Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Bowling Green
Women's Basketball Downed at Bowling Green, 83-71
1/23/2010 5:33:24 PM | Women's Basketball
Falcons lead from wire-to-wire in a battle of first-place squads
Box score.
Photo Gallery.
Click Here to Re-Listen to the Game.
Click Here for Coach Gilbert's Postgame Comments.
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – In a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders, Bowling Green State University used strong shooting and aggressive defense to disrupt the potent Eastern Michigan University offense, en route to an 83-71 victory Saturday afternoon in front of a raucous crowd at Anderson Arena. BGSU led by as many as 25 points in the second half, but the Eagles clawed back with a 21-8 run over the final 5:31 to get back within 12.
With the loss, Eastern Michigan falls to 14-4 (4-2 MAC) while Bowling Green goes to 16-4 (6-0 MAC). The victory is the seventh consecutive by the Falcons in the series, and drops EMU to 4-23 all-time at venerable Anderson Arena.
The Green and White were led by sophomore guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) with a game-high 22 points in 37 minutes of work. Junior guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) followed with 17 points and junior Sydney Huntley (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian) chipped in 11. Freshman Chenise Miller (Oak Park, Mich. -West Bloomfield) turned in another nice game as well with five points, eight rebounds and three blocks off the bench.
Tracy Pontius lead all Bowling Green players with 16 points. Lauren Prochaska, the reigning MAC's Player of the Year, notched 14 points followed by Jen Uhl with 12 and Kelly Zuercher with 10.
Eastern Michigan shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) for the game, including a blistering 56.7 percent (17-of-30) in the second half, compared to a 42.0 percent (29-of-69) clip for Bowling Green. However, the Falcons controlled the glass (46 to 31) and forced 24 Eagle turnovers that led to 29 points.
The Orange and Brown jumped out to a quick 9-3 edge with barely three minutes gone in the contest, but EMU pecked away to pull within two, 10-8, on a James' three pointer at the 16:14 mark. The back-and-fourth battle continued until a Maggie Hennegan runner in the paint keyed a 19-5 run by the Falcons over the next eight minutes.
The deficit would reach 20 points, 37-17, when Allison Papenfuss connected on a pair of charity tosses with 3:34 to still play in the opening stanza. The margin would hover around that total as the teams headed into the lockerroom at the half.
Following the break, the teams exchanged scores but Eastern was unable to pull any closer than 16 points. BGSU took its biggest lead of the game at 25, 69-44, on two more free throws by Tara Breske with 7:39 to play.
From that point on though the Eagles would regroup and out-score the Falcons, 27-14, including a 21-8 run over the final 5:31. However, it would not be enough with Bowling Green posting the 83-71 victory.
Eastern Michigan returns to action Wednesday night, Jan. 27, on the road at Ohio University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio.
