Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, December 3
East Lansing, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-2
59
at
60
Michigan State
6-3
1
2
OT 1
F
Eastern Michigan
22
30
7
59
Michigan State
17
35
8
60
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Women’s Basketball Drops Overtime Thriller at Michigan State
12/3/2011 5:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Senior Tavelyn James’ shot falls short as time expired in the extra period
Photo Gallery.
Postgame Audio.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Women's Basketball Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's return to the Breslin Center for the first time as a head coach was spoiled by Michigan State University Saturday, Dec. 3. The Spartans, who trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, rallied to post 60-59 overtime victory.
After a back-and-fourth first half, the Eagles opened the second half on an impressive 20-11 run to take a 42-28 lead with 11:50 to play in the contest. However, Michigan State would answer with a decisive 21-8 run of its own to make it 50-49 with just 31 seconds to play in regulation.
A MSU foul sent senior Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) to the free throw line with 28 seconds remaining. James sank both tosses to push the EMU cushion to three, 52-49.
With the clock winding down, Jasmine Thomas took the ball on the deep wing and drilled a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to knot the score at 52. Back down the court, EMU was unable to get a shot off as time expired and the contest moved to overtime.
In overtime, the two teams matched baskets early but a layup by Kiana Johnson and two free throws by Lykendra Johnson gave the Spartans a 60-57 lead with 1:26 left.
James, who was held scoreless in the first half, connected on a layup with 28 ticks showing to make it 60-59. After a MSU turnover underneath the EMU basket gave the ball back to the Eagles, James would give the Green and White a last ditch attempt to escape with the victory. However, she was never able to get a clear shot at the hoop as Michigan State escaped with the thrilling one-point victory.
The Eagles (5-2) were paced by James with 19 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Senior Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) posted another double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out of the contest with 4:11 to go in overtime. After a career-day at Canisius, Nov. 27, sophomore Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) continued her strong play with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Eagles.
Gilbert, who spent five years as an assistant to former Spartans coach Joanne P. McCallie, is in her fifth season in Ypsilanti. In Gilbert's five years as an assistant coach at Michigan State, the Spartans made five consecutive NCAA Tournaments appearances and played in the 2005 national championship game. On the opposite bench for MSU was former EMU Head Coach Suzy Merchant who left the program following the 2007 campaign.
L. Johnson, Thomas and K. Johnson each scored in double-figures for Michigan State (6-3). L. Johnson posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas also had 13 points, a season-high, and four steals, while K. Johnson chipped in 10 points, four assists and three steals.
Eastern Michigan shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) to just a 37.7 percent (23-of-61) clip for MSU. The defense for the Eagles was outstanding, as the Green and White held MSU to just 22.2 percent (6-of-27) in the first half, including 1-10 from behind the arc.
Each side struggled to shoot the ball in the first period, but it was the Eagles getting on the board first with a layup by Watkins just under a minute into the game. MSU would take a 9-8 edge on a Jasmine Thomas layup with 11:07 to play in the contest, for the Spartans final lead of the stanza.
Another Watkins layup at the 10:37 mark was the sixth and final lead change of the half, as EMU would go on a 14-6 run to open its biggest lead of the contest at seven points, 22-15. Despite the Eagles' lead scoring being held without a field goal, Eastern would head to the lockerroom at the break with a five-point cushion, 22-17.
After an impressive opening 20 minutes of basketball, Eastern Michigan kicked it up a notch in the second half. James found her shooting touch with five quick points to push the EMU advantage to eight, 29-21 with 17:40 to go.
After a quick run by Michigan State, the Eagles answered with a 13-4 run of its own capped by a Watkins jumper at the 11:50 mark to see the lead balloon to as many as 14, 42-28.
MSU would not go quietly, however, posting a 14-3 run of its own over the next six minutes to cut the deficit to three, 45-42, on a pair of Porshe Poole free throws with 4:55 left in regulation.
EMU would build the lead back to 50-44, but would be unable to match the dramatics of MSU the rest of the contest.
