Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Eagles Fall Just Short Against Zips, 73-66
1/30/2010 4:11:08 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU overcomes an 18-point deficit to pull within four points, but could inch no closer down the stretch
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A second half rally fell just short for the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team Saturday afternoon, Jan. 30, at the Convocation Center, as the Eagles fell, 73-66, to the University of Akron Zips in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional tilt.
The loss drops EMU to 15-5 (5-3 MAC) this season, while Akron improves to 12-9 (6-2 MAC) with the win.
Behind by as many as 18 points in the second half, the Eagles methodically chipped away at Akron's lead, as a pair of makes at the charity stripe by junior Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) put the Eagles within eight (53-45) for the first time since the closing stages of the first half. Sophomore guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) inched the Eagles even closer with 5:02 left in the game, as her layup through a pair of Akron defenders made it a 54-50 game.
But unlike the team's previous game at Ohio University, a late second half rally would fall just short, despite four triples from junior guard Sydney Huntley (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian) in the final 1:33 of the game. Akron outscored EMU, 19-15, in the final 5:02 to become the first team to knock off the Eagles inside the Convocation Center this season.
Huntley tallied a season and team high 28 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the field in the loss, including a career-high six makes from beyond the arc. James finished with 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting in the loss, marking the 12th game this season in which she has scored 20 or more points.
Schrock fell just short of reaching her third double-double of the season, as she finished with 11 points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 shooting from the free throw line to go along with a game-high nine assists.
A balanced attack on offense mid-way through the first half paved the way for a 12-point advantage for the Eagles, as Huntley connected from long distance to give EMU a 25-13 lead with 10:10 left in the half. Huntley knocked down a pair of triples in the opening frame to lead all scorers with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-4 clip from beyond the arc.
But the feisty Zips battled back to narrow the gap in the closing minutes of the first half, as the Eagles let an 12-point lead evaporate into a nine point deficit at the half with the Zips leading, 39-30. Following Huntley's three-pointer, Akron went on a 26-8 run over the final 10:10 to put the Eagles behind at the half for just the second time at home all season.
The Eagles made 7-of-8 attempts from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes, but the Zips' three-point attack and costly turnovers by EMU leading to easy Akron baskets proved to be the difference, as Akron tallied five makes from three-point land and scored a game-high 12 points off turnovers.
Akron continued its tear on offense in the opening minutes of the second half, going on a 6-0 into the first media timeout to open up a 15-point advantage, 45-30, with 15:43 remaining.
The Eagles managed to cut the deficit to 10-points with 9:00 remaining in the game, as a pair of free throws by James limited Akron to a 53-43 lead.
James helped bring the Eagles back down the stretch of the contest, scoring EMU's next five points to limit the Zips to a 54-50 advantage with 5:02 remaining in the game.
But Akron's lead proved to be too much for EMU to overcome, as the Eagles dropped their first home contest of the season.
The Eagles are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 3, for their final cross-divisional MAC road game of the season, as the team heads to Buffalo, N.Y. for a match-up with the University at Buffalo Bulls. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena.
