Eagles Avenge Previous Setback with 54-45 Victory Over NIU

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team grabbed its 16th victory of the season with a 54-45 win over Northern Illinois University Sunday, March 2, at the Convocation Center as senior Natachia Watkins (South Euclid, Ohio-Brush) became just the 18th player in program history to notch 1,000 career points.

With the win, Eastern improves to 16-11 overall on the season and 6-10 in Mid-American Conference play. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois falls to 9-17 overall and 5-11 in the conference.

The Eagles shot at a 40.0 clip (22-for-55) for the contest, forcing 20 NIU turnovers and grabbing nine steals. Senior Olivia Fouty (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Northview)and freshman Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) each tallied 13 points for EMU, while Fouty recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds on the day. Watkins and Shannise Heady (Hazel Crest, Ill.-Hillcrest (Seton Hall)) added eight points to the Eagle effort.

The Huskies shot 37.8 percent from the floor with Natecia Augusta leading the team with 12 points on the contest. Jazmine Harris and Amanda Corral added seven points apiece for NIU, while Jenna Thorp had a team-high nine rebounds. Northern Illinois out rebounded Eastern 37-31, but EMU converted 26 points in the paint compared to NIU's 18.

Watkins helped get Eastern out to a quick 6-0 lead over Northern Illinois, draining four of the Eagles' first six points. Watkins' second basket of the day clinched the senior guard's 1,000th career point, making her just the 18th Eagle in program history to reach that milestone.

NIU's Amanda Corral went on a 5-0 run, knotting the score at 13-13 before the Huskies took their first lead of the contest with an Ally Lehman jumper with 12:20 remaining in the first half.

Northern Illinois kept a one-point lead as neither team was able to find a bucket for nearly two minutes before Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) notched a layup for the Eagles to give them the one-point advantage. Eastern continued to build on its lead with a 9-6 run heading into the final media timeout of the half.

Two-straight baskets from NIU tied the score for the second time in the contest before a Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) free throw with 1:25 left in the half gave Eastern the one-point edge at halftime, holding a 24-23 advantage heading into the locker rooms.

The Eagles shot at a 42.9 percent (9-for-21) clip in the first half with seven EMU players finding points in the first 20 minutes. Watkins led the Eastern scoring effort with six points, while Fouty added five and Heady and Morton each contributed four points.

Northern Illinois shot 41.7 percent from the floor with Corral's five points leading the offense and Augusta added four points. The Huskies out-rebounded the Eagles, 17-13; however, NIU committed 11 turnovers in the first half, while the Eagles swiped five steals and had only eight miscues.

EMU went on a 12-4 run coming out of the locker room, with Sweeney accounting for half of the points, to take a 38-27 advantage going into the first media timeout.

With just over seven minutes to play, Eastern held a 45-36 advantage over ,NIU allowing just 13 Huskie points in the first 13 minutes of the half. The game continued to be back-and-forth between the two squads for the remaining seven minutes with Eastern maintaining at least a five-point lead.

EMU closed out the game on a 9-5 run to take the 54-45 victory over Northern Illinois. The Eagles used a 38.2 shooting percentage in the second half, powered by Fouty who notched eight points and five rebounds in the second half, including four offensive put backs.

The Eagles will be back in action Wednesday, March 5, when they travel to Toledo, Ohio to take on the Rockets of the University of Toledo in their final regular season Mid-American Conference road contest. Tipoff from Savage Arena is slated for 7 p.m.

Next Event

Team Stats

Cha Sweeney

Olivia Fouty

Shannise Heady

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics