Women's Hoops Knock-Off Bulls 72-54 in Cross Divisional Action

Game Highlights.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team took a cross divisional Mid-American Conference matchup Wednesday, Jan. 25, when they topped the Buffalo Bulls at Alumni Arena. The Eagles took an 11-point lead into the half and never looked back as they knocked-off the MAC East opponent 72-54 on their home floor. With the win, the Green and White improve their record to 13-7 (5-2 MAC) on the season. The Bulls fell to 6-15 (1-6 MAC) on the 2011-2012 campaign with the loss.

Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) became the fifth most prolific scorer in Mid-American Conference women's basketball history by hitting a fast-break layup for her second basket of the game at the 8:06 mark in the first half. With the basket, James took over the five spot from Mimi Olson (2,144 career-points), who played at the University of Toledo from 1993-97. James is now trailing Carrie Moore (2,224 career-points) for fourth place in MAC career points scored. James has now scored 2,175 points in her career. Her performance tonight also gave her the fourth most points by an EMU senior after her 34-point game. The Detroit, Mich. native passed Kelly Hebler, Sarah VanMetre and JoAnn LeFevre to take the four spot. Sharon Brown sits in third in that category with 521 and James trails her for that slot by 55, with 466 points this season.

James led all-scorers with 34 points while the Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) added 11 points from the floor. Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) chipped-in with nine points and Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) notched eight for the Eagles. Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) led the Green and White on the boards by pulling down 10 rebounds, while Redditt caromed seven on her own. Thomas nabbed five steals while giving dishing out seven assists in the Eastern win. James and Redditt each added four steals in the victory.

EMU shot 40.0 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc with James taking all 10 shots from three-point territory. The Eagles took advantage of their opportunities from the free throw line knocking down 15-of-20, while the defense held the Bulls to just 35.3 percent shooting from the floor and 25.0 percent from downtown. Eastern was able to notch 17 takeaways and caused 29 Buffalo turnovers on the night.

The Eagles opened the scoring when Watkins hit a jumper from the right-side elbow near the 18-minute mark, giving EMU the 2-0 edge early. However, the Bulls return-fired with a 5-0 run when UB hit a three-ball from the Bulls' Brittney Hedderson and an offensive put-back from Beth Christensen.

Eastern regained the lead when Watkins knocked down a put-back at the 12:26 mark, giving the Eagles a 6-5 tally. Fouty was able to add-on to the Eagle lead when she caromed an offensive rebound and dropped a layup in for two-points making it 8-5 in favor of the Green and White.

The Bulls completed 7-0 run to take a 17-15 lead. Eastern did not deter and took the lead back after hitting a 13-3 run, giving it a 28-20 lead with less than three minutes to play in the opening half. James dropped four-straight triples to give EMU a 34-23 lead heading into the half.

James was also the Eagles' leading scorer in the opening half by recording 18 points in the first 20 minutes of play. The senior went 7-of-11 from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point land. Watkins was able to knock down three baskets and a pair of free ones, good for eight points. Fouty was the Green and White's leader on the glass as she caromed seven boards in the opening half.

As a team, the Eagles went 13-of-33 from the floor, good for a 39.4 percent, but it was James who was the only three-ball threat for EMU in the first half as she took all-six of the Green and White's shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play. EMU's defense was pesky in the first half as they held the Bulls to a 28.0 percent shooting percentage, including going just 7-of-25 from the floor. The Eagles also caused 16 first half Buffalo turnovers and generated seven steals from the defensive side of the floor. EMU was also able to keep the Bulls from scoring a field goal for the final six-minutes and 33-seconds of the first half.

Thomas opened the scoring for EMU in the second half by converting a three-point play after hitting a layup while being fouled. After hitting the free-throw to follow, Eastern took a 37-23 lead.

The Green and White would not relinquish their lead throughout the entire second half, with their edge staying in double-figures throughout the majority of the final 20 minutes of play. The Eagles' largest lead came at the 1:51 mark when they took a 20-point lead. The Bulls did come within nine when Hedderson knocked down a mid-range jumper to make it 59-50 in favor of Eastern. However, the Eagles were able to regain their double-digit lead and take down Buffalo 72-54.

The Eagles continue their 2012 MAC schedule by taking on the University of Akron Saturday, Jan. 28, when they host the Zips at the Convocation Center. The game is part of a double-header with the women's tip-off at 2 p.m. and the EMU men's basketball game to follow.

Women's Hoops Knock-Off Bulls 72-54 in Cross Divisional Action

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Desyree Thomas

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics