Eagles Claw Past Bobcats, 64-57, at Home

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — An early noon start time did not deter the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team from rolling past Ohio University, 64-57, Saturday, Feb. 9, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (6-17; 4-6 MAC) led the entire second half and held off a Bobcats (5-17; 0-10 MAC) squad which nearly came back from an 18-point deficit.

EMU took an 18-point advantage into the final nine minutes of play Saturday, but a rash of three-point buckets resulted in a 15-0 OU run and turned a sure victory into a close, two-point contest with under a minute to play. Senior India Hairston (Flint, Mich.-Hamady) put the dagger through the side of the Bobcats with 28 ticks left and junior Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Mott) added an insurance free throw and layup in the waning seconds.

Hairston (12 points) and Thomas (11 points) were just two-of-four Eastern Michigan players to reach double figures as freshman Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn.-Southwind) used a 4-of-9 showing from downtown (6-of-13 overall) to record a team-high 16 points. Junior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) added 12 points of her own while contributing seven boards and four steals.

Thomas also recorded eight assists and four takeaways on the afternoon, while Hairston and sophomore Sara Stone (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) hauled in seven caroms apiece. As a team, the Eagles shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field and were 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Outside shooting was the theme of the day for the Bobcats, who drained 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) three-point attempts. OU made just 10 two-point field goals on the day and finished 20-of-51 (39.2 percent) overall. Erin Bailes (19 points) and Byard Mariah (14 points) were the two OU players to reach double figures. They also accounted for nine of the 10 Bobcats' three-pointers.

A Thomas fastbreak layup and a Cage three-pointer gave the Eagles a 5-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, but Ohio answered with eight straight points for an 8-5 edge. The early see-saw affair continued early on as the lead changed hands several times. Bailes struck from long range for Ohio and Hairston answered with a long two-pointer to tie the game, 13-all, with 13:55 remaining in the half.

Good rebounding and backcourt pressure helped EMU regain a four-point advantage, 17-13, and forced the Bobcats to take a timeout with 12:55 showing on the first-half clock.

Both offenses remained extremely efficient throughout the remainder of the half with the Eagles holding the edge most of the way. The lead grew to eight points, 35-27, at 1:26 when Watkins grabbed a pair of offensive boards and found paydirt after a trio of Eastern Michigan shots on the possession.

Bailes chipped in 11 points for the Bobcats and led all scorers in the opening 20 minutes, but her contributions were only enough to keep her team within seven, 35-28, at the break. The Bobcats shot 45.8 percent (11-24) from the field, but were outdone by EMU's 50-percent (16-of-32) effort.

Watkins paced the Eagles' offense in the opening half with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while Thomas and Hairston had six apiece.

The second half began at a decidedly slower pace from an offensive standpoint when compared to how the first half started. Before the first media timeout at 15:30, the two squads combined for just three field goals with makes from Watkins and Thomas for EMU and Black for Ohio.

Cage drained her second and third treys of the afternoon between an EMU defensive stop to open up a 12-point lead, 45-33, with 12:34 to play. To that point in the period, the Eagles limited the Bobcats to just a pair of baskets on nine shots while going 4-of-10 themselves to begin the frame.

With the Eagles leading by 18, the Bobcats suddenly found themselves back in the contest when Byard hit back-to-back three pointers including one in transition to make it a 10-point game, 56-46, with less than five minutes remaining.

An EMU timeout did little to halt Ohio's momentum as it would be Bailes' turn to get in on the three-point action. Ohio's point guard filled two additional shots from downtown to slash into EMU's once-large lead. A Shavon Robinson free throw made it a one-possession affair, 56-53, with 2:14 left.

Cage snapped Ohio's 15-0 run with a three-ball from the left-wing corner to put the Eagles back on top by six, but the Bobcats penetrated the EMU defense on their next two possessions to trail by just two, 59-57.

A Hairston basket combined with a critical defensive stop forced Ohio to foul with 5.9 seconds to go. Thomas left no chance of a Bobcats' upset when she sank her first free throw and then missed the second, gathered the rebound and drilled the layup. EMU held on for its third home victory of the 2012-13 season, 64-57.

The Eagles take a weeklong break from the hardwood before hosting the University at Buffalo Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Bianca Cage

India Hairston

Natachia Watkins

Desyree Thomas

Eastern Michigan Athletics