Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 16
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-12 (4-8MAC)
56
vs
53
Ball State
7-17 (2-10MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Ball State
15
7
16
15
53
Eastern Michigan
18
5
15
18
56
Photo by: Richard Palaikis II
Women's Hoops Rallies to Edge Ball State, 56-53
2/16/2019 5:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Four Eagles reach double-digits in back-and-forth matchup with Cardinals
Highlights
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team erased a nine-point, third-quarter deficit and returned to the win column with a nail-biting, 56-53, victory over Ball State University Saturday, Feb. 16, inside the Convocation Center.
Behind 51-49 with fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation, a corner three courtesy of freshman Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) put EMU (11-12, 4-8 MAC) back in front, 52-51, with 2:57 to go in the fourth quarter. Ball State (7-17, 2-10 MAC) eventually bounced back to capture a 53-52 lead with 1:58 left, but head coach Fred Castro called a 30-second timeout before redshirt senior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) buried a corner three of her own to give EMU a 55-53 edge with 1:02 remaining in regulation.
The Green and White managed to keep the Cardinals off the board for the remainder of the contest with a defensive stop and a pair of steals from redshirt sophomore Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East), who split a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds on the clock to wrap up the scoring.
With the victory, EMU matches its win total from last season and secures the Eagles' first winning record at home since the 2015-16 campaign. The result also marked the Green and White's first win against Ball State inside the Convocation Center since claiming a 74-63 decision, Feb 25, 2012.
Annecchiarico was one of four Eagles to reach double-figures in the contest, tallying a team-best 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while tying Cardwell and Minott with three swipes. Cardwell showed 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting along with four boards and a team-high four assists. Sophomore Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while freshman Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) notched 10 points off the bench, four boards, and a pair of helpers. Freshman Kiara Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y.-Cardinal O'Hara) paced the Green and White with seven rebounds, while Minott and sophomore Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) each pulled down six boards.
EMU finished 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the floor, collecting six of its seven three-pointers in the second half. Though Ball State struggled to a 32.7 percent (17-of-52) clip, the visitors remained within striking distance by going 15-of-20 from the charity stripe. Eastern outrebounded Ball State, 37-34, and was superior in second-chance points (16-11) and fast-break points (10-6).
Ball State netted the first six points of the contest, but Annecchiarico went coast-to-coast for a layup before Cardwell added a pair of baskets to trim the deficit to 8-6 with 4:15 left in the first quarter. Later in the frame, Pineda's corner three fueled a 10-0 EMU run that gave the Eagles a 16-10 lead with 1:41 to go in the opening period.
EMU shined on the defensive end throughout the second, holding Ball State without a field goal for the final 8:52 of the stanza. With 0.5 of a second remaining in the half, Pineda drew a foul and split a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 23-22 edge heading into the break.
Ball State seized the momentum early in the second half, using an 11-0 run to open a commanding 35-26 lead with 3:45 left in the third. Still trailing by nine with just over three minutes to go in the frame, the Green and White wrapped up the quarter with a 9-0 run to knot the score at 38 apiece.
Pineda started the fourth quarter with a triple to put the Eagles back ahead, 41-38, with 9:44 remaining in the fourth. A Ball State jumper basket sliced the deficit to one, but Annecchiarico added a corner three to stake EMU to a 44-40 lead with 9:11 to go in regulation. A game featuring five ties and 11 lead changes continued to swing back-and-forth, as the Cardinals scored four consecutive points to gain a 51-49 edge with 3:29 to play.
Eastern Michigan wraps up its three-game homestand Wednesday, Feb. 20, against the University of Akron. The Eagles are looking for a season sweep of their MAC East counterparts after knocking off UA, 72-60, in Akron, Jan. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and will serve as EMU's Play4Kay game in support of breast cancer awareness.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team erased a nine-point, third-quarter deficit and returned to the win column with a nail-biting, 56-53, victory over Ball State University Saturday, Feb. 16, inside the Convocation Center.
Behind 51-49 with fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation, a corner three courtesy of freshman Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) put EMU (11-12, 4-8 MAC) back in front, 52-51, with 2:57 to go in the fourth quarter. Ball State (7-17, 2-10 MAC) eventually bounced back to capture a 53-52 lead with 1:58 left, but head coach Fred Castro called a 30-second timeout before redshirt senior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) buried a corner three of her own to give EMU a 55-53 edge with 1:02 remaining in regulation.
The Green and White managed to keep the Cardinals off the board for the remainder of the contest with a defensive stop and a pair of steals from redshirt sophomore Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East), who split a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds on the clock to wrap up the scoring.
With the victory, EMU matches its win total from last season and secures the Eagles' first winning record at home since the 2015-16 campaign. The result also marked the Green and White's first win against Ball State inside the Convocation Center since claiming a 74-63 decision, Feb 25, 2012.
Annecchiarico was one of four Eagles to reach double-figures in the contest, tallying a team-best 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while tying Cardwell and Minott with three swipes. Cardwell showed 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting along with four boards and a team-high four assists. Sophomore Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while freshman Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) notched 10 points off the bench, four boards, and a pair of helpers. Freshman Kiara Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y.-Cardinal O'Hara) paced the Green and White with seven rebounds, while Minott and sophomore Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) each pulled down six boards.
EMU finished 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the floor, collecting six of its seven three-pointers in the second half. Though Ball State struggled to a 32.7 percent (17-of-52) clip, the visitors remained within striking distance by going 15-of-20 from the charity stripe. Eastern outrebounded Ball State, 37-34, and was superior in second-chance points (16-11) and fast-break points (10-6).
Ball State netted the first six points of the contest, but Annecchiarico went coast-to-coast for a layup before Cardwell added a pair of baskets to trim the deficit to 8-6 with 4:15 left in the first quarter. Later in the frame, Pineda's corner three fueled a 10-0 EMU run that gave the Eagles a 16-10 lead with 1:41 to go in the opening period.
EMU shined on the defensive end throughout the second, holding Ball State without a field goal for the final 8:52 of the stanza. With 0.5 of a second remaining in the half, Pineda drew a foul and split a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 23-22 edge heading into the break.
Ball State seized the momentum early in the second half, using an 11-0 run to open a commanding 35-26 lead with 3:45 left in the third. Still trailing by nine with just over three minutes to go in the frame, the Green and White wrapped up the quarter with a 9-0 run to knot the score at 38 apiece.
Pineda started the fourth quarter with a triple to put the Eagles back ahead, 41-38, with 9:44 remaining in the fourth. A Ball State jumper basket sliced the deficit to one, but Annecchiarico added a corner three to stake EMU to a 44-40 lead with 9:11 to go in regulation. A game featuring five ties and 11 lead changes continued to swing back-and-forth, as the Cardinals scored four consecutive points to gain a 51-49 edge with 3:29 to play.
Eastern Michigan wraps up its three-game homestand Wednesday, Feb. 20, against the University of Akron. The Eagles are looking for a season sweep of their MAC East counterparts after knocking off UA, 72-60, in Akron, Jan. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and will serve as EMU's Play4Kay game in support of breast cancer awareness.
Team Stats
BALLST
EMU
FG%
.327
.412
3FG%
.211
.304
FT%
.750
.389
RB
34
37
TO
20
24
STL
16
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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