Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Illinois State
Offensive Struggles Doom Women’s Basketball at Illinois State
12/6/2008 3:55:03 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles fall in an early 34-8 hole and were never able to recover
Box score.
NORMAL, Ill. — The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team didn’t get off to the start it was looking for against Illinois State University Saturday afternoon, Dec. 6. The Eagles found themselves in an early 14-0 hole and were never able to recover in the 83-47 non-conference setback at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds (4-3, 0-0 Missouri Valley) put together a 34-8 run in the opening half of play and held the Eagles to 14 points in the frame to take a 40-14 advantage into the locker room at the break. The story didn’t get much better in the second half for the Eagles (2-6, 0-0 Mid-American), which dropped its fourth consecutive contest.
Sophomore Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) was one of the bright spots on the afternoon for the Eagles, leading the team with a eight points and five rebounds. Five different Eagles also dropped in six points a piece in the setback.
Six Redbirds scored in double figures, led by Kristi Cirone who knocked down three shots beyond the three-point arc and finished the contest with 14 points overall. Former EMU standout Emily Hanley followed her with 10 points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
The Green and White shot just 32 percent (15-of-50), including going 1-for-19 to open the contest, while ISU blistered the nets by shooting 44 percent (33-of-75). Illinois State, the unanimous preseason pick to win the Missouri Valley Conference, dominated the glass collecting 52 rebounds to just 32 for Eastern Michigan. The Redbirds also notched 11 steals on the afternoon on 21 EMU turnovers.
Neither side opened the contest looking overly sharp, as the ‘Birds got on the first the scoreboard first with a steal and fastbreak lay up by Shala Jackson with 19:10 showing on the clock. The Eagles had plenty of opportunities to score as well, but the shots would just not drop. EMU missed its first 12 shots before senior Amber Land (Kulm, N.D.-Kulm) ended the drought with 12:05 remaining to cut the deficit to 12, 14-2. A free throw by freshman Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) at the 11:06 mark made it 14-3.
The momentum continued to roll in favor of the home-standing Redbirds, as a 20-3 run over the next 7:51 made it 34-6 with just over three minutes to play in the opening stanza. Eastern would chip away to make it 40-14 as the teams headed to the locker room.
ISU was able to sustain the lead in the second 20 minutes of play, as EMU was unable to get any closer than 26 points, 57-31 the rest of the way.
Head coach AnnMarie Gilbert’s crew looks to regroup Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, when they host Chicago State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Tickets are available by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting EMUEagles.com
