also hit double digits with 12 points. Amber Land (Kulm, N.D.-Kulm) and Shana McKinney (Detroit, Mich.-Osborn-Wayne County C.C.) tied for the game-high in rebounds with seven each.

Weber State was paced by Karlee Weight with nine points while Tonya Schnibbe, the Big Sky Conference’s second leading scorer at 14.6 points per game, was held in check with just eight points.

For the game Eastern shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) while outrebounding Weber State, 47-26. WSU, which showed some signs of jet lag after making the cross-country flight from Utah, made just 32 percent (16-of-50) of its shots while committing 23 turnovers.

Points in the early going were scarce for both sides, as neither team was able to convert on their first four possessions of the contest. WSU’s Schnibbe got the scoring started with a pair of free throw tosses with 16:50 showing on the first-half clock. EMU’s McKinney returned the favor with a tip-in of her own at the16:21 mark to open to scoring for the home team.

Both teams struggled to the get rock to fall with EMU connecting on just three of its first nine shots, while WSU was 1-of-7 from the floor during the first seven minutes.

The Eagles’ offensive woes were beginning to change though thanks to back-to-back buckets by James to make it 15-12 with 9:11 left in the half. Then consecutive treys by Lawson and Wills over the top of the Wildcats’ zone defense forced Weber State to call a timeout with EMU up seven, 21-14. The Green and White’s lead would grow to as many as 10 points, 24-14, on a jumper in the lane by sophomore forward Tara Johnson (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) at the 6:58 mark.

However, the Wildcats would post a 13-4 run of their own over the next 4:13 to cut the deficit to just one, 28-27. The final 1:39 would belong to the Eagles as Lawson buried a three and Land would hit one from the block to send EMU into the locker room with a six point cushion, 33-27.

For the period EMU shot 39 percent (13-of-33) from the field, including hitting four shots from long range. Weber State was just 7-of-19 for the half, but was a stellar 11-of-12 from the free throw line. EMU also controlled the glass, grabbing 21 caroms to just 13 for the WSU.

In the second 20 minutes of play the Eagles’ run continued, as the lead would grow to 14, 43-29, on a James coast-to-coast lay-up with 15:42 left. WSU would chip away to get within 12 points, 47-35, on a Mikell Woodfield jumper but would get no closer the rest of the way. The Eagles would respond with a 9-2 run to force another WSU timeout with 9:24 to play and EMU up 55-37.

WSU would go for more than five minutes without a field goal until Schnibbe ended the drought with a jumper to make it 62-39 with 5:48 to go. But the EMU sharp-shooting continued as the Green and White would cruise to the 30-point decision.

After three consecutive home contests, the Eagles will return to the road to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule Saturday, Jan. 4, at the University of Dayton. Tipoff is schedule for 2 p.m. at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The Eagles and Flyers are meeting for the sixth time on the hardwood with UD winning the five previous tilts.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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