Eagles Prevail in Double-OT Thriller against WMU

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In a double-overtime thriller, the Eastern Michigan University (14-8, 5-6 MAC) women's basketball team emerged victorious, 70-66, over Western Michigan University (13-10, 5-6 MAC) at the Convocation Center, Feb. 6. Clutch free throws down the stretch were the difference marker in securing the victory for the Eagles.

The Eagles were paced by junior Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio – Rogers) with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Four other EMU players also hit double digits, with junior Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn. – Osseo) notching 12 points and seven boards. Fellow junior Sheyna Deans (Mt. Clemens, Mich. – Mt. Clemens) also knocked down 12, while junior Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn. – Osseo) contributed 11. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was senior Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich. – Martin Luther King) with 10 points and six boards.

As a team, the Green and White shot 25-of-66 from the floor, while also dominating on the boards. EMU posted 54 total rebounds, 15 of them offensive, in comparison to Western's 43. The EMU defense was vital down the stretch especially, as the Eagles forced the Broncos into 21 turnovers throughout the game. EMU did a much better job taking care of the ball, as the squad only gave it away 12 times.

Starting with the ball on offense, Deans gave the Eagles their first points of the game in her first career start. A pair of solid defensive possessions led to a bucket on the other end, as the Eagles jumped ahead, 6-2. Taking an early 10-2 lead, the Broncos were forced to call a timeout with six minutes left in the first quarter. The EMU defense continued causing problems for the Broncos, holding them to 2-of-10 shooting early on. However, the offense cooled down a bit in the closing minutes of the quarter, as the lead shrunk to 13-8. After a quarter of play, the Eagles held a 15-10 lead.

After a quick bucket to take a seven-point lead, the Broncos rattled off two straight baskets to bring the score to 17-14. A nice pass from Morton to Webb led to a layup and a foul, giving the Eagles some offensive momentum. However, Western then mounted a small run to reduce the lead to three at 21-18. A layup from Morton put the lead back to five, 23-18, with three minutes to go until halftime. A clutch three from Sweeney made the score 26-21 before a layup by Western cut it again to three. Going into the locker room, the Eagles held a slim 26-23 advantage.

Out of the break, the Broncos quickly took the lead, 27-26, on a pair of baskets. Teams continued trading baskets, with EMU regaining the lead, 30-29, approaching the halfway mark of the quarter. Baldwin then tied it up with a pair of free throws, which also put her at 10 on the day. After a layup by Webb, Sweeney swiped the inbounds pass and converted a layup to put EMU back ahead, 36-34. Going into the final quarter of play, the Eagles were ahead, 40-38.

The Broncos quickly tied the game up at 40 apiece in the opening minute of the fourth. A jumper by Deans then put the Eagles back ahead, 42-40. The two teams were knotted up at 42 before a long three from Morton put the Green and White ahead by three. Morton then dropped in another bucket to put EMU up by four. However, a free throw from the Broncos dropped the lead back down to three. Sweeney then knocked down a nice jumper to put the lead back at five with 1:30 left to play. After a pair from the line by WMU, the lead was back down to three, 49-46, with 51 seconds to go. The Broncos would have one last opportunity with two seconds left on the clock to tie up the game, and a desperation three fell through to knot the game, 49-49, to force overtime.

Western knocked down a three to open the overtime period, but a jumper from Deans cut the Broncos' lead back down to one. However, the WMU offense then converted a basket and sunk a free throw to make the score 55-51. A pair from the line by Morton reduced the WMU lead to a pair with 2:45 left to play. A layup from Webb put the Eagles down by two with 15 seconds left to tie it up with a two, or take the lead with a three. After a missed shot from Sweeney fell short, Webb collected the offensive rebound and converted another layup to send the game to a second overtime.

The Broncos opened the period with the first basket again to take the lead, but a Sweeney three quickly gave the lead back to the Eagles, 60-59. A free throw from Morton then gave the Green and White a two-point lead with 3:25 left. Two free throws from Deans put EMU ahead, 63-59, within the final two minutes. Webb was then also sent to the line, converting one-of-two for a three point lead, 64-61, in the final minute of play. A floater from Sweeney then put the Eagles up by five, 66-61, with 28 seconds left. However, a layup from Western fell through and the shooter was fouled. After converting the free throw, the Eastern lead fell to just two with 20 seconds left. Clutch free throws from Sweeney put the Eagles back ahead by four, before a Western layup put the lead back down to two. The Broncos fouled Sweeney again, and she dropped them both to put the lead back at four. Western was unable to get a good shot off on the other end, and the Eagles took home the 70-66 victory.

The Eagles continue their Mid-American Conference play on the road at Miami University, Feb. 13, starting at 2 p.m. Following the trip to Oxford, the Green and White will remain on the road for a bout with Buffalo, Feb. 17.

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Team Stats

Cha Sweeney

Janay Morton

Sheyna Deans

Phillis Webb

Players Mentioned

Chanise Baldwin

Sheyna Deans

Janay Morton

Cha Sweeney

Phillis Webb

Players Mentioned

Chanise Baldwin

Sheyna Deans

Janay Morton

Cha Sweeney

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics