Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, March 2
Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
19-9 (10-7MAC)
63
at
52
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Western Michigan
15-14 (7-10MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Michigan
12
19
11
21
63
Western Michigan
9
11
19
13
52
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Fend Off Broncos for 63-52 Win
3/2/2016 9:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU notched a season-high 19 steals in the game
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In a back and forth contest, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team held off in-state conference rival Western Michigan University for a 63-52 victory Wednesday night, March 2, in Kalamazoo. Despite the EMU victory, wins by both Ball State and Toledo have assured that the Eagles will host a first round game at the Convocation Center Monday, March 7, in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Eagles were led by senior Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King (Providence)) who dominated down low for a career-high 19 points. She did most of her work from the free-throw line, hitting a career-best 11 from the stripe. Meanwhile, junior Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) led the Eagles defensively, notching her second straight six-steal game. Two other Eagles finished in double figures as juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo), both had 10.
As a team, EMU shot 34 percent from the field (20-of-59) and kept WMU at bay by going 20-of-25 (80 percent) from the free throw line. EMU dominated down low, outscoring WMU 32-24 in the paint. The defense carried the day though, with the Green and White forcing WMU into 22 turnovers, with 19 of them coming as steals, a season high. That turned into 15 of EMU's points on the night.
Out of the gates, A Morton three ball and five points from junior Sheyna Deans (Mt. Clemens, Mich.-Mt. Clemens (St. Clair County C.C.)) had EMU leading 8-2. Meanwhile the defense stifled WMU, holding them to an almost three-minute scoring drought. Midway through the first period, EMU held the 8-4 advantage.
From there, both offenses were mostly stagnant, with EMU going 2-of-13 and WMU going 2-of-8 down the stretch. Both teams shot under 30 percent for the period, and as a result, EMU led just 12-9 after one.
Senior Sera Ozelci (Ankara, Turkey-TED Ankara College) nailed a three to begin the second quarter, but WMU responded with two quick buckets, cutting EMU's lead to just two, 15-13. After trading points, EMU went on a quick 8-0 run thanks to two Bronco turnovers, to jump ahead to its largest lead of the night 25-15. WMU couldn't break the deficit, as EMU extended it to 11 before the half, leading 31-20.
After the break, WMU came out firing, outscoring the Eagles 14-4 to cut the lead down to just one midway through the frame, 35-34. WMU continued chipping away, taking their first lead of the night, 37-36, at the 2:48 mark on a three pointer. EMU responded immediately and the two teams proceeded to trade buckets. A free throw and layup from Baldwin right before the end of the quarter gave EMU a 42-39 lead going into the final period.
Three minutes, WMU had the game tied at 44-all, but then Baldwin knocked down EMU's next five points, extending the Eagle lead to 51-44 midway through the final quarter. Western went on to whittle that lead back down to two, 42-50, with three minutes to play.
From there, EMU locked down the defense, going on a 7-0 run thanks to three steals in a row, two of which came from Morton, locking up her second straight six-plus steal game. With 50 second to go EMU led 59-50, forcing WMU to start fouling to stay in the game. EMU hit enough of their freebies to stay comfortably ahead, sealing the win.
Eastern remains on the road for its final game of the regular season when it jumps up to Central Michigan for an in-state battle with the Chippewas. Tip-off from McGuirk Arena is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5.
The Eagles were led by senior Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King (Providence)) who dominated down low for a career-high 19 points. She did most of her work from the free-throw line, hitting a career-best 11 from the stripe. Meanwhile, junior Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) led the Eagles defensively, notching her second straight six-steal game. Two other Eagles finished in double figures as juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo), both had 10.
As a team, EMU shot 34 percent from the field (20-of-59) and kept WMU at bay by going 20-of-25 (80 percent) from the free throw line. EMU dominated down low, outscoring WMU 32-24 in the paint. The defense carried the day though, with the Green and White forcing WMU into 22 turnovers, with 19 of them coming as steals, a season high. That turned into 15 of EMU's points on the night.
Out of the gates, A Morton three ball and five points from junior Sheyna Deans (Mt. Clemens, Mich.-Mt. Clemens (St. Clair County C.C.)) had EMU leading 8-2. Meanwhile the defense stifled WMU, holding them to an almost three-minute scoring drought. Midway through the first period, EMU held the 8-4 advantage.
From there, both offenses were mostly stagnant, with EMU going 2-of-13 and WMU going 2-of-8 down the stretch. Both teams shot under 30 percent for the period, and as a result, EMU led just 12-9 after one.
Senior Sera Ozelci (Ankara, Turkey-TED Ankara College) nailed a three to begin the second quarter, but WMU responded with two quick buckets, cutting EMU's lead to just two, 15-13. After trading points, EMU went on a quick 8-0 run thanks to two Bronco turnovers, to jump ahead to its largest lead of the night 25-15. WMU couldn't break the deficit, as EMU extended it to 11 before the half, leading 31-20.
After the break, WMU came out firing, outscoring the Eagles 14-4 to cut the lead down to just one midway through the frame, 35-34. WMU continued chipping away, taking their first lead of the night, 37-36, at the 2:48 mark on a three pointer. EMU responded immediately and the two teams proceeded to trade buckets. A free throw and layup from Baldwin right before the end of the quarter gave EMU a 42-39 lead going into the final period.
Three minutes, WMU had the game tied at 44-all, but then Baldwin knocked down EMU's next five points, extending the Eagle lead to 51-44 midway through the final quarter. Western went on to whittle that lead back down to two, 42-50, with three minutes to play.
From there, EMU locked down the defense, going on a 7-0 run thanks to three steals in a row, two of which came from Morton, locking up her second straight six-plus steal game. With 50 second to go EMU led 59-50, forcing WMU to start fouling to stay in the game. EMU hit enough of their freebies to stay comfortably ahead, sealing the win.
Eastern remains on the road for its final game of the regular season when it jumps up to Central Michigan for an in-state battle with the Chippewas. Tip-off from McGuirk Arena is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5.
Team Stats
EMU
WMU
FG%
.339
.364
3FG%
.214
.300
FT%
.800
.750
RB
36
40
TO
13
22
STL
19
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
11
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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