Eagles Tame Broncos in 83-56 Road Victory

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team cruised to a 83-56 victory over Mid-American Conference West Division opponent, Western Michigan University, today, Feb. 15, at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Their sixth-consecutive win moves the Eagles to 18-7 (10-2 MAC) on the year and preserves their share of first place in the MAC West Division. The Broncos fall to 3-9 in the conference and 6-19 overall.

EMU's all-time leading scorer Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) led the Green and White in her 16th 20-plus point performance of the year. She hit 13-of-24 attempts (54.2 percent) to top the Eagles' scoring column with a 30-point effort.

Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) hit 9-of-18 (50.0 percent) for 20 points and snagged eight boards in the contest, while Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) garnered her seventh double-double of the season thanks to her 13 point, 15 board effort against the Broncos.

The Eagles shot 50.0 percent (33-of-66) in the contest, holding its lead throughout the duration of the game. WMU hit 19-of-66 this evening for a 28.8 clip.

Poor shooting plagued the Broncos in the opening half, as the home team hit just 20.6 percent (7-of-34) of its shots compared to the Eagles' 18-of-40 effort (45.0 percent) from the floor. EMU also poured on 13 points off of 13 WMU turnovers and outscored the Broncos in paint, 32-10.

The duo of James and Watkins combined for 36 of the Green and White's 43 first-half points. Both tallied 18 apiece, with James netting 11 points in the final eight minutes of the opening half.

EMU hit five of its first 10 shots, surging to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes of the contest. Watkins helped the Eagles increase its advantage, 14-5, after tallying her 10th point in just six minutes on a baseline jumper off of the glass.

WMU's Julia Henson drilled a long-range triple to pull the Broncos within five at 8:25, but James retaliated with a quick bucket at the other end to preserve the Green and White's three-possession advantage.

Throughout the waning minutes of the first half, an Eagles' fast-paced offense stymied WMU's defensive efforts with a 10-4 run to jump out front, 32-19, and eventually closed out the first 20 minutes with a 43-24 lead over its host as they headed into the locker room.

EMU continued its offensive charge in the second half, outscoring the Broncos 20-9 in the opening stages of the final 20 minutes.

The Broncos deficit was too great to overcome, as the Green and White never let up its lead throughout the contest. EMU outscored the home team 40-32 to secure the 83-56 road victory.

The Green and White will return to action this Saturday when they trek to DeKalb, Ill. to face MAC West opponent, Northern Illinois. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tavelyn James

Natachia Watkins

Olivia Fouty

Paige Redditt

Eastern Michigan Athletics