Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 3
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-16 (3-5MAC)
41
vs
56
Ball State
10-11 (7-1MAC)
1
2
F
Ball State
18
38
56
Eastern Michigan
20
21
41
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Fall to Ball State in Super Sunday Tilt, 56-41
2/3/2013 4:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hairston records double-double, Stone nabs career-high 14 boards
Postgame Audio.
Postgame Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team wrapped up its three-game homestand Sunday, Feb. 3, with a 56-41 setback to Ball State University inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (5-16; 3-5 MAC) played solidly on the glass particularly in the offensive zone, but could not generate enough offense to post back-to-back wins.
EMU led by as many as eight points in the first stanza and took a 20-18 lead into halftime, but the Cardinals (10-11; 7-1 MAC) ramped up their offense in the second half with 38 points to run away with their fifth-straight victory.
Senior India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) became the third Eastern Michigan player to record a double-double this season with her 10-point, 10-rebound performance. Hairston joined EMU's leading scorer, junior Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) (12 points), as the two Eagles to record a double-digit game.
Sophomore Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) shattered her previous personal record of nine rebounds with 14 boards Sunday. That total included five offensive caroms and nine off the defensive glass. In the blocks category, senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan.-Lawrence) tied her career high with three. As a team, the Eagles posted six blocks with Stone, junior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) and Hairston also chipping in with a block apiece.
The Eagles shot 25.4 percent (17-of-67) for the game and were just 1-of-18 (5.6 percent) from behind the arc. Neither side shot well in the first half, but Ball State was able to find a groove in the second period to finish 21-of-55 (38.2 percent) from the floor and 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from downtown.
Nathalie Fontaine was the game's leading scorer with 14 points and hauled in 10 boards for a double-double. Shanee' Jackson and Brittany Carter each turned in 12 points for BSU.
Ball State opened the scoring on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Brandy Woody. Hairston fought off a swarm of BSU defenders, which had already blocked a pair of EMU's first five shots, to score the home team's first two points.
Offense was tough to come by in the opening 10 minutes as the two teams combined to go 8-of-32 (25.0 percent) from the floor in a 10-10 deadlock. The Eagles took their first lead of the afternoon, 11-10, on a Thomas free throw. A Hairston offensive board led to the senior center getting the ball back and filling a mid-range jumper to make it a three-point lead, 13-10, at 8:23.
Bird put on a show offensively and defensively in the first half, giving EMU a six-point edge with a layup and the and-one free throw. She then notched her third block of the game which resulted in a put-back layup for Hairston. That gave the Eagles a 20-12 advantage with 3:44 to go in the half.
The Cardinals made up some ground before the halftime horn sounded with a 6-0 run, but EMU still held a 20-18 edge. Defense was the trend after 20 minutes, with BSU shooting 7-of-26 (26.9 percent) compared to a 7-of-33 (21.2 percent) output for EMU. The Eagles blocked for Cardinals' shots, while Ball State denied a trio of EMU attempts.
Eastern Michigan collected a total of 20 rebounds in the first half including 10 offensive caroms which led to six second-chance points. Ball State only registered three rebounds in the offensive end and had 18 total boards.
Stone snapped EMU's streak of 6:11 without a basket at the 17:33 mark of the second half, but Ball State would regain the lead by outscoring the Eagles, 15-6, over the first nine minutes. A Thomas jumper at the 12:37 mark brought the Eagles back to within a pair, 28-26, but Woody and Carter each rattled off shots from downtown to expand the Cardinal lead to 33-26.
As the second half wore on it was apparent the two offenses were headed in opposite directions. The Cardinals had amassed a 42-28 lead by the 7:47 mark while shooting 47 percent (8-of-17) during the half along with 4-of-8 from behind the arc. The Eagles meanwhile hit on just 4-of-22 attempts for a 21.7-percent clip to that point.
The Green and White kept pace through the remainder of the second half, but Ball State did not relinquish its sizeable lead en route to the 15-point win.
