Women's Hoops Corrals Cowgirls, 65-43

Re-Watch the Game.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team opened 2012 on a positive note with a 65-43 victory over the University of Wyoming Monday, Jan. 2, inside the Convocation Center. Senior guard Tavelyn James led all scorers with 27 points and sophomore forward Olivia Fouty collected a career-high 18 rebounds in the Eagles' final non-conference game of the season.

After Wyoming recovered from an early 11-0 deficit to tie the game at 13 midway through the opening half, the Eagles used a 19-2 run to take a 32-15 lead into halftime. EMU had no plans of relinquishing that lead in the second half and cruised to the 22-point victory.

Fouty shattered her previous game-high record of 12 rebounds with 18 Monday. The Toledo, Ohio native out-rebounded the entire Wyoming team in the first half with 15 boards (UW had 14), while adding three in the second half. She was the only player on either team with double-digit rebounds.

The Eagles concluded their non-conference schedule with an 8-5 record and improved their all-time record to 16-20 in games which begin a new calendar year. As a team, the Eagles were 23-of-72 (31.9 percent) from the floor, 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from long range and 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the free throw line.

Along with James' 27 points, sophomore forward Paige Redditt also hit double figures with 10 on 3-of-8 shooting. James was 9-of-20 from the field and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Junior forward India Hairston added six assists.

The Cowgirls (4-9) were limited to just 14 field goals on 42 attempts (33.3 percent)—a season low in shots allowed for EMU. Chaundra Swell led Wyoming with 14 points and Ashley Sickles and Brenna Freeze had four rebounds apiece.

The Green and White wasted little time flexing its offensive muscle, jumping out to an 11-0 lead just four minutes into the game. James was responsible for seven of those 11 points, sinking three of her first five shots and connecting on a free throw.

Wyoming managed just four shots with five turnovers over its first nine possessions before posting a 13-2 run of its own to tie the score, 13-13, with 9:24 to play. EMU's offense struggled after a hot start, shooting 1-of-13 (7.9 percent) during the Cowgirls' run.

Bird ended a streak of 5:43 without a made EMU field goal with 8:02 to play, when she converted from downtown for her first points of the game to put the Eagles back ahead by four, 17-13.

Eastern Michigan rebuilt its commanding lead during the following minutes, with a fastbreak layup and made free throw by James giving the home squad a 28-14 edge with 4:40 to play.

The Eagles ended the half on a 19-2 run for a 32-15 lead on 11-of-41 (26.8 percent) shooting. Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's squad was nothing short of dominant on the glass, outpacing the Cowgirs 34-14 in rebounds. Fouty contributed 15 of those opening-half boards, including eight on offense and seven on defense.

James led all scorers at the break, tallying 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting and a perfect 6-of-6 effort from the charity stripe. Fouty and junior guard Taylor Bird added five points apiece and sophomore guard Desyree Thomas chipped in with three assists.

Swell led the way offensively with five points for the Cowgirls, who were 5-of-20 (25 percent) from the floor and 5-of-8 at the free throw line.

In the second half, the Eagles kept charging ahead as James drained a pair of treys and two layups for 10 points in a span of 2:08 to grow the lead to 47-27 with 12:06 remaining.

Redditt entered double digits with a nice put-back layup off a missed Natachia Watkins jumper with 6:46 to play as the Green and White took its largest lead of the afternoon, 58-35.

The Eagles open Mid-American Conference play Thursday, Jan. 5, when they travel to Muncie, Ind. to square off against West Division rival Ball State University. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Olivia Fouty

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics