Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Convocation Center
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-19, 5-8MAC
73
vs
69
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Western Michigan
9-17, 5-8MAC
1
2
F
Western Michigan
34
35
69
Eastern Michigan
37
36
73
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Offense Guides Eagles in 73-69 Win Over Broncos
2/23/2013 5:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Watkins, Cage, Hairston and Thomas all crack double figures
Postgame Highlight.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team survived what turned into a nail biting 73-69 win over Western Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 23. After controlling a commanding lead for almost 30 minutes, there were six lead changes before the Eagles' leaders took control and defended their home court at the Convocation Center.
The Green and White shot 26-of-66 (39.4 percent) whereas the visitors shot 25-of-54 (46.3 percent). Western's (9-17; 5-8 MAC) Michelle O'Brien led all scorers with 21, including 15 points from beyond the arc. Four Eagles scored in double figures including Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio –Brush) with 13, India Hairston (Flint, Mich. – Hamady) with 12, Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn. – Southwind) with 14 and Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich. – Mott) who scored 15 and dished out nine dimes. The Eagles were tenacious on defense snatching 13 steals. The Green and White cleaned the offensive glass as resiliently as they played defense, pulling down 15 offensive rebounds for 20 second chance points.
The Eagles (7-19; 5-8 MAC) struck first after Thomas crossed up her mark, drew the second defender, then passed off to an open Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich. – Salem) who easily turned and finished a layup. The pick and roll was effective early for the Green and White who scored their first four in the paint.
After five minutes had elapsed, sharpshooter Cage entered the game and immediately sunk her first touch. At the ten minute mark Cage hit on consecutive three-pointers to push the Eagles lead to eight.
The Green and White came out playing tough defense, grabbing four steals and forcing two shot clock violations in the first ten minutes.
From the ten-minute mark on, scoring was back and forth, with neither team able to make a stop and each team responding to the other's scoring. Western's Michelle O'Brien carried the load for the Broncos scoring three treys in a three minute stretch.
The Eagles scored on back to back possessions, a three from Denaya Brazzle (Portland, Ore. –Jefferson) and a runner from Thomas, and then forced the Broncos to throw the ball out of play to head into the locker room on the right foot leading 37-34.
In the first half, EMU shot 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) from the field and 3-of-4 (75 percent) from three-point land. Eight first-half offensive rebounds facilitated 10 second-chance points for the Eagles. WMU shot 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from the field and made 3-of-6 (50 percent) of its three pointers, all made by O'Brien. Cage and O'Brien each scored 11 in the first 20 minutes.
The second half got started with Hairston posting up and effectively using her footwork to score the half's opening bucket.
Coach Tory Verdi's squad continued its merciless defense, generating turnovers during the Black and Gold's first five possessions of the half. The Eagles' opportunistic defense powered a 13-0 run, including six from Watkins finishing on the break.
Western was able to find some success throwing the ball in low to Jessica Jessing who scored from below the basket on back-to-back possessions before Coach Verdi called a timeout to regroup. The Eagles came out of the timeout, with 11:27 remaining, and responded with a Cage three to reestablish their lead of 12 points.
An 11-0 run capped by another O'Brien triple brought the Broncos back to within one score, before the unflappable Hairston ended the drought for EMU with another make from the post.
With five minutes remaining, Jessing made a short jumper to put the Broncos up for the first time in the match. Thomas quickly responded finishing a determined drive to recapture the lead for the Eagles. Western's sniper, O'Brien, had a response of her own in the form of a three pointer to give the Black and Gold its biggest lead of the game.
After two Stone free-throws tied it up, Thomas made an incredibly athletic steal on the inbound then tipped in her own miss to put the Eagles back in front with 2:14 left on the clock.
With only one minute remaining Watkins reestablished herself as an authoritative game closer scoring on back-to-back possessions to put the Eagles two scores in front.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Thursday, Feb. 28, against Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team survived what turned into a nail biting 73-69 win over Western Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 23. After controlling a commanding lead for almost 30 minutes, there were six lead changes before the Eagles' leaders took control and defended their home court at the Convocation Center.
The Green and White shot 26-of-66 (39.4 percent) whereas the visitors shot 25-of-54 (46.3 percent). Western's (9-17; 5-8 MAC) Michelle O'Brien led all scorers with 21, including 15 points from beyond the arc. Four Eagles scored in double figures including Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio –Brush) with 13, India Hairston (Flint, Mich. – Hamady) with 12, Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn. – Southwind) with 14 and Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich. – Mott) who scored 15 and dished out nine dimes. The Eagles were tenacious on defense snatching 13 steals. The Green and White cleaned the offensive glass as resiliently as they played defense, pulling down 15 offensive rebounds for 20 second chance points.
The Eagles (7-19; 5-8 MAC) struck first after Thomas crossed up her mark, drew the second defender, then passed off to an open Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich. – Salem) who easily turned and finished a layup. The pick and roll was effective early for the Green and White who scored their first four in the paint.
After five minutes had elapsed, sharpshooter Cage entered the game and immediately sunk her first touch. At the ten minute mark Cage hit on consecutive three-pointers to push the Eagles lead to eight.
The Green and White came out playing tough defense, grabbing four steals and forcing two shot clock violations in the first ten minutes.
From the ten-minute mark on, scoring was back and forth, with neither team able to make a stop and each team responding to the other's scoring. Western's Michelle O'Brien carried the load for the Broncos scoring three treys in a three minute stretch.
The Eagles scored on back to back possessions, a three from Denaya Brazzle (Portland, Ore. –Jefferson) and a runner from Thomas, and then forced the Broncos to throw the ball out of play to head into the locker room on the right foot leading 37-34.
In the first half, EMU shot 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) from the field and 3-of-4 (75 percent) from three-point land. Eight first-half offensive rebounds facilitated 10 second-chance points for the Eagles. WMU shot 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from the field and made 3-of-6 (50 percent) of its three pointers, all made by O'Brien. Cage and O'Brien each scored 11 in the first 20 minutes.
The second half got started with Hairston posting up and effectively using her footwork to score the half's opening bucket.
Coach Tory Verdi's squad continued its merciless defense, generating turnovers during the Black and Gold's first five possessions of the half. The Eagles' opportunistic defense powered a 13-0 run, including six from Watkins finishing on the break.
Western was able to find some success throwing the ball in low to Jessica Jessing who scored from below the basket on back-to-back possessions before Coach Verdi called a timeout to regroup. The Eagles came out of the timeout, with 11:27 remaining, and responded with a Cage three to reestablish their lead of 12 points.
An 11-0 run capped by another O'Brien triple brought the Broncos back to within one score, before the unflappable Hairston ended the drought for EMU with another make from the post.
With five minutes remaining, Jessing made a short jumper to put the Broncos up for the first time in the match. Thomas quickly responded finishing a determined drive to recapture the lead for the Eagles. Western's sniper, O'Brien, had a response of her own in the form of a three pointer to give the Black and Gold its biggest lead of the game.
After two Stone free-throws tied it up, Thomas made an incredibly athletic steal on the inbound then tipped in her own miss to put the Eagles back in front with 2:14 left on the clock.
With only one minute remaining Watkins reestablished herself as an authoritative game closer scoring on back-to-back possessions to put the Eagles two scores in front.
Eastern Michigan returns to the hardwood Thursday, Feb. 28, against Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
FG%
.463
.394
3FG%
.389
.667
FT%
.667
.680
RB
38
38
TO
19
10
STL
6
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
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