Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Niagara
EMU Soars Past Niagara, 83-68
11/22/2009 4:18:29 PM | Women's Basketball
A near-triple-double by Cassie Schrock bolts Eastern past Niagara
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team used an 11-0 run late in the first half as fuel to soar past the Purple Eagles of Niagara University, 83-68, here Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, at the Gallagher Center. With the victory, Eastern pushes its record to a perfect 4-0 on the young season.
After a seesaw battle early in the contest, the Eagles locked in defensively causing four consecutive Niagara turnovers, all of which ended on made baskets by Eastern, and took a 37-27 lead. Sparked by another stellar all-around performance by junior guard Cassie Shrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), EMU would see their advantage swell to 12 points, 45-33, by halftime.
The Purple Eagles did not quit, however, coming out in the second half and making a rally of their own. After a layup by Niagara guard Kayla Stroman, the EMU lead was trimmed to seven, 52-45. It was then when junior guard Sydney Huntley (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian) continued her trend of second half dominance. Huntley would rip off nine of the Eagles next 11 points, helping EMU's lead once again grow to double digits. She finished the game with 14 points, all of which came after halftime.
Schrock finished the game with a near triple-double, tallying 14 points and team-highs 11 assists and seven rebounds. It was the first game in which junior forward Kristin Thomas (Winter Park, Fla.—Edgewater-Hillsborough C.C.) did not lead the team in rebounding.
Sophomore guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) lead the Eagles scoring attack with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Junior guard De'Ja Wills (Anderson, Ind.-Anderson) chipped in 12, all from beyond the arc, while freshman forward Chenise Miller (Oak Park, Mich.-West Bloomfield) added eight points and four steals.
The Eagles shot 50 percent from the field (33-of-66) and forced 27 Niagara turnovers despite losing the rebound battle 28-33.
The Eagles complete their seven-day, three-game road trip when they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on the Temple Owls in a Tuesday, Nov. 24, contest. Tipoff is at 5 p.m.