The Eagles' next contest is Wednesday, Feb. 6, on the road against the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Postgame Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team wrapped up its three-game homestand Sunday, Feb. 3, with a 56-41 setback to Ball State University inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (5-16; 3-5 MAC) played solidly on the glass particularly in the offensive zone, but could not generate enough offense to post back-to-back wins.
EMU led by as many as eight points in the first stanza and took a 20-18 lead into halftime, but the Cardinals (10-11; 7-1 MAC) ramped up their offense in the second half with 38 points to run away with their fifth-straight victory.
Senior India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) became the third Eastern Michigan player to record a double-double this season with her 10-point, 10-rebound performance. Hairston joined EMU's leading scorer, junior Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) (12 points), as the two Eagles to record a double-digit game.
Sophomore Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) shattered her previous personal record of nine rebounds with 14 boards Sunday. That total included five offensive caroms and nine off the defensive glass. In the blocks category, senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan.-Lawrence) tied her career high with three. As a team, the Eagles posted six blocks with Stone, junior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) and Hairston also chipping in with a block apiece.
The Eagles shot 25.4 percent (17-of-67) for the game and were just 1-of-18 (5.6 percent) from behind the arc. Neither side shot well in the first half, but Ball State was able to find a groove in the second period to finish 21-of-55 (38.2 percent) from the floor and 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from downtown.
Nathalie Fontaine was the game's leading scorer with 14 points and hauled in 10 boards for a double-double. Shanee' Jackson and Brittany Carter each turned in 12 points for BSU.
Ball State opened the scoring on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Brandy Woody. Hairston fought off a swarm of BSU defenders, which had already blocked a pair of EMU's first five shots, to score the home team's first two points.
Offense was tough to come by in the opening 10 minutes as the two teams combined to go 8-of-32 (25.0 percent) from the floor in a 10-10 deadlock. The Eagles took their first lead of the afternoon, 11-10, on a Thomas free throw. A Hairston offensive board led to the senior center getting the ball back and filling a mid-range jumper to make it a three-point lead, 13-10, at 8:23.
Bird put on a show offensively and defensively in the first half, giving EMU a six-point edge with a layup and the and-one free throw. She then notched her third block of the game which resulted in a put-back layup for Hairston. That gave the Eagles a 20-12 advantage with 3:44 to go in the half.
The Cardinals made up some ground before the halftime horn sounded with a 6-0 run, but EMU still held a 20-18 edge. Defense was the trend after 20 minutes, with BSU shooting 7-of-26 (26.9 percent) compared to a 7-of-33 (21.2 percent) output for EMU. The Eagles blocked for Cardinals' shots, while Ball State denied a trio of EMU attempts.
Eastern Michigan collected a total of 20 rebounds in the first half including 10 offensive caroms which led to six second-chance points. Ball State only registered three rebounds in the offensive end and had 18 total boards.
Stone snapped EMU's streak of 6:11 without a basket at the 17:33 mark of the second half, but Ball State would regain the lead by outscoring the Eagles, 15-6, over the first nine minutes. A Thomas jumper at the 12:37 mark brought the Eagles back to within a pair, 28-26, but Woody and Carter each rattled off shots from downtown to expand the Cardinal lead to 33-26.
As the second half wore on it was apparent the two offenses were headed in opposite directions. The Cardinals had amassed a 42-28 lead by the 7:47 mark while shooting 47 percent (8-of-17) during the half along with 4-of-8 from behind the arc. The Eagles meanwhile hit on just 4-of-22 attempts for a 21.7-percent clip to that point.
The Green and White kept pace through the remainder of the second half, but Ball State did not relinquish its sizeable lead en route to the 15-point win.
The Eagles' next contest is Wednesday, Feb. 6, on the road against the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
FG%
.382
.254
3FG%
.263
.056
FT%
.818
.462
RB
44
45
TO
16
13
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
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