Eagles Clipped by the Falcons

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – In a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders, Bowling Green State University used strong shooting and aggressive defense to disrupt the potent Eastern Michigan University offense, en route to a 70-54 victory here Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, at the brand-new Stroh Center.

With the loss, Eastern Michigan falls to 12-7 (4-2 MAC) while Bowling Green goes to 16-3 (6-0 MAC). The victory is the 10th consecutive by the Falcons in the series, and drops EMU to 4-24 all-time in Bowling Green, Ohio.

The Green and White were led by senior guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) with a team-high 29 points in 39 minutes of work. Sophomore Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) followed with 10 points and Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) chipped in seven points and 14 rebounds.

Alexis Rogers lead all Bowling Green players with 30 points. Chrissy Steffens notched 10 points followed by eight each from Jasmine Matthews and Jessica Slagle.

Eastern Michigan shot 27.3 percent (15-of-31) for the game to go along with 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Bowling Green managed a 51 percent (25-of-49) clip. However, the Eagles controlled the glass (39 to 33) and forced 21 Falcon turnovers that led to 12 points.

Sunday's game extended a streak of 13 consecutive meetings between EMU and BGSU that featuring the league's divisional leader. The last time neither side was in first place was Jan. 27, 2004. Ironically, EMU and BGSU would next square off in the MAC Tournament title game, March 13, with the Eagles advancing to the NCAA Tournament with a 65-56 victory. BGSU has been in first place in 12 of those games with EMU holding down the divisional lead in five contests. Additionally, both teams have been first in their respective divisions four times (2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012).

BGSU jumped out to an early 5-0 edge before EMU returned the favor with a 5-0 spurt of its own to knot the score. However, the offense for the Eagles would slow, as the Falcons opened a six point lead on a Slagle jumper with 15:32 showing.

The BGSU run continued when Alexis Rogers completed the old-fashion three-point play followed by a triple by Jillian Halfhill to make it 24-12 at the 11:11 mark.

The defense would step up to hold the Falcons without a score for more than two minutes combined with James finding her offensive rhythm to make it 26-19 at the 7:47 mark.

But then the usually the potent EMU offense went ice-cold, going without a score for the next six and a half minutes. BGSU pushed the advantage to 16 points at 41-25 with a 15-6 run as the team's headed to the lockerroom at the break.
The Green and White's lone points during the stretch can via free-throws by James and Watkins before the Thomas runner in the lane with 21 seconds left to play in the stanza.

After shooting 61-percent in the opening half, the stellar shooting of the Falcons continued following the break with the deficit standing at 19, 44-25, on a Rogers three-point play.

The tide was slowing turning in favor of Eastern Michigan. A pair of free throw tosses by Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Northview) at the 11:39 mark keyed the EMU offense to a 13-2 run over the ensuing 5:03 to cut it to 58-47. But after a technical foul against the BGSU bench was whistled, the Falcons would answer with their own 7-2 run to push the cushion back to 16.

The Eagles remain on the road Wednesday, Jan. 25, when they battle the University at Buffalo. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Natachia Watkins

Paige Redditt

Olivia Fouty

Eastern Michigan Athletics