EMU Uses Outstanding Second-Half to Record Win Over WMU

Photo Gallery.

Re-Watch the Game.

Game Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — An outstanding second-half effort helped propel the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team to an 84-59 win over the Western Michigan University Broncos here Saturday, Jan. 14, afternoon in a Mid-American Conference West Division game in the Convocation Center.

Holding a slim, 34-33, halftime lead, the Eagles exploded for 50 second-half points while holding the Broncos to just 26 in the final 20 minutes to post the win.

Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's Eagles, now 11-6 overall and 3-1 in league action, had four players in double figures, led by senior guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) with 21. Senior forward Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) and sophomore forward Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) both turned in double-double scoring-rebounding efforts with Redditt scoring 19 points with 11 rebounds and Fouty accounting for 18 points and 11 boards.

Western, now 5-12 overall and 2-2 in the MAC, was led by Jazmine Windham with 12 points.

The Eagles shot 41.7 percent from the field, making 30-of-72 field-goal attempts while also connecting on 22-of-29 free throws for 75.9 percent. Western shot 40.7 percent, making 22-of-54 and 7-of-16 from beyond the three-point arc. Western made 7-of-14 threes in the first half, but were 0-for-2 in the second stanza. Eastern held a 48-35 rebounding edge.

Eastern raced out to a quick 8-2 lead after the first five minutes and the Eagles would built their advantage to 17-9 with 11:14 left in the half when Fouty scored on a layup.

The visitors would go on a three-point binge from that point, however, building a 28-22 lead with 4:57 left.

Eastern would withstand that surge and creep back into the game, with Fouty scoring on a layup with three seconds left to give the Eagles a 34-33 halftime lead.

Eastern would finish the first half shooting 37.8 percent from the field on 14-of-37 attempts and 2-of-5 three-point shots. Meanwhile, Western hit 46.4 percent of their shots, making 13-of-28 and shot a blistering 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc, making 7-of-14 triples. Eastern did hold a 21-18 rebounding advantage in the first 20 minutes.

The second half would start with both teams trading baskets through the first two minutes before the Eagles slipped away to go up by seven, 46-39, on a layup by Watkins at the 16:47 mark.

James would come up with a steal and a breakaway layup to boost EMU's lead to 13, 63-50, with 8:19 remaining.

Eastern would go on to build a 10-point lead, 56-46, on two free throws by James with 12:40 left and the Eagles would cruise the rest of the way to the victory.

Eastern will remain at home in Mid-American Conference West Division action when the Eagles host Central Michigan Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. here in the Convocation Center.

Next Event

Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Olivia Fouty

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics