Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, January 25
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-14 (1-7MAC)
81
vs
74
Bowling Green
5-15 (1-7MAC)
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Bowling Green
15
21
11
18
9
74
Eastern Michigan
11
18
19
17
16
81
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Balanced Performance Fuels EMU Past BGSU in Overtime Thriller
1/25/2017 10:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The win snapped a seven-game skid for the Eagles, dating back to Dec. 21, 2016
Photo Gallery.
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind its most balanced performance of the season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team secured a thrilling 81-74 overtime victory against Bowling Green State University, Wednesday night, Jan. 25, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (6-14, 1-7 MAC) tied its best offensive performance of the season in the win, shooting 43.9 percent from the field.
The Green and White converted 28-of-64 field goal attempts in the game, including a trio of three-pointers, while the EMU defense held BGSU (5-15, 1-7 MAC) to a 32.9 field goal percentage. Eastern Michigan also controlled the glass by a 53-49 tally.
Four double digit performances fueled the Eagles, while seven different players scored. Senior Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) notched her fifth double-double of the season, netting a game-high 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds to pace the Eagles offense. Freshman Nailah Mitchell (Shaker Heights, Ohio-Shaker Heights) turned in a career night, posting a career-high 15 points, while adding a career-high-tying four rebounds. Senior Sheyna Deans (Detroit, Mich.-Mt. Clemens (St. Clair County C.C.)) chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rounding out the double digit scorers was junior Micah Robinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron). The Ann Arbor product was EMU's go-to in overtime, wrapping up the night with 12 points and six rebounds. Serving as Eastern's floor general, Robinson tied a career-high with six assists. Defensively, junior Tori Easley (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles, while chipping in seven points, two steals, an assist, and a block.
The Eagles weathered a three-minute long scoring drought to open the game, which left the Green and White trailing the Falcons, 6-0. Robinson provided Eastern Michigan with its first points of the contest, driving to the hoop and laying a bucket in off the glass.
EMU's sluggish start continued, forcing Head Coach Fred Castro to call a timeout, with his team trailing, 8-2 at the 5:47 mark. Eastern converted just 1-of-7 shots to open the contest, while Bowling Green's 9-2 edge on the glass compounded the Eagles' shooting woes.
A hard fought rebound by redshirt junior Ashley Nickens (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Henry Ford (Cincinnati)) sparked the Eagles following two-minutes without a bucket. Mitchell cashed in on the other end, bulldozing her way to the basket on a reversal, before Webb sank a lay-in to cut BGSU's lead to two, 8-6, with four minutes to go in the frame.
The Falcons responded with a short jumper, but EMU answered with a Mitchell three-pointer on a give-and-go from Robinson. After a putback by BGSU, the Eagles crashed the offensive boards and took advantage of their second chance opportunities, trimming the Falcons' lead to as little as one. Despite the push by Eastern, EMU trailed, 15-11, at the end of the first quarter.
Trading makes to start the second quarter, Easley went to work. Bodying up the BGSU bigs and controlling the game down low, the Toledo, Ohio native knocked down a couple of shots to keep EMU within striking distance. Easley earned a well-deserved breather with the BGSU posts out of the game in foul trouble, and EMU turned to the play of its guards. Deans drove the lane for a quick bucket in transition, and Robinson connected with Webb on the backdoor cut for another wide open layup to level the score at 21.
A triple put Bowling Green back up by three, 24-21, but EMU came right back with a left-handed lay-in by freshman Becca Turney (Canonsburg, Pa.-Canon McMillan) to cut the deficit to one at the media timeout with 4:41 left in the half.
Out of the break, BGSU rattled off a 10-2 run to push its lead to as many as nine, eventually carrying a 36-29 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
EMU's senior duo of Deans and Webb caught fire in the third period, scoring all 10 of Eastern's points to bring the Eagles within one possession. With Bowling Green's offense in a rut, going just 2-for-10, Eastern Michigan cut the score to 44-41, at the media timeout.
A pick-and-roll from Mitchell to Easley brought the Green and White within one, 44-43. The next time down the floor, Robinson pushed the pace after corralling a defensive rebound, ultimately picking up a foul to put EMU into the bonus. Cashing in at the line, Robinson's pair of free throws gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, 45-44.
Bowling Green regained the lead in the final minute, but it was short lived. In what looked like a quarter-ending turnover, an incredible hustle play by Mitchell put Eastern back in front. Tracking down a loose ball just inside mid-court, Mitchell gained control and banked in a buzzer-beating triple to give EMU the one point edge, 48-47, with one quarter to go.
The Green and White broke the final stanza open with a 6-0 run, kick started by another backdoor bucket, this one by Deans. From there, Webb took over. Grabbing a pair of rebounds and going coast-to-coast for a layup and mid-range jumper, Webb extended EMU's lead to seven, 54-47, its largest of the evening with eight minutes remaining.
Following a timeout, the Falcons settled into a groove, pulling within one, before Deans slung a pass to Webb for a baseline triple. Over the next few minutes the MAC foes exchanged baskets, leaving EMU with a 59-57 lead at the 4:01 mark.
Bowling Green evened the score at 59, sinking a putback with just over three minutes to play. A trio of free throws from Webb allowed the Eagles to keep pace with Falcons and gain a two point lead, 62-60, with 1:15 left in the frame.
Using a high screen from Easley, Deans took some contact and hit a running jumper, doubling Eastern's lead. BGSU responded with a quick bucket and immediately called a timeout with 43.9 ticks on the clock. The Falcons swiped a steal, earning a trip to the free throw line. Splitting a pair at the stripe, BGSU fouled Robinson on the ensuing inbounds. The Ann Arbor, Mich. native converted 1-of-2 at the line, giving EMU a 65-63 edge with 24.4 seconds. The junior point guard came up huge for the Eagles on the other end, as BGSU looked for the game-tying bucket. Working through a plethora of screens, Robinson stepped in front of a pass and forced a turnover. Unfortunately, Robinson's defensive play was for naught, as an EMU miscue sent BGSU to the free throw line. Converting two pressure free throws, Bowling Green evened the score at 65. With Deans and Webb both fouled out, Robinson got the nod, but her shot fell short, sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, the Eagles attacked the Falcons' defense. Eastern Michigan cashed in at the free throw line, knocking down 8-of-10 freebies to take a 73-68 lead with just over two minutes to go. The Falcons hit the first field goal of extra time, but it did not matter. One of two juniors on the floor aside three freshman, Robinson showed tremendous poise down the stretch to help the Eagles close out the contest at the line, sealing an 81-74 victory for EMU.
Continuing a three-game stretch against the MAC East Division, the Eagles travel to Akron, Ohio this weekend, Jan. 28, for a tilt against the University of Akron. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind its most balanced performance of the season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team secured a thrilling 81-74 overtime victory against Bowling Green State University, Wednesday night, Jan. 25, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (6-14, 1-7 MAC) tied its best offensive performance of the season in the win, shooting 43.9 percent from the field.
The Green and White converted 28-of-64 field goal attempts in the game, including a trio of three-pointers, while the EMU defense held BGSU (5-15, 1-7 MAC) to a 32.9 field goal percentage. Eastern Michigan also controlled the glass by a 53-49 tally.
Four double digit performances fueled the Eagles, while seven different players scored. Senior Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) notched her fifth double-double of the season, netting a game-high 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds to pace the Eagles offense. Freshman Nailah Mitchell (Shaker Heights, Ohio-Shaker Heights) turned in a career night, posting a career-high 15 points, while adding a career-high-tying four rebounds. Senior Sheyna Deans (Detroit, Mich.-Mt. Clemens (St. Clair County C.C.)) chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rounding out the double digit scorers was junior Micah Robinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron). The Ann Arbor product was EMU's go-to in overtime, wrapping up the night with 12 points and six rebounds. Serving as Eastern's floor general, Robinson tied a career-high with six assists. Defensively, junior Tori Easley (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles, while chipping in seven points, two steals, an assist, and a block.
The Eagles weathered a three-minute long scoring drought to open the game, which left the Green and White trailing the Falcons, 6-0. Robinson provided Eastern Michigan with its first points of the contest, driving to the hoop and laying a bucket in off the glass.
EMU's sluggish start continued, forcing Head Coach Fred Castro to call a timeout, with his team trailing, 8-2 at the 5:47 mark. Eastern converted just 1-of-7 shots to open the contest, while Bowling Green's 9-2 edge on the glass compounded the Eagles' shooting woes.
A hard fought rebound by redshirt junior Ashley Nickens (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Henry Ford (Cincinnati)) sparked the Eagles following two-minutes without a bucket. Mitchell cashed in on the other end, bulldozing her way to the basket on a reversal, before Webb sank a lay-in to cut BGSU's lead to two, 8-6, with four minutes to go in the frame.
