Late Rally Falls Just Short in 67-63 Setback to Harvard

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team dropped its second game in two days at the Convocation Center Saturday, Nov. 24, as Harvard University took down the Eagles, 67-63. With the loss, Eastern fell to 1-4, while the Crimson moved to 4-2 on the season.

Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) led all scorers with 20 points while also leading the game in rebounds with eight. Eastern had three more players in double-figures as India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) poured in 13, Miranda Tate (Bolingbrook, Ill.-Bolingbrook) posted 12 and Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) chipped in 10. Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) notched six assists and five rebounds, while Hairston pulled down six boards of her own.

As a team, Eastern shot 33.3 percent (24-of-72) from the field, while hitting 25 percent (3-of-12) of its shots from beyond the arc. EMU was outrebounded by the Crimson, 36-42, in the loss.

The Crimson opened up the game on an 8-0 run before Fouty put in the first bucket of the day for the Eagles. Following the Fouty make, the Crimson extended its lead to 18-4 with 15:19 remaining in the opening half. After trading buckets back and forth, the Crimson pushed the lead to 26-8, with 9:02 left in the half.

Eastern dropped its first bucket in almost six minutes when Fouty converted on a layup with 6:27 left in the first 20 minutes of play, making it 26-10.

Heading into the break, the Green and White was facing a 15-point deficit, 34-19. Fouty led EMU with 10 points in the first half, while pulling down five rebounds. Watkins had four caroms while Thomas nabbed three.

Through the first six minutes of play in the second half, the Eagles outscored Harvard 15-9, cutting their deficit to within nine, 43-34, with 13:40 remaining. A turnaround jumper from Fouty brought the game to within seven, but a three-ball from Novi, Mich. native Emma Golen gave the Crimson a 10-point lead, 48-38, at the 11:22 mark in the second half.

After Harvard increased its lead to 14, the Eagles scored the next five points to make it a nine-point deficit, 52-43, with nine minutes remaining in the game. The Crimson and Eastern traded points, until EMU scored five straight to bring it within six, 59-53, on the back of a Tate three-point play with 3:46 left in the game.

Hairston knocked down a three-pointer with 2:45 remaining, making it 61-56 in favor of the Crimson. After trading buckets, Thomas picked Harvard's pocket and was quickly fouled. She hit a pair from the charity stripe to make it a one possession game, 63-60. On the ensuing possession, Watkins swiped the ball and hit one-of-two free throws to make it 63-61 in favor of the Crimson with 1:13 left.

After a fade away jumper by Christine Clark, the Crimson went up four, but Fouty raced the distance of the floor and hit a layup to make it a two point contest, 65-63. Ali Curtis hit a pair of free throws to set the final 67-63 tally.

The Eagles continue the 2012-13 campaign Wednesday, Nov. 28, when they travel to Indianapolis, Ind. to take on the Butler Bulldogs. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

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Team Stats

Olivia Fouty

India Hairston

Miranda Tate

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics