Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, January 20
Oxford, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-14 (1-3MAC)
48
at
70
Miami
11-6 (3-1MAC)
1
2
F
Eastern Michigan
29
19
48
Miami
33
37
70
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Drop Cross Divisional Tilt to Miami, 70-48
1/20/2013 4:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU puts three in double figures but struggles from free-throw line
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team dropped a 70-48 road decision to Miami University Sunday afternoon, Jan. 20, inside Millett Hall. The Eagles (3-14; 1-3 MAC) led by as many as eight points in the later stages of the first half, but the RedHawks (11-6; 3-1 MAC) began the second frame on a 15-3 run and ultimately cruised to victory.
Following an opening half shooting 50 percent from the floor, the Green and White's offense went silent in the second. EMU started the final 20 minutes shooting 1-of-16 and finished the game 20-of-58 (34.5 percent) including 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from long range. From the free-throw line, Eastern Michigan was a disappointing 5-of-17 (29.4 percent).
Freshman Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn.-Southwind) used a 3-of-9 effort from long distance to rack up 15 points and lead the EMU scoring charge. Senior India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) posted 11 points and junior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) had 10 despite fouling out with just over 12 minutes left in the contest.
For the game, the EMU defense forced 18 Miami turnovers and recorded 14 steals. Six Eagles were credited with at least one takeaway including junior Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) who had six.
Miami put up steady offensive numbers throughout the game, finishing 22-of-57 (38.6 percent) from the field. Three RedHawks' players hit double figures with Courtney Osborn scoring 18, Hannah Robertson putting in 13 and Kirsten Olowinski chipping in with 12.
It was the Eagles who scored the game's first four points, with Hairston and Watkins combining for a pair of field goals. The RedHakws answered with a 10-3 run which included a pair of three-pointers to pull ahead, 10-7, five minutes in.
EMU regained the lead, 13-12, when Cage snatched the ball away from a MU attacker in the high post and fed the ball to Thomas. Thomas ran in alone and notched the easy lay-in.
The steals and points kept coming as the Eagles amassed an 8-0 run and forced Miami to take a timeout with 11:30 left and EMU ahead, 17-12. Senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan.-Lawrence) was responsible for a pair of the Eagles' five takeaways to that point.
Hairston gave the Eagles an eight-point edge, 25-17, when she charged into the lane unchallenged and filled her fourth field goal of the afternoon. Miami found its way back into the game with strong offensive rebounding and adequate shooting. Erica Almady tied the game at 25 apiece at the 5:24 mark with a pair of free throws.
The opening 20 minutes concluded with Miami holding a slim 33-29 edge. Despite failing to convert on several easy makes under the bucket, the Eagles still shot an even 50 percent (14-of-28) from the floor. All 14 buckets were of the two-point variety.
MU benefited from 12 trips to the charity stripe, where the RedHawks converted nine of their chances. Overall, Miami was 10-of-27 (37 percent) and 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc. MU also out-rebounded the Eagles, 22-14, for the half and grabbed seven offensive caroms against EMU's zero through the final 7:44 of the stanza.
Kristin Judson hit a jumper from the left-wing side and scored again off an EMU turnover to grow Miami's lead to 10, 41-31, as Head Coach Tori Verdi was forced to take a timeout at 15:51.
Verdi's offense remained stagnant until the 13:03 mark, when Watkins was fouled and filled a free throw to mark just the third point of the half for the Green and White. Watkins would not remain in the game much longer as the junior forward fouled out with 12:13 to play.
Hairston made it into double digits and broke a span of 11:04 over which the Eagles failed to convert a field goal with a jumper in the paint. Her bucket made it a 55-37 game with 6:34 to play.
Cage ripped a trio of three-pointers over the final five minutes of play to cut into Miami's lead, but it proved to be well short of what was needed to mount a comeback.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Thursday, Jan. 24, against Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Following an opening half shooting 50 percent from the floor, the Green and White's offense went silent in the second. EMU started the final 20 minutes shooting 1-of-16 and finished the game 20-of-58 (34.5 percent) including 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from long range. From the free-throw line, Eastern Michigan was a disappointing 5-of-17 (29.4 percent).
Freshman Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn.-Southwind) used a 3-of-9 effort from long distance to rack up 15 points and lead the EMU scoring charge. Senior India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) posted 11 points and junior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) had 10 despite fouling out with just over 12 minutes left in the contest.
For the game, the EMU defense forced 18 Miami turnovers and recorded 14 steals. Six Eagles were credited with at least one takeaway including junior Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) who had six.
Miami put up steady offensive numbers throughout the game, finishing 22-of-57 (38.6 percent) from the field. Three RedHawks' players hit double figures with Courtney Osborn scoring 18, Hannah Robertson putting in 13 and Kirsten Olowinski chipping in with 12.
It was the Eagles who scored the game's first four points, with Hairston and Watkins combining for a pair of field goals. The RedHakws answered with a 10-3 run which included a pair of three-pointers to pull ahead, 10-7, five minutes in.
EMU regained the lead, 13-12, when Cage snatched the ball away from a MU attacker in the high post and fed the ball to Thomas. Thomas ran in alone and notched the easy lay-in.
The steals and points kept coming as the Eagles amassed an 8-0 run and forced Miami to take a timeout with 11:30 left and EMU ahead, 17-12. Senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan.-Lawrence) was responsible for a pair of the Eagles' five takeaways to that point.
Hairston gave the Eagles an eight-point edge, 25-17, when she charged into the lane unchallenged and filled her fourth field goal of the afternoon. Miami found its way back into the game with strong offensive rebounding and adequate shooting. Erica Almady tied the game at 25 apiece at the 5:24 mark with a pair of free throws.
The opening 20 minutes concluded with Miami holding a slim 33-29 edge. Despite failing to convert on several easy makes under the bucket, the Eagles still shot an even 50 percent (14-of-28) from the floor. All 14 buckets were of the two-point variety.
MU benefited from 12 trips to the charity stripe, where the RedHawks converted nine of their chances. Overall, Miami was 10-of-27 (37 percent) and 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc. MU also out-rebounded the Eagles, 22-14, for the half and grabbed seven offensive caroms against EMU's zero through the final 7:44 of the stanza.
Kristin Judson hit a jumper from the left-wing side and scored again off an EMU turnover to grow Miami's lead to 10, 41-31, as Head Coach Tori Verdi was forced to take a timeout at 15:51.
Verdi's offense remained stagnant until the 13:03 mark, when Watkins was fouled and filled a free throw to mark just the third point of the half for the Green and White. Watkins would not remain in the game much longer as the junior forward fouled out with 12:13 to play.
Hairston made it into double digits and broke a span of 11:04 over which the Eagles failed to convert a field goal with a jumper in the paint. Her bucket made it a 55-37 game with 6:34 to play.
Cage ripped a trio of three-pointers over the final five minutes of play to cut into Miami's lead, but it proved to be well short of what was needed to mount a comeback.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Thursday, Jan. 24, against Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
MIAMI
FG%
.345
.386
3FG%
.176
.273
FT%
.294
.833
RB
30
50
TO
15
18
STL
14
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
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