The Falcons responded with a short jumper, but EMU answered with a Mitchell three-pointer on a give-and-go from Robinson. After a putback by BGSU, the Eagles crashed the offensive boards and took advantage of their second chance opportunities, trimming the Falcons' lead to as little as one. Despite the push by Eastern, EMU trailed, 15-11, at the end of the first quarter.
Trading makes to start the second quarter, Easley went to work. Bodying up the BGSU bigs and controlling the game down low, the Toledo, Ohio native knocked down a couple of shots to keep EMU within striking distance. Easley earned a well-deserved breather with the BGSU posts out of the game in foul trouble, and EMU turned to the play of its guards. Deans drove the lane for a quick bucket in transition, and Robinson connected with Webb on the backdoor cut for another wide open layup to level the score at 21.
A triple put Bowling Green back up by three, 24-21, but EMU came right back with a left-handed lay-in by freshman Becca Turney (Canonsburg, Pa.-Canon McMillan) to cut the deficit to one at the media timeout with 4:41 left in the half.
Out of the break, BGSU rattled off a 10-2 run to push its lead to as many as nine, eventually carrying a 36-29 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
EMU's senior duo of Deans and Webb caught fire in the third period, scoring all 10 of Eastern's points to bring the Eagles within one possession. With Bowling Green's offense in a rut, going just 2-for-10, Eastern Michigan cut the score to 44-41, at the media timeout.
A pick-and-roll from Mitchell to Easley brought the Green and White within one, 44-43. The next time down the floor, Robinson pushed the pace after corralling a defensive rebound, ultimately picking up a foul to put EMU into the bonus. Cashing in at the line, Robinson's pair of free throws gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, 45-44.
Bowling Green regained the lead in the final minute, but it was short lived. In what looked like a quarter-ending turnover, an incredible hustle play by Mitchell put Eastern back in front. Tracking down a loose ball just inside mid-court, Mitchell gained control and banked in a buzzer-beating triple to give EMU the one point edge, 48-47, with one quarter to go.
The Green and White broke the final stanza open with a 6-0 run, kick started by another backdoor bucket, this one by Deans. From there, Webb took over. Grabbing a pair of rebounds and going coast-to-coast for a layup and mid-range jumper, Webb extended EMU's lead to seven, 54-47, its largest of the evening with eight minutes remaining.
Following a timeout, the Falcons settled into a groove, pulling within one, before Deans slung a pass to Webb for a baseline triple. Over the next few minutes the MAC foes exchanged baskets, leaving EMU with a 59-57 lead at the 4:01 mark.
Bowling Green evened the score at 59, sinking a putback with just over three minutes to play. A trio of free throws from Webb allowed the Eagles to keep pace with Falcons and gain a two point lead, 62-60, with 1:15 left in the frame.
Using a high screen from Easley, Deans took some contact and hit a running jumper, doubling Eastern's lead. BGSU responded with a quick bucket and immediately called a timeout with 43.9 ticks on the clock. The Falcons swiped a steal, earning a trip to the free throw line. Splitting a pair at the stripe, BGSU fouled Robinson on the ensuing inbounds. The Ann Arbor, Mich. native converted 1-of-2 at the line, giving EMU a 65-63 edge with 24.4 seconds. The junior point guard came up huge for the Eagles on the other end, as BGSU looked for the game-tying bucket. Working through a plethora of screens, Robinson stepped in front of a pass and forced a turnover. Unfortunately, Robinson's defensive play was for naught, as an EMU miscue sent BGSU to the free throw line. Converting two pressure free throws, Bowling Green evened the score at 65. With Deans and Webb both fouled out, Robinson got the nod, but her shot fell short, sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, the Eagles attacked the Falcons' defense. Eastern Michigan cashed in at the free throw line, knocking down 8-of-10 freebies to take a 73-68 lead with just over two minutes to go. The Falcons hit the first field goal of extra time, but it did not matter. One of two juniors on the floor aside three freshman, Robinson showed tremendous poise down the stretch to help the Eagles close out the contest at the line, sealing an 81-74 victory for EMU.
Continuing a three-game stretch against the MAC East Division, the Eagles travel to Akron, Ohio this weekend, Jan. 28, for a tilt against the University of Akron. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
Team Stats
BGSU
EMU
FG%
.329
.438
3FG%
.115
.375
FT%
.654
.629
RB
49
53
TO
16
23
STL
12
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
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