Eagles Advance to Championship Game of Holiday Hoops Classic

SEATTLE, Wash. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team made the most of its first visit to the Evergreen State as they defeated Saint Louis University, 66-55, here at KeyArena in the opening round of the Washington Dental Services Holiday Hoops Tournament hosted by Seattle University. The win moves the Eagles into tomorrow's 3:15 p.m. championship game where they will battle the host Redhawks of SU.

Seven Eagles registered points in the game, with four players posting double-figure numbers in the points column. Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) paced the Green and Whites' offensive effort with 19 points this afternoon. Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) added 10 points with six assists and recorded a career-high seven steals in the contest, while Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) and India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) each contributed with 11 points apiece.

SLU's Jacy Bradley led the Billikens with 13 points, while Courtney Webb and Desirae Ball chipped in with 12 point efforts.

The Eagles (7-4) shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) in the game, compared a 42.3 clip (22-of-52) by the Billikens (4-9). Despite shooting a mere 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from long range, the Eagles made up for it with a dominate presence in the paint, outscoring their opponent 46-14 in the key. Defensively, the Green and White would register 15 steals and scored 21 points off of 27 SLU turnovers.

With six lead changes and the score deadlocked at three separate occasions in the opening stanza, the first half showcased a true back-and-forth battle between the two squads. EMU shot 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from the floor but struggled from long range, connecting on just one-of-six attempts (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Conversely, SLU drained 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) three-point attempts to contribute to a healthy 52.2 (12-of-23) shooting percentage in the opening half.

After winning the opening tip, the Billikens netted the first points of the game on a jumper by Ball from the right elbow to give SLU a 2-0 advantage, but the Green and White would respond at the other end on the fast break layup by James to knot the score at two apiece. Down by three, the Eagles strung together a 9-0 run to build its biggest lead of the half, but the Billikins utilized its outside shooting to bring it within one at the 14:29 mark. EMU would trail with two minutes remaining, but a layup off the glass by Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) tied the score at 31-apiece before heading into the lockerroom.

In the second half, a tenacious Eagles defense turned up the pressure, tallying 12 points off of 14 SLU turnovers. With 14:49 remaining in the second half, EMU took a 40-38 advantage on a layup by Thomas, and would continue to build onto its lead with another four unanswered points. A bucket by Fouty with 8:09 remaining pushed the Green and White up by eight, an advantage the Eagles would never relinquish as EMU remained in control for the remainder of the contest and sealed the 11-point victory.

Eagles Advance to Championship Game of Holiday Hoops Classic

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Olivia Fouty

India Hairston

Desyree Thomas

Eastern Michigan Athletics