With the five-game road trip out of the way, Eastern Michigan returns home Friday, Dec. 9, to host UMKC. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Postgame Audio.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Women's Basketball Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's return to the Breslin Center for the first time as a head coach was spoiled by Michigan State University Saturday, Dec. 3. The Spartans, who trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, rallied to post 60-59 overtime victory.
After a back-and-fourth first half, the Eagles opened the second half on an impressive 20-11 run to take a 42-28 lead with 11:50 to play in the contest. However, Michigan State would answer with a decisive 21-8 run of its own to make it 50-49 with just 31 seconds to play in regulation.
A MSU foul sent senior Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) to the free throw line with 28 seconds remaining. James sank both tosses to push the EMU cushion to three, 52-49.
With the clock winding down, Jasmine Thomas took the ball on the deep wing and drilled a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to knot the score at 52. Back down the court, EMU was unable to get a shot off as time expired and the contest moved to overtime.
In overtime, the two teams matched baskets early but a layup by Kiana Johnson and two free throws by Lykendra Johnson gave the Spartans a 60-57 lead with 1:26 left.
James, who was held scoreless in the first half, connected on a layup with 28 ticks showing to make it 60-59. After a MSU turnover underneath the EMU basket gave the ball back to the Eagles, James would give the Green and White a last ditch attempt to escape with the victory. However, she was never able to get a clear shot at the hoop as Michigan State escaped with the thrilling one-point victory.
The Eagles (5-2) were paced by James with 19 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Senior Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) posted another double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out of the contest with 4:11 to go in overtime. After a career-day at Canisius, Nov. 27, sophomore Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) continued her strong play with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Eagles.
Gilbert, who spent five years as an assistant to former Spartans coach Joanne P. McCallie, is in her fifth season in Ypsilanti. In Gilbert's five years as an assistant coach at Michigan State, the Spartans made five consecutive NCAA Tournaments appearances and played in the 2005 national championship game. On the opposite bench for MSU was former EMU Head Coach Suzy Merchant who left the program following the 2007 campaign.
L. Johnson, Thomas and K. Johnson each scored in double-figures for Michigan State (6-3). L. Johnson posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas also had 13 points, a season-high, and four steals, while K. Johnson chipped in 10 points, four assists and three steals.
Eastern Michigan shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) to just a 37.7 percent (23-of-61) clip for MSU. The defense for the Eagles was outstanding, as the Green and White held MSU to just 22.2 percent (6-of-27) in the first half, including 1-10 from behind the arc.
Each side struggled to shoot the ball in the first period, but it was the Eagles getting on the board first with a layup by Watkins just under a minute into the game. MSU would take a 9-8 edge on a Jasmine Thomas layup with 11:07 to play in the contest, for the Spartans final lead of the stanza.
Another Watkins layup at the 10:37 mark was the sixth and final lead change of the half, as EMU would go on a 14-6 run to open its biggest lead of the contest at seven points, 22-15. Despite the Eagles' lead scoring being held without a field goal, Eastern would head to the lockerroom at the break with a five-point cushion, 22-17.
After an impressive opening 20 minutes of basketball, Eastern Michigan kicked it up a notch in the second half. James found her shooting touch with five quick points to push the EMU advantage to eight, 29-21 with 17:40 to go.
After a quick run by Michigan State, the Eagles answered with a 13-4 run of its own capped by a Watkins jumper at the 11:50 mark to see the lead balloon to as many as 14, 42-28.
MSU would not go quietly, however, posting a 14-3 run of its own over the next six minutes to cut the deficit to three, 45-42, on a pair of Porshe Poole free throws with 4:55 left in regulation.
EMU would build the lead back to 50-44, but would be unable to match the dramatics of MSU the rest of the contest.
With the five-game road trip out of the way, Eastern Michigan returns home Friday, Dec. 9, to host UMKC. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Team Stats
EMU
MSU
FG%
.397
.377
3FG%
.333
.235
FT%
.750
.500
RB
39
45
TO
19
19
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
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