Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 9
Convocation Center
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
72
vs
80
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Western Michigan
1
2
F
Western Michigan
39
41
80
Eastern Michigan
26
46
72
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Downed in First Round of MAC Tournament, 80-72
3/9/2013 4:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Thomas records career-high 19 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds to lead EMU
Photo Gallery.
Postgae Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team ended their season coming up short against the Western Michigan University Broncos in the opening round of the 2013 FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament by a final score of 80-72. The Eagles gave a valiant effort but were never able to get within closer than nine points of the visiting Broncos after an early deficit at the EMU Convocation Center, March 9.
Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Waterford) came within one rebound of recording a triple-double with a career-high 19 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio –Brush) also scored 19 points and tallied six rebounds and a personal-best six steals. Senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan. –Lawrence) contributed 12 points in her final game as an Eagle. Western's Miracle Woods led all scorers with 29 points.
The Eagles shot 29-of-72 (40.3%), and the Broncos shot 28-of-61 (45.9 percent) from the field. Both teams recorded 41 rebounds. WMU completed 8-of-16 (50 percent) of its three pointers. EMU grabbed 12 steals on the day.
Marquisha Harris put Western on the scoreboard first, hitting a jumper on the Broncos' first possession. Thomas struck first for the Eagles, stealing the dribble and then finishing with a fast break layup. The point guard also scored the second basket for the Eagles, converting on a floater in the lane.
WMU was on a 7-0 run when Watkins found Chelsea Hite (Ligonier, Ind. –West Noble) down low, where she scored the open bucket to make the score, 6-9, with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
Midway through the opening half, the Green and White turned up the defense, making four consecutive defensive stops, all leading to fast break points. The Eagles' 8-0 run brought them to within one point of the Broncos who then led 17-16.
MAC All-Freshman guard Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn. –Southwind) ended another 7-0 Western run, when she got a step on her man and drove to the basket. Cage's layup chipped away at the Broncos' lead to make the score, 26-20, at the 4:43 mark. The Black and Gold ended the first half on a 12-3 run to push their lead to 39-26.
The Eagles completed 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from the field compared to 14-of-34 (41.2 percent) by the Broncos on the first half. Western's Woods led all scorers in the opening stanza with 15 points, mostly scoring from the low post. Thomas led the Eagles with eight first half points, and Hite led the home team in rebounds with four. Western out rebounded Eastern 26-17 in the first half.
The initial points of the second half were scored by Watkins, making a turnaround jumper. Watkins also scored on the Eagles' next possession, finishing a layup in transition. After WMU's Woods responded with another low post basket, the Eagles went on a 7-2 run, with contributions from Bird and India Hairston (Flint, Mich. –Hamady).
Thomas threw up, and converted, a desperation runner late in the shot clock to bring the Eagles to within 10 of the Broncos with 15 minutes remaining.
Over a two-minute stretch, Watkins scored six straight points for the Eagles to bring the score to 51-45. WMU's Julia Henson answered back point for point, hitting two triples within a minute's time. After a Hairston layup and two fast break points from Watkins, Henson again answered with a three pointer.
With 4:33 remaining in the game, Denaya Brazzle (Portland, Ore. –Jefferson) rose up and hit a deep three to bring the score to 72-61. Brazzle's triple was only Eastern's second of the afternoon. Bird then picked up the scoring for the Eagles, first making a three then earning a trip to the charity stipe where she converted both of her attempts.
The score stood at 77-66 with less than two minute remaining. The Green and White hustled to create turnovers whereas Western started to play keep away and use the entire shot clock before putting one up in an effort to kill the clock. Watkins and Thomas pushed the ball at an incredible pace, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Broncos' lead.
EMU ends its 2012-13 campaign with a record of 8-22 as WMU improves to 11-19 on the season, advancing to the second round of the MAC Tournament to face Bowling Green State University.
Postgae Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team ended their season coming up short against the Western Michigan University Broncos in the opening round of the 2013 FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament by a final score of 80-72. The Eagles gave a valiant effort but were never able to get within closer than nine points of the visiting Broncos after an early deficit at the EMU Convocation Center, March 9.
Desyree Thomas (Waterford, Mich.-Waterford) came within one rebound of recording a triple-double with a career-high 19 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio –Brush) also scored 19 points and tallied six rebounds and a personal-best six steals. Senior Taylor Bird (Lawrence, Kan. –Lawrence) contributed 12 points in her final game as an Eagle. Western's Miracle Woods led all scorers with 29 points.
The Eagles shot 29-of-72 (40.3%), and the Broncos shot 28-of-61 (45.9 percent) from the field. Both teams recorded 41 rebounds. WMU completed 8-of-16 (50 percent) of its three pointers. EMU grabbed 12 steals on the day.
Marquisha Harris put Western on the scoreboard first, hitting a jumper on the Broncos' first possession. Thomas struck first for the Eagles, stealing the dribble and then finishing with a fast break layup. The point guard also scored the second basket for the Eagles, converting on a floater in the lane.
WMU was on a 7-0 run when Watkins found Chelsea Hite (Ligonier, Ind. –West Noble) down low, where she scored the open bucket to make the score, 6-9, with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
Midway through the opening half, the Green and White turned up the defense, making four consecutive defensive stops, all leading to fast break points. The Eagles' 8-0 run brought them to within one point of the Broncos who then led 17-16.
MAC All-Freshman guard Bianca Cage (Memphis, Tenn. –Southwind) ended another 7-0 Western run, when she got a step on her man and drove to the basket. Cage's layup chipped away at the Broncos' lead to make the score, 26-20, at the 4:43 mark. The Black and Gold ended the first half on a 12-3 run to push their lead to 39-26.
The Eagles completed 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from the field compared to 14-of-34 (41.2 percent) by the Broncos on the first half. Western's Woods led all scorers in the opening stanza with 15 points, mostly scoring from the low post. Thomas led the Eagles with eight first half points, and Hite led the home team in rebounds with four. Western out rebounded Eastern 26-17 in the first half.
The initial points of the second half were scored by Watkins, making a turnaround jumper. Watkins also scored on the Eagles' next possession, finishing a layup in transition. After WMU's Woods responded with another low post basket, the Eagles went on a 7-2 run, with contributions from Bird and India Hairston (Flint, Mich. –Hamady).
Thomas threw up, and converted, a desperation runner late in the shot clock to bring the Eagles to within 10 of the Broncos with 15 minutes remaining.
Over a two-minute stretch, Watkins scored six straight points for the Eagles to bring the score to 51-45. WMU's Julia Henson answered back point for point, hitting two triples within a minute's time. After a Hairston layup and two fast break points from Watkins, Henson again answered with a three pointer.
With 4:33 remaining in the game, Denaya Brazzle (Portland, Ore. –Jefferson) rose up and hit a deep three to bring the score to 72-61. Brazzle's triple was only Eastern's second of the afternoon. Bird then picked up the scoring for the Eagles, first making a three then earning a trip to the charity stipe where she converted both of her attempts.
The score stood at 77-66 with less than two minute remaining. The Green and White hustled to create turnovers whereas Western started to play keep away and use the entire shot clock before putting one up in an effort to kill the clock. Watkins and Thomas pushed the ball at an incredible pace, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Broncos' lead.
EMU ends its 2012-13 campaign with a record of 8-22 as WMU improves to 11-19 on the season, advancing to the second round of the MAC Tournament to face Bowling Green State University.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
FG%
.459
.403
3FG%
.500
.333
FT%
.667
.611
RB
41
41
TO
16
12
STL
3
12
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
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