Eagles Sail Past Vikings, 84-70

Postgame Audio

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team improved to a perfect 3-0 on the season as it defeated Cleveland State University in its first road contest of the 2013-14 campaign. Two Ohio natives led the Eagles as redshirt-junior Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview) tallied 19 points and freshman Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) added 17 to the EMU effort.

Freshman Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) contributed 10 points on the day, while Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) and Jamaica Bucknor (New Haven, Conn.-Weaver) each added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

With the win, the Eagles improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Vikings fell to 1-2 overall.

The Eagles used a season-high 50.8 shooting percentage and a 77.3 free throw percentage to secure its third victory of the season, going 31-for-61 from the floor, while holding CSU to a 35.9 field goal percentage and a 31.3 three point percentage.

The first five minutes of the contest were back-and-forth between the Eagles and the Vikings as it saw six lead changes including one tie before EMU broke open the scoreboard and never relinquished the lead for the remainder of the contest.

The Eagles went on an 11-0 run, charged by a Bucknor three-pointer and back-to-back layups from Sweeney and Fouty. Eastern took a 12-point lead when Webb forced Cleveland State's eighth turnover of the half and scored a fastbreak layup, allowing EMU to take a 21-9 lead with 12:18 left in the half.

Eastern continued to put pressure on the Viking offense as it forced two more turnovers in the half and converted 15 of its first 35 points off of Viking miscues.

Cleveland State looked to close the gap on the Eagles as it came within six with 1:42 left in the first half on a Haley Schmitt jump shot, but back-to-back makes from Fouty and a free throw from Sweeny gave EMU a 45-35 lead heading into the locker room.

Fouty led the Eagles in the first half of play with 11 points, while Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott), Bucknor and Sweeney added seven a piece. Bucknor led EMU on the glass as she pulled down five rebounds, while Sweeney had three steals and Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) and Webb each grabbed two steals on the half.

The Eagles aggressive defense forced the Vikings to turn the ball over 16 times in the first 20 minutes with 10 steals and converting 20 points off of turnovers.

EMU used a 46.3 shooting percentage and went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc to take a 10-point margin over CSU.

The Green and White did not let up in the second half as it continued to build upon its lead, going up as many as 20 over Cleveland State. The Eagles took the 68-48 lead when Bucknor grabbed an offensive rebound and went up strong with the ball for a shot in the paint with 8:02 left in the contest.

Cleveland State did not give in as it battled its way back from the 20-point deficit as Schmitt went on a 5-0 run over Eastern, bringing the Vikings within 14. Cleveland State forced an EMU turnover, which turned into a CSU basket, allowing the Vikings to close the gap to 12.

Cleveland State continued to chip away as a shot from beyond the arc brought the Vikings within nine, but a series of fouls allowed the Eagles to make six shots from the charity stripe and take the 84-70 victory in its third contest of the young season.

Eastern closed the contest scoring 26 points off of 21 turnovers, but was unable to grab a steal in the second half of play as Fouty added eight more points to her final line score.

The Eagles will take a 13-day break before heading back to the hardwood to take on Marygrove College Saturday, Nov. 30. Tip off at the Convocation Center is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Olivia Fouty

Cha Sweeney

Phillis Webb

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics