Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
North Dakota
James and Miller Push EMU Past North Dakota, 76-65
1/4/2010 9:36:46 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU wins 10 non-conference games for the second time in school history
Box score.
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team overcame a slow start to record a 76-65 non-conference victory over the University of North Dakota here Monday night, Jan. 4, in the Convocation Center.
The Eagles fought back from an early-game double-digit deficit to out-score the visitors, 66-43, over the final 30 minutes of the game to improve to 10-2 on the season, just the second time in school history that the women have turned in 10 non-conference wins in a season.
Sophomore guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) led the Eagles with 24 points, including hitting five three-point shots. Freshman Chenise Miller (Oak Park, Mich.-West Bloomfield) added 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and three assists, while Junior guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) tallied 11 and six assists.
Whitney Ledger paced the Fighting Sioux, now 3-12, with 20 points while Kayla Bagaason added 18.
The Eagles out-rebounded North Dakota, 44-38, and the home squad shot 40.8 percent from the field, connecting on 29-of-71 shots. The Fighting Sioux shot 40.4 percent from the field, making 23-of-57 field-goal attempts.
Bagaason opened the scoring with a three and the visitors quickly built up a 12-point lead, 22-10, after the first 9:46 of the game.
Eastern managed to cut into that lead, pulling within four, 28-24, on a three-point field goal by James followed by a jumper by Miller with 6:38 left in the half.
The Eagles' offense managed to outscore North Dakota, 8-2, over the final four minutes of the half to take a 32-30 lead into intermission.
James and Miller led the Eagles in the first half with eight each while Bagaason paced the Fighting Sioux with 11.
EMU shot just 31 percent in the first half, hitting 12-of-38 shots while the visitors connected on 44 percent, making 11-of-25, including hitting 5-of-11 three pointers.
North Dakota started the second half with a flurry, managing to take a two-point lead, 36-34, in the early going. However, the Eagles used a fast-break attack to quickly build its advantage to eight, 51-43, with 11:16 left in the game on a basket and free throw by Schrock.
Eastern would improve its lead all the way to 12, 65-53, following a James three-pointer from well beyond the arc as the shot clock expired and the Eagles held off the visitors for the 11-point win.
There is no rest for the Eagles as they swing into Mid-American Conference action Wednesday, Jan. 6, when the Central Michigan University Chippewas come to the Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. game.
