EMU Escapes Toledo with 58-57 Victory

Box score.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ontario-Brennan) free throw with 31 seconds remaining gave the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team a 58-57 lead over the University of Toledo. Russell would miss the second charity toss, leaving the door open for the Rockets to snatch the upset victory. However, the Eagles would prove up for the challenge, withstanding a pair of UT offensive assaults, to survive for the one-point decision Wednesday evening here at Savage Hall.

Following Russell’s miss, Toledo walked the ball up the court to set up a play for Tamesha Scotton. Scotten’s shot would miss, but neither team was able to track down the rebound as the ball bounced out of bounds with UT retaining possession. Following four timeouts and with only 10.8 seconds left, the Rockets were down to their final shot. UT put the ball in the hands of their top offensive threat, Allie Clifton. The sophomore drove the ball and took a shot in the lane that bounced around the rim before falling to the ground as the horn sounded.

Eastern Michigan, now 15-11 (9-5 MAC), moves back into a three-way tie atop the Mid-American Conference West Division with just two games remaining in the regular season. Western Michigan (12-16, 9-5 MAC), who was the division frontrunner, fell to Northern Illinois, 67-65, in DeKalb, Ill. Meanwhile, Ball State (13-14, 9-5 MAC) notched an 81-69 decision over Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Four Eagles posted double figures, led by freshman guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Sophomore forward Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-East Chicago Central) added 11 points and five rebounds, senior guard Kivilcim Yamanoglu (Antalya, Turkey-Antalya College) chipped in 10 points and four assists and Russell notched 13 points and four caroms.

Additionally, the win was a special one for first-year head coach AnnMarie Gilbert. Gilbert’s 15 victories this season are the most in EMU history for a rookie coach and the tied for the 16th most wins for a first year coach in MAC history. The MAC standard for wins by a rookie head coach is 25 set by Toledo’s Mark Ehlen (1996-97) and Mark Fennelly (1989-90).

Toledo, now 10-15 (3-10 MAC), was paced by Scotton’s 14 points and seven rebounds. Lisa Johnson added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds on senior night. The contest was also the final home game for 13th year head coach Mark Ehlen who is resigning at the end of the season.

The Green and White shot 46.8 percent (22-of-47) for the contest, including just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Toledo controlled the glass, grabbing 37 rebounds to just 30, but committed 18 turnovers. The Midnight Blue and Gold also shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) for the game.

Out of the shoot, Eastern held a slim 10-7 edge following a pair of freshman guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) free throws combined with a steal and a quick layup by sophomore forward Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-East Chicago Central). The EMU margin would grow to eight, 19-11, as Schrock completed a three point play with 11:22 showing on the clock.

On senior night the Rockets would not fold posting a 10-4 run of their own to cut it to two, 23-21, with 7:07 remaining. Right back at it though, Eastern’s offense would make it a seven point cushion, 30-23, on an aerobatic glide to the bucket by Yamanoglu with 5:29 to play.

However, the EMU scoring would stall for the remainder of the period. UT would to close the half on a 9-0 run capped by an Amber Heistan three-pointer to take a 32-30 lead into the locker room at the half.

Toledo’s Scotten and Johnson paced all scorers with eight points a piece, while Yamanoglu and Russell keyed the Eastern attack with six points each. For the frame both squads shot very well from the floor, as EMU shot a solid 50 percent (13-of-26) and UT managed a 48.3 percent (14-of-29) clip.

Following the intermission, the Rocket rally would continue as the advantage increased to five, 35-30. A Watts’ runner finally ended the Eagles nearly eight minute scoring drought with 17:55 to play to make it a three-point contest. Toledo would push the lead back to seven, 41-34, but a 6-1 by Eastern over the next 1:58 made it a one point game with 12:35 remaining.

EMU was able to regain the lead, 46-44, with on a pair of Yamanoglu charity tosses at the nine minute mark. But once again Toledo would promptly answer with a trey by Heistan to retake the lead with 8:40 to play. Neither side was able to take control of the ballgame, exchanging scores and lead changes the rest of the way.

The Rockets relied on back to-back jumpers by Scotton to claim a short-lived 56-54 edge with 2:29 remaining, but a three-point field goal by sophomore guard Alyssa Pittman (Elkhart, Ind.-Elkhart Memorial) put EMU back back 57-56 with 1:23 to go.

On Toledo’s ensuing possession, Scotton was fouled by Russell and received two foul shots. She split the free throw attempts and tied the score at 57 with 55 seconds left, before Russell’s game-clinching free throw with 31 seconds remaining.

The Green and White conclude the short two-game road swing Saturday, March 1, at Northern Illinois University Game time is scheduled for noon in DeKalb, Ill. The game will be part of the FSN Ohio “Game of the Week” package with John Sanders providing the play-by-play and Robin Muller serving as the analyst.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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