Eagles Bow Out of WBI with 93-91 Loss to Illinois-Chicago

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University's women's basketball team wrapped up the 2013-14 season with a heart-wrenching 93-91 setback to the University of Illinois-Chicago, March 24 inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles finished the season with an 18-14 record, while the Flames will continue to build on their 24-9 season count.

The Eagles were led by four players in double figures, three of whom surpassed the 20-point count. Freshman Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) led the way with 25 points, connecting on five three pointers. Jamaica Bucknor (New Haven, Conn.-Weaver (ASA College)) added a career-high 25 points to go with six rebounds, a block, and two steals, while Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) notched 22 points with four steals and a career-best nine assists.

The Green and White shot 32-of-75 for a 42.7 percent clip, while connecting on 12 three-pointers on 26 attempts. The Eagles also recorded 16 steals, forcing an additional nine miscues from the Flames. UIC hit 41 of its 74 shots for a 55.4 percent success rate, with 58 points coming from within the paint.

Eastern's 48 first-half points scored marked the greatest offensive output in a single stanza since a 95-62 victory over Lawrence Tech, Dec. 30, 2013, when the Eagles recorded 54 points in the first 20 minutes of action.

UIC was led by Rachel Story and Ruvanna Campbell, who each tallied 27 points in the win. Campbell pulled down nearly half of the team's 48 rebounds, setting a Convocation Center rebounds record with 23 boards, which is the most since Akron's Rachel Tecca pulled down 22 off the glass in the Jan. 26 matchup.

The Flames got on the board early with a corner trey by Story and a fastbreak layup from Katie Hanneman. After being held scoreless for nearly three minutes of action, Sweeney found Bucknor inside the paint for an easy jumper. UIC 's Campbell worked inside and out for her squad, pouring in the next four points to give the Flames a 9-4 advantage.

Sweeney was able to keep the team alive with a three-pointer followed by a weave through the defenders for a layup and a pull-back jumper, but the Flames hit back-to-back threes to keep the edge over the Green and White. The Eagles got within one point after Morton nailed two threes, after which Sweeney came away with a steal off the inbound play for a quick layup.

Trailing 29-28, the Green and White was able to take the lead off a fastbreak jumper in the paint dished out by Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo). Webb came away with a steal under the Flames' hoop, which ended up entrusted to Bucknor for the triple, giving the Eagles the largest lead thus far, 33-29.

Story hit a fastbreak jumper to give the lead back to the Flames, but Sweeney quickly reciprocated with a triple to flop the score in favor of the Eagles once more. The two teams continued to trade blows throughout the remaining two minutes of the half, seeing a handful of leadership changes before the clock ticked down with the Flames holding the edge, 49-48.

Sweeney led the squad with 16 points, four assists, and three steals, while Morton chipped in 13 points after going 3-of-5 from three-point range. The team shot a blazing 52.8 percent from the field, and connected on seven triples out of 14 attempts.

The Flames had an equally impressive shooting rate, going 22-of-36 from the field for 61.1 percent, but suffered at the charity stripe after sinking just one free throw on five attempts. UIC also held the edge on rebounding, grabbing 22 boards compared to 15 from the Green and White.

Story came out hot for the Flames, notching six points in the first three minutes to build up to a 59-53 lead. UIC kept the same margin through the next five minutes to keep a 70-64 lead. Both teams found the bulk of their success in the paint and just outside the key, but the Green and White was unable to muster a run to get within five points of the Flames until a trio of free throws put the team down 79-74.

Bucknor went off on an offensive tear, hitting a jumper, a fastbreak layup and a sideline triple to knot the contest, 81-81, with 4:30 to play. After being silent for the second half, Sweeney came up with a huge three-pointer to give the Eagles their first lead in 18 minutes, an 86-83 advantage, with 2:23 remaining. UIC fought back, matching the Green and White's scoring count before Sweeney hit another trey within one minute to bolster a 91-88 lead.

Terri Bender notched a layup to bring the Flames within one point, after which Campbell got fouled on a layup with 7.5 seconds remaining. Campbell sank the extra point to give UIC a 93-91 lead. The Eagles were unable to convert on their final play of the contest, dropping a hard-fought battle to cap the 2013-14 season.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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