Eagles Outlast Ramblers, 63-55

CHICAGO, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team downed the Ramblers of Loyola University-Chicago by a score of 63-55 today, Nov. 20 at North Park Gymnasium. The win moves the Eagles to 3-1 on the year, while the Ramblers fall to 3-1 overall.

Senior Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) recorded her fifth career double-double, scoring 17 points and snagging a career-high 18 rebounds while dishing out three assists. Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) led the Eagles offensively with 20 points this afternoon, and Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) contributed with nine points and seven assists.

Patrice King led Loyola with 24 points, while Monica Albano chipped in with 16.

EMU shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) in the contest and dominated the boards, outrebounding the Ramblers 46-26.

Loyola was 18-of-49 for a 36.7 shooting percentage and made 50 percent of their three-point attempts (7-of-14).

In the first half, the Eagles took advantage of nine Loyola turnovers for 12 points and converted on eight second chance points.

Back-to-back free throws by Redditt along with buckets by Thomas, India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady), and James helped string together an EMU 8-0 run mid-way through the first half to surge to a 17-6 lead over the home team, but the Ramblers would later close the gap to just two with 6:15 left in the half after Loyola's King connected on a triple to bring the score to 27-25.

Heading into the locker room, the Eagles would still hold on to their lead with a slim 31-30 advantage over the Ramblers.

Loyola's King would give her team its first lead of the game in the opening seconds of the second half on a fast break bucket to put the Ramblers up, 32-31, but the Eagles would respond with a seven unanswered to reclaim the lead.

With 7:54 remaining in the game, Katie Kortekamp pushed the Ramblers ahead, 51-49, draining a long-range three-pointer while drawing the foul and successfully converting on the four-point play.

Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) helped EMU knot it up at 51-apiece on a jumper in the paint with 5:16 remaining, but Loyola retaliated with a layup of their own. EMU responded with Redditt free throws and a Fouty layup from Thomas to help the Eagles repossess the lead.

With just under a minute to play and a two-point lead, the Eagles defense forced a back court violation to gain possession and draw a foul to put James at the line. She would sink both free throws and give the Green and White a 59-55 lead with just 19 seconds remaining. EMU would maintain control for the duration of the game and secure the 63-55 road victory.

The Green and White will return to action when they face Cornell, Nov. 25. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Desyree Thomas

Olivia Fouty

Eastern Michigan Athletics