Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 11
Cleveland, Ohio
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
61
vs
55
Toledo
Photo by: Jonathan Knight Photography
Eagles Upset Rockets, 61-55, to Advance to MAC Championship
3/11/2011 5:30:32 PM | Women's Basketball
An 18-point, 11-rebound effort by Redditt, and 20 points by Schrock help propel EMU to within a game of the Big Dance
Box score.
Photo Gallery.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The age-old saying is that it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, and the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team confirmed that by defeating the University of Toledo, 61-55, in the semifinals of the FirstEnergy 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament, Friday, March 11, at Quicken Loans Arena.
The No. 5 seeded Eagles improve to 22-11 after taking down the MAC regular season champion and top seeded Rockets who await their postseason fate at 23-8.
Cassie Schrock netted a team-high 20 points for the Eagles, and dished out three assists with a steal and five boards. Paige Redditt notched her fourth double-double of the season and the second in her last three games after scoring 18 on a 7-of-8 shooting performance, while snagging 11 rebounds for EMU. For her efforts, she was named the player of the game.
The Eagles held led wire-to-wire, jumping ahead by as much as 13 points with 2:45 to play in the first half. Back-and-forth action allowed Toledo to remain within striking distance as the Rockets cut their deficit to three, 50-47, with 5:32 left in the game. EMU kept a steady advantage in the closing minutes with strong defense and timely free throw shooting.
From the field, the Eagles shot at a 34.9 percent clip (22-of-63) and were 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. EMU was 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, but used 22 UT turnovers to net 21 points.
Out of the halftime break, both teams found their offensive confidence and rhythm with each team exchanging buckets. However, Eastern continued to maintain the double-digit lead until Courtney Ingersoll drilled a three to set the score at 39-31 with 12:39 remaining in the contest.
A Melissa Goodall runner in the lane was then followed by a Richardson stick-back to cut the lead to four, 44-40, at the 9:09 mark.
Sydney Huntley and Schrock would combine for six straight points for EMU, but again Toledo found an answer of its own to pull within a basket at 52-47.
After being held silent for most of the game, Tavelyn James found her way open for back-to-back scores igniting a stagnant EMU offense, extending the lead back up to seven with 4:30 still showing on the game clock.
Defense and free throws would be the story down the stretch for both sides as EMU secured a championship bid for the first time since 2003-04 when the Eagles faced the Falcons of Bowling Green State University.
Huntley got the Eagles out to a quick start to open the contest scoring four of the team's first eight points. Meanwhile the stingy EMU defense allowed the Rockets to make just two of its first seven shots during the opening four minutes of action.
EMU's pressure defense forced UT into seven turnovers during the first eight minutes, with the Green and White converting those miscues into nine points to balloon the EMU edge to nine points, 13-4, on a pair of Schrock free throws with 12:51 showing on the clock.
The Rockets' offense would settle down and go on an 8-2 run over the next 4:32 to slice the deficit to 15-12. However, the Eagles would respond with a 12-2 run of its own to push the advantage to 13, 27-14, their biggest of the contest on a Deyree Thomas layup.
Toledo would answer with five points down the stretch as the teams headed to the locker room at the intermission with the score in EMU's favor at 27-19.
The Eagles will now face BGSU in the championship game Saturday, March 12. Eastern's only appearance in the MAC Championship game occured in 2004 when EMU advanced to the NCAA Tournament after beating the Falcons, 65-56. The game will be shown on SportsTime Ohio and Comcast Television, digital cable 900 in Michigan.
Photo Gallery.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The age-old saying is that it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, and the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team confirmed that by defeating the University of Toledo, 61-55, in the semifinals of the FirstEnergy 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament, Friday, March 11, at Quicken Loans Arena.
The No. 5 seeded Eagles improve to 22-11 after taking down the MAC regular season champion and top seeded Rockets who await their postseason fate at 23-8.
Cassie Schrock netted a team-high 20 points for the Eagles, and dished out three assists with a steal and five boards. Paige Redditt notched her fourth double-double of the season and the second in her last three games after scoring 18 on a 7-of-8 shooting performance, while snagging 11 rebounds for EMU. For her efforts, she was named the player of the game.
The Eagles held led wire-to-wire, jumping ahead by as much as 13 points with 2:45 to play in the first half. Back-and-forth action allowed Toledo to remain within striking distance as the Rockets cut their deficit to three, 50-47, with 5:32 left in the game. EMU kept a steady advantage in the closing minutes with strong defense and timely free throw shooting.
From the field, the Eagles shot at a 34.9 percent clip (22-of-63) and were 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. EMU was 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, but used 22 UT turnovers to net 21 points.
Out of the halftime break, both teams found their offensive confidence and rhythm with each team exchanging buckets. However, Eastern continued to maintain the double-digit lead until Courtney Ingersoll drilled a three to set the score at 39-31 with 12:39 remaining in the contest.
A Melissa Goodall runner in the lane was then followed by a Richardson stick-back to cut the lead to four, 44-40, at the 9:09 mark.
Sydney Huntley and Schrock would combine for six straight points for EMU, but again Toledo found an answer of its own to pull within a basket at 52-47.
After being held silent for most of the game, Tavelyn James found her way open for back-to-back scores igniting a stagnant EMU offense, extending the lead back up to seven with 4:30 still showing on the game clock.
Defense and free throws would be the story down the stretch for both sides as EMU secured a championship bid for the first time since 2003-04 when the Eagles faced the Falcons of Bowling Green State University.
Huntley got the Eagles out to a quick start to open the contest scoring four of the team's first eight points. Meanwhile the stingy EMU defense allowed the Rockets to make just two of its first seven shots during the opening four minutes of action.
EMU's pressure defense forced UT into seven turnovers during the first eight minutes, with the Green and White converting those miscues into nine points to balloon the EMU edge to nine points, 13-4, on a pair of Schrock free throws with 12:51 showing on the clock.
The Rockets' offense would settle down and go on an 8-2 run over the next 4:32 to slice the deficit to 15-12. However, the Eagles would respond with a 12-2 run of its own to push the advantage to 13, 27-14, their biggest of the contest on a Deyree Thomas layup.
Toledo would answer with five points down the stretch as the teams headed to the locker room at the intermission with the score in EMU's favor at 27-19.
The Eagles will now face BGSU in the championship game Saturday, March 12. Eastern's only appearance in the MAC Championship game occured in 2004 when EMU advanced to the NCAA Tournament after beating the Falcons, 65-56. The game will be shown on SportsTime Ohio and Comcast Television, digital cable 900 in Michigan.
Women's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of Aug. 4, 2025
Sunday, August 10
Inaugural Bowling with the Eagles Event
Friday, August 08
Women's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of July 28, 2025
Friday, August 08
2025 Women's Basketball Alumni Panel
Wednesday, July 30