Eagles Advance To MAC Championship With 59-57 Win Over UT

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Clutch second-half performances from Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford), Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) and Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) propelled the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team into the finals against Central Michigan University at 1 p.m. in the 2012 Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament after a thrilling 59-57 victory over the University of Toledo in the semifinal round Friday afternoon, March 9. Toledo led for the first 39 minutes of the game, but the Eagles roared back to take their first lead with 1:09 remaining in the contest.

Toledo led by as many as 10 points, 51-41, with 7:45 to play, but the Eagles finished the contest on a torrid pace, ending the game on an 18-6 run. Redditt notched the game-winning layup and added a free throw with less than 30 seconds left to give her 11 for the game. The Rockets mounted a frenzied attack in the final minute, but were unable to force overtime.

The Eagles (22-8; 14-3 MAC) punched their ticket to the MAC Championship game for the second straight season against a Rockets (21-9; 13-4 MAC) team whom they have now beaten on consecutive occasions in the tournament's semifinals. Eastern Michigan makes its third trip to the finals in school history and improves its mark to 3-4 in semifinal matchups.

Watkins shined in the second half with 12 points and tied James as the game's leading points-getter at 19 apiece. Both players were 7-of-21 from the field and Watkins was 5-of-5 from the line, while James was 2-of-2. James was also named the game's Most Valuable Player.

After shooting just 25 percent in the opening period, the Eagles finished the game strong with a 41.1 percent performance in the second half for a total of 22-of-69 (31.9 percent) from the floor. EMU was also 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc and 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

Desyree Thomas led the game in assists with nine and Olivia Fouty collected 10 boards to go along with four points.

UT also had a trio of players in double figures as Yolanda Richardson scored 15, Courtney Ingersoll had 14 and Lecretia Smith chimed in with 10. Ingersoll was 4-of-7 from the three-point territory. The Rockets were tough on the glass, outrebounding EMU, 45-30; however, Toledo also committed 27 turnovers to EMU's six and gave up 26 points off turnovers.

The Eagles broke out of the gate on a shooting spree, but missed their opening five shots of the contest until Thomas registered EMU's first two points with a mid-range jumper. Toledo hit on three of its first four shots to take an 8-2 edge with 17:21 to play in the opening half.

EMU cut the deficit to 10-8 at the 12:57 mark on a James jumper, but the Rockets scored on consecutive possessions to make it a 14-8 affair with 11:49 to play.

Lackluster shooting and rebounding contributed to the Green and White falling further behind, 17-10, with 7:31 showing on the game clock. To that point, EMU was shooting just 5-of-25 (20 percent) and was out-rebounded, 21-8.

James chimed in with her first trey of the afternoon at 5:52 to make it a 20-15 contest in favor of UT.
With time winding down in the first half, Watkins pulled the Eagles to within two, 24-22, off a Toledo turnover. The Rockets scored four of the half's final five points to lead by five, 28-23, at the buzzer.

Leading all scorers at the break was James with nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. Fouty led EMU in rebounds with six caroms, while UT's Kyle Baumgartner paced all players with seven boards.

Toledo proved the more efficient shooting team after 20 minutes, scoring at a 48 percent (12-of-25) clip from the floor. Eastern Michigan converted 10-of-40 shots for a 25 percent pace. The Rockets also controlled the battle on the glass to the tune of 28-15.

The Eagles took advantage of sloppy Toledo ball handling in the opening half, scoring 11 points off 16 Rockets' turnovers. In comparison, EMU committed just three turnovers which translated into two points for UT.

The second half began with both teams trading baskets and EMU still behind by five with 15:31 remaining. Watkins then filled back-to-back free throws to cut Toledo's lead to 36-33.

Ingersoll widened the gap once again with consecutive makes from long range for a 42-35 UT edge.
With the Rockets enjoying a double-digit lead, James struck for her second long ball of the afternoon to bring EMU back to within striking distance, 51-44, at the 7:28 mark. Thomas then hit from downtown with 6:22 remaining to make it 53-47.

Watkins continued her strong second half with a lay-in at 3:44 to bring EMU back to within four, 55-51; however, as the Rockets had done all game, they quickly made up the basket on their following possession.

Then, with just over two minutes remaining, James brought the EMU faithful to their feet with another make from beyond the arc. James then forced a turnover and streaked in toward the basket before being fouled on the shot. The Detroit, Mich. native filled both of the ensuing free throws to make it a one-point contest, 57-56, with 1:56 to play.

Redditt put the Eagles in the lead for the first time with a jump shot in the paint at the 1:09 mark, 58-57.

Toledo's Andola Dortch had an open look at the basket on the next possession, but missed a layup. Redditt then sunk a free throw to give EMU a 59-57 lead. With 15 seconds left, Ingersoll collected her own rebound off a missed jumper and launched a three-pointer which also missed the mark.

The Rockets could not get a final shot off before the buzzer and the EMU bench cleared onto the court in celebration of its 59-57 victory.

Opening statement of Eastern Michigan Head Coach Ann Marie Gilbert
“First of all I would like to say, 'what a great game.' I 'm really thrilled with the way our team fought, the way our team played. We got outplayed in this game for most of the game by a very well coached, very hardnosed Toledo basketball team. I have so much respect for Tricia Cullop and her basketball team, and what they were able to do this year. How about those Eagles. These two ladies are our two go to players. I'm just really thrilled on what they were able to accomplish with our defense in the second half.”

Tavelyn James on being one win away from a MAC Championship
“I think this game was a challenge for us to know that we deserved being in the Championship. We played down to the level of our opponent. I feel like tomorrow should be easier because we know what we expect and we know what we can do.”

Natachia Watkins on staying tough and mentally ready throughout the game
“We just kept telling each other that we have to be up at the next media, and we have to rebound because it was a big factor that happened in the game for the most part and defense.”

Head coach Ann Marie Gilbert on forcing 27 turnovers
“I was asked that question earlier and we expect to force 27 turnovers, but we expect to score more off the turnovers that we forced. We always have hope that there is going to be a turning point in the game. There was a turning point, when the momentum swarmed back to us. It happened very late, but we just don't quit. We've been a very resilient basketball team.”

Head coach Ann Marie Gilbert on if the bye into the semi's affected Eastern Michigan
“I do. I'm not a big long layoff person. We were like Central (Michigan) last year. We were a five seed that made it to the Championship game. We are trying to convince our team that the five seed did not win last year, so don't let them win this year. We felt like playing those games gave us some momentum and gave us an opportunity to get the kinks out as we got to Cleveland. I was nervous about this game.”

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Team Stats

Natachia Watkins

Tavelyn James

Paige Redditt

Desyree Thomas

Eastern Michigan Athletics