Rockets Mount Late Comeback to Stun Eagles

Postgame Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team held a 12-point lead with 8:20 left in the second half, but could not hold on as the University of Toledo defeated the Eagles by a final score of 81-72 at the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 21. The Rockets closed the contest on a 30-9 run as foul trouble and rebounding woes plagued the Green and White in the Mid-American Conference West Division battle.

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 14-11 (7-7 MAC), while Toledo improves to 15-10 (8-6 MAC).

Eastern was led by Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) with 21 points while dishing out three assists and nabbing four steals. Also breaking the 20-point plateau was Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Owosso) with an even 20 points, earning 14 of them in the first half alone.

The Eagles shot 40.9 percent from the field on 27-of-66 shooting, and drained 7-of-20 from three-point range. After a performance behind the charity stripe for the record books against Ohio, Feb. 18, Eastern struggled to make free throws shooting just 11-of-17 for a 64.7 percent clip. The team was also heavily out-rebounded by Toledo, with the Rockets crashing the boards for 57 caroms while the Green and White came away with just 22 in the contest. Toledo's 57 rebounds are tied for the ninth-most boards in Convocation Center history.

Toledo also held the edge in the paint, 42-28, fueled by the inside presence of Sophie Reecher's 22 points and 11 rebounds. Inma Zanoguera also held a double-double, putting up 16 points and grabbing 12 boards. However, Eastern did have the advantage in steals, nabbing 14 out of the hands of the Rockets and forcing an additional 10 turnovers while giving up just eight miscues of its own.

The Rockets started the game hot on the offensive end, making their first four shots and building their lead out to 9-5 at the 17:56 mark. Jamaica Bucknor (Brooklyn, N.Y.-Weaver (ASA College)) checked into the contest and knocked down her first shot of the contest, a triple from the corner, to pull the Eagles within three at 11-8 with just over 17 minutes on the clock. Bucknor's three-pointer started a run of 11 straight points for the Green and White to make the score 16-11 in the home team's favor. Morton capped the run with her first long ball of the afternoon with 14 minutes left in the opening half.

Toledo regained the lead, 26-24, for a shot period with a three-point play by Reecher at the 6:23 marker. EMU answered back and gained control of the lead again after Morton and freshman Sasha Dailey (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) knocked down jumpers on consecutive possessions to put the home team up 29-26 with 4:37 showing on the game clock. The lead changed multiple times in the final minutes of the opening half. Morton's pair from the free throw line with 12 seconds left gave the Eagles a 35-32 lead heading into the halftime break.

Morton led the offensive charge in the opening 20 minutes for the Green and White, scoring 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, including a 2-for-3 mark from behind the arc and a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Sweeney chipped-in with seven points while Dailey netted six points in the opening frame.

EMU shot 41.9 percent (13-of-31) from the field in the first half, compared to 38.9 percent (14-of-36) for the Rockets. Eastern Michigan won the turnover battle, 11-6, but Toledo was able to turn those six Eagle turnovers into 12 points. The Rockets held the advantage down low, scoring 20 points in the paint and grabbing 26 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive end.

A string of seven straight points from Sweeney early in the second half gave the Eagles a 45-38 lead with 15:39 on the game clock. Morton's third triple gave EMU a double-digit lead at 61-51. A Sweeney steal and transition layup on the ensuing Rocket possession opened up the Eagles' largest lead of the game at 12-points (63-51) with 8:20 to play in the second half.

Toledo answered with a 12-1 run over the next 2:35 to pull within one point at 63-62. The Rockets took the lead, 68-66, on a Janice Monakana layup with 4:45 on the clock, marking the first lead for the visitors since the first half. Sera Ozelci (Ankara, Turkey-TED Ankara College (Odessa College)) stepped up with a big triple to give the Eagles the lead back, 69-66, with just over four minutes remaining in the second half.

The teams traded points over the next couple of minutes, until Morton split a pair of free throws to knot the game at 72-72 with 2:27 showing on the game clock. The free throw was the final point for the Green and White as the Rockets scored the game's last nine points to claim the 81-72 road victory.

EMU hits the road for its next contest, traveling to Muncie, Ind. for a matchup with the Ball State University Cardinals Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. The Eagles look to avenge a 72-62 loss to the Cardinals at the Convocation Center on Feb. 11.

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Team Stats

Cha Sweeney

Janay Morton

Jamaica Bucknor

Sera Ozelci

Players Mentioned

Jamaica Bucknor

Sasha Dailey

Janay Morton

Sera Ozelci

Cha Sweeney

Players Mentioned

Jamaica Bucknor

Sasha Dailey

Janay Morton

Sera Ozelci

Cha Sweeney

Eastern Michigan Athletics