Tavelyn James Sets EMU Record in 83-47 Win Over Kent State

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Senior guard Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) went on a three-point record-breaking streak to lead the Eagles to an 83-47 win over Kent State University here Saturday, Feb. 11, afternoon in the Convocation Center in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game. The game was also part of the E-Club's Athletic Hall of Fame Day as well as Polish-American Day.

The 5-foot-7 James not only broke the Eastern Michigan University women's school record for three-point field goals in a game with 10 triples on the afternoon, but also set a single-game record for MAC-only games, and tied the MAC single-game record against all opponents. James was 10-of-20 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 40 points, the fourth time she has scored 40. James already holds the single-game best with 42 points.

James' 10 threes tied Ohio's Marlene Stollings (Dec. 30, 1997 vs. Robert Morris) for the MAC record against all opponents and broke the record of nine by Miami's Jamie Stewart (Jan. 22, 2000 vs. BGSU) and CMU's Judi Culbertson (Feb. 25, 2000 vs. Ball State) for the record in MAC games only. The 10 threes topped the mark of eight held by James (Nov. 20, 2009 at Siena), Sydney Huntley (Feb. 2, 2010 at CMU) and Marion Crandall (Feb. 21, 2004 vs. Ball State).

In addition to the 40 points by James, senior center Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) added 15 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore forward Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) added six points and 11 rebounds.

The victory helped the Eagles close out a six-game trip through the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 5-1 record and also improved EMU to 17-7 overall record and 9-2 in the MAC. Eastern entered the day tied for the West Division lead with Toledo and the Rockets also posted a win, over Bowling Green, to keep the tie going.

Kent State, now 5-16 overall and 4-7 in MAC play, had three players in double figures led by Itziar Llobet with 13 while Diamon Beckford and Tamzin Barroilhet added 10 each.

The visitors took an early 8-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game, with their first two shots three-point goals.

After Kent posted an 11-7 lead, the Eagles would go on a 10-0 run to take a 17-11 lead with 11:50 left, the last points of that stretch coming on James' third three of the half.

The EMU offense would continue to roll the rest of the half, building a 14-point advantage at halftime, 37-23.

James connected on 6-of-12 threes in the first half and added a free throw for 19 points while Watkins had six points with 10 rebounds for the Eagles.

EMU made 14-of-33 field goals for 42.4 percent in the first half while also out-rebounding the Golden Flashes, 23-13. Kent made just 9-of-26 field goals and committed 10 turnovers.

The early stages of the second half belonged to the Golden Flashes as the visitors cut EMU's lead to seven, 39-32, with 17:11 left in the game.

Eastern got back to business after that surge, putting together a 15-6 run, to take a 54-36 lead with 12:01 left and the Eagles cruised the rest of the way to record the 83-47 win.

The Eagles now return to MAC West Division play Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Western Michigan. Game time is 7 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Taylor Bird

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics