Russell Scores 36 Points to Lead Eagles Past Akron, 76-71

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to beat the University of Akron Zips, 76-71, in Mid-American Conference action Tuesday night at the Convocation Center. The Eagles were led by senior center Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ont.-Brennan) with 36 points, the most scored since LaTonya Watson scored 36 against Ball State, March 2, 1991.

Russell was 11-of-18 from the field and 14-of-20 from the free throw line and set a Convocation Center and an EMU team record for free throws made and attempted in a game. Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-Chicago Central) also hit double figures for the Green and White, with 10 while freshman Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) set a career-high in rebounds with 10. With the win, the Eagles improve to 13-9 (7-3 MAC), while Akron falls to 7-17 (2-8 MAC).

The Zips hit their first three shots, including two free throws in racing out to an early 9-0 advantage, forcing an Eagle timeout less than three minutes into the game. The Eagles steadily climbed back into the game, knotting the game at 17 off a Brittany Tyson (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Huron-WMU) lay-up with 8:03 to go.

The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes, until Canea Williams (Mansfield, Ohio-Mansfield Senior) hit a pair of free throws to give the Green and White their first advantage of the game, 25-23, with 2:38 remaining in the half.

EMU headed into the locker room with a 29-28 advantage, despite being down for most of the half. Both teams struggled offensively, as the Eagles managed only a .281 shooting percentage (9-for-32), compared to .313 (10-for-32) shooting for the Zips. EMU was led by Russell’s eight points, while Kara Murphy led UA with nine points.

The Eagles rattled off the first 10 points of the second half before Akron stopped the run with a pair of free throws to make it 39-30 with 16:05 remaining in the game.

The Zips would not go away, as they went on an 11-4 run to climb back within two, 43-41, with 13:05 showing on the clock. Alyssa Pittman (Elkhart, Ind.-Memorial) then responded with a deep triple, EMUs only trey of the game, to push the Eagle lead back to five.

Akron took its first lead of the second half, 53-52, off a Murphy lay-up with just under eight minutes to go in the contest. EMU responded, scoring the next five points to push its lead back to four, 57-54, with 6:59 remaining.

The teams went back and forth down the stretch, until Russell scored five straight points of her own to give EMU a six point lead with 2:17 to go in the contest. The Zips continued to hit big shots, closing the gap to 72-69 with just over 45 seconds remaining.

An EMU turnover on the ensuing possession gave Akron an opportunity, but Schrock grabbed the defensive rebound. Forced to foul, the Zips sent Tyson to line, and the senior responded by hitting both tosses to put the home team up by five with 29.5 seconds remaining.

The Eagles will conclude cross-divisional play Saturday, Feb. 16, when they travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, to face the Falcons. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Anderson Arena.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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