Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, March 5
DeKalb, Ill.
6 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
11-19, 6-12MAC
84
at
77
Northern Illinois
15-15, 7-11MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Michigan
16
21
23
24
84
Northern Illinois
20
18
21
18
77
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Andrew Mascharka
Women's Hoops Upsets No. 8 NIU to Advance to MAC Quarterfinals
3/5/2018 9:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Danielle Minott and Courtnie Lewis scored 22 points each
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – An incredible defensive performance in the fourth quarter fueled the No. 9 Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team to an 84-77 upset over No. 8-seeded Northern Illinois University Monday night, March 5, at the NIU Convocation Center. EMU (11-19, 6-12 MAC) held NIU (15-15, 7-11 MAC) without a field goal for the final four minutes to oust the Huskies from the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
With the win, Eastern Michigan registered its seventh tournament win over a better-ranked opponent in program history, and its first since 2016. Additionally, EMU is the first MAC team seeded nine-or-below to win since the 2015 season.
Redshirt junior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) and freshman Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) poured in 22 points apiece to lead EMU as four Eagles reached double figures. Senior Micah Robinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron) came up clutch off the bench, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with two steals, an assist, and a block. Redshirt junior Emoni Jackson (Los Angeles, Calif.-Long Beach Polytechnic (Michigan)) added 12 points in her return to the starting lineup.
Seniors Tori Easley (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Sasha Dailey (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) also made the most of their minutes, as Easley led the Eagles with a season-high eight rebounds. Dailey was EMU's top distributor, dishing out a season-high six assists to go along with three swipes.
NIU hit five of its first seven shots from the field to take a 12-4 lead, forcing an EMU timeout with 6:07 to go in the opening frame. From there, Eastern's defense locked in, holding Northern Illinois without a field goal for nearly four minutes to cut within four, 20-16 after one quarter.
The Huskies extended their advantage to 10 over the first seven minutes of the second period, before the Eagles started clicking. A Minott layup and a Lewis three-point play jumpstarted a 13-4 run spanning the last three minutes of the period to send the Green and White into the locker room trailing by one, 38-37.
Eastern Michigan struck first in the second half, as a Dailey layup put EMU in front for the first time all night. EMU's 39-38 edge did not last long though, as NIU answered with a three-point play on the other end to regain the lead. Trading buckets back and forth, Northern Illinois held onto a one-point advantage, 54-53, when the media timeout rolled around with 3:44 on the clock.
Behind the play of Robinson, who scored five points over the last two and a half minutes, the Eagles held a 60-59 lead to open the final stanza.
Eastern Michigan remained in front for the first five minutes before Northern Illinois took a 71-70 edge on a layup. EMU rallied back behind the play of its seniors, holding NIU without a field goal for the final 4:18 and closing out the game on a 9-0 run to upset the Huskies, 84-77.
Next up for the Eagles is a quarterfinal meeting with No. 1 Central Michigan University Wednesday, March 7, in Cleveland, Ohio. Tipoff between EMU and CMU is slated for noon inside Quicken Loans Arena.
With the win, Eastern Michigan registered its seventh tournament win over a better-ranked opponent in program history, and its first since 2016. Additionally, EMU is the first MAC team seeded nine-or-below to win since the 2015 season.
Redshirt junior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) and freshman Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) poured in 22 points apiece to lead EMU as four Eagles reached double figures. Senior Micah Robinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Huron) came up clutch off the bench, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with two steals, an assist, and a block. Redshirt junior Emoni Jackson (Los Angeles, Calif.-Long Beach Polytechnic (Michigan)) added 12 points in her return to the starting lineup.
Seniors Tori Easley (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Sasha Dailey (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) also made the most of their minutes, as Easley led the Eagles with a season-high eight rebounds. Dailey was EMU's top distributor, dishing out a season-high six assists to go along with three swipes.
NIU hit five of its first seven shots from the field to take a 12-4 lead, forcing an EMU timeout with 6:07 to go in the opening frame. From there, Eastern's defense locked in, holding Northern Illinois without a field goal for nearly four minutes to cut within four, 20-16 after one quarter.
The Huskies extended their advantage to 10 over the first seven minutes of the second period, before the Eagles started clicking. A Minott layup and a Lewis three-point play jumpstarted a 13-4 run spanning the last three minutes of the period to send the Green and White into the locker room trailing by one, 38-37.
Eastern Michigan struck first in the second half, as a Dailey layup put EMU in front for the first time all night. EMU's 39-38 edge did not last long though, as NIU answered with a three-point play on the other end to regain the lead. Trading buckets back and forth, Northern Illinois held onto a one-point advantage, 54-53, when the media timeout rolled around with 3:44 on the clock.
Behind the play of Robinson, who scored five points over the last two and a half minutes, the Eagles held a 60-59 lead to open the final stanza.
Eastern Michigan remained in front for the first five minutes before Northern Illinois took a 71-70 edge on a layup. EMU rallied back behind the play of its seniors, holding NIU without a field goal for the final 4:18 and closing out the game on a 9-0 run to upset the Huskies, 84-77.
Next up for the Eagles is a quarterfinal meeting with No. 1 Central Michigan University Wednesday, March 7, in Cleveland, Ohio. Tipoff between EMU and CMU is slated for noon inside Quicken Loans Arena.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
FG%
.508
.407
3FG%
.400
.300
FT%
.667
.821
RB
29
44
TO
10
19
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of Aug. 4, 2025
Sunday, August 10
Inaugural Bowling with the Eagles Event
Friday, August 08
Women's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of July 28, 2025
Friday, August 08
2025 Women's Basketball Alumni Panel
Wednesday, July 30