Women's Basketball Drops Overtime Decision at Detroit

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DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — After being down by 10 points in the first half, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team rallied to force overtime before falling to the University Detroit Mercy, 70-69, Tuesday, Dec. 20, at historic Calihan Hall.

With the loss, EMU falls to 6-4 while Detroit improves to 3-8. Sophomore Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) led the Eagles with a career-best 28 points and nine rebounds while Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) notched her third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 boards. Senior Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford), the nation's second-most prolific scorer at 25.1 points per game, was held to a season-low nine points.

The Titans placed three players in double-figures en route to shooting 43.8 percent (21-for-48) compared to 41.5 percent (27-for-65) for the Eagles. EMU struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) compared to 35.0 percent (7-for-20) for the Titans. UDM also went to the line 31 times, connecting on a season-best 21.

Jalesa Jones tallied a season-high 18 combined with 23 points from Senee Shearer to lead UDM. Jones was a career-best 11-of-12 from the free throw line, while adding three rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, Shearer was 7-of-15 from the field with four three-pointers and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.

It was a back-and-fourth battle between the two rivals separated by just 40 miles that featured 12 ties and eight lead changes. The game was tied at 63 heading into the extra frame and again at 67-all with 3:27 left in overtime. Both teams did not score again until the 2:16 mark when Lauren Allen hit a jumper to push the Titan edge to 69-67.

Following a pair of missed Detroit free throws, Shearer was able to work her way inside and corral the rebound, sending Jones to the line with 18 seconds still showing in overtime. Jones would make just one of the tosses to push the margin to three, 70-67. EMU then tried to get the ball in the hands of James, but her three-point attempt was wide. However, Fouty was underneath to grab the carom and stick it back up to get EMU within a point, 70-69, with three seconds remaining. The Titans inbounded the ball and cleared the press to seal the victory.

After holding a slim one-point edge at the intermission, Eastern Michigan was never able to extend the lead beyond more than four points. After trailing 37-33 with 16:14 to play in the second half, Detroit would use a 13-4 run to go on top 57-52 with 6:14 still to play.

Detroit would still cling to a five-point advantage with 4:05 to go, but Watkins keyed a 7-2 charge to knot the score at the end of regulation.

James and the Eagles were frustrated out of the game by the Titans, as the Green and White missed its first nine shots, while James misfired on her first six attempts. Detroit was able to use this to its advantage to jump out to a 9-0 edge with 16:20 left in the first half.

Back-to-back baskets by Fouty and senior Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) sliced the deficit to five, 9-4. But again the Titans answered to balloon the advantage to 10, 18-8, with 9:31 left in the half.

EMU then came back to take the lead, 27-26 with a 19-8 run over the next eight minutes. Free throws by Brown and Shayok eventually put the Titans back in front briefly, but the Eagles added a late bucket in the half to take a 29-28 lead at the intermission.
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EMU jets to the Pacific Northwest to participate in the Washington Dental Service Holiday Hoops Tournament hosted by Seattle University at KeyArena in Seattle,. Wash. The Eagles and Redhawks will be joined by Saint Louis University and St. Francis University (Pa.). The Green and White square off versus the Billikens of Saint Louis Thursday, Dec. 29, followed by a matchup with either the Red Flash or the Redhawks Friday, Dec. 30.

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Team Stats

Natachia Watkins

Olivia Fouty

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Eastern Michigan Athletics