Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
12-16 (5-12MAC)
Toledo
19-9 (11-6MAC)
Eagles' Senior Day Spoiled with Double OT Loss to Rockets
3/6/2019 10:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hudson recorded a career-high 16 rebounds, tying for ninth-most in Convocation Center history
Highlights
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw its Senior Day spoiled in heartbreaking fashion at the hands of the University of Toledo Wednesday night, March 6, inside the Convocation Center. After what would have been game-winnings shots were waved off at the end of regulation and an initial extra period, Toledo outlasted Eastern, 70-67, in double overtime.
A pair of free throws by freshman Kiara Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y.-Cardinal O'Hara) put EMU (12-16, 5-12 MAC) ahead by two, 65-63, with 2:38 to go in the second OT, but Toledo (19-9, 11-6 MAC) responded with a freebie and then an offensive putback to reclaim the lead, 66-65. Despite a timely layup by freshman Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) in the closing minute that brought EMU within one, Eastern could get a defensive stop as UT grabbed its 15th offensive rebound in the waning moments to seal the, 70-67, setback for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan was led by a balanced offense that included a trio of double-digit scoring efforts and a near double-double. Annecchiarico led the way with 19 points, highlighted by four triples, to go along with four rebounds and two assists. Redshirt sophomore Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) and redshirt senior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Sophomore Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) paved the way on the glass, grabbing a career-best 16 rebounds and chipping in nine points. Hudson 16 boards tie for the ninth-most in Convocation Center history.
The field goal percentage was as tight as the game itself, with the Rockets hold a 37.9 to 37.5 percent edge from the floor. UT's advantage extended to beyond the arc, 41.7 to 29.4 percent, while EMU posted its best free throw percentage of the season at a 77.8 clip. EMU outblocked UT, 3-2, but Toledo out-rebounded EMU, 47-42.
A tight game from the onset, neither team led by more than five in the first half as Eastern Michigan took a slim, 20-19, advantage into halftime. EMU led five, 20-15, with 2:15 to go until the break, but UT closed out the second quarter on a 4-0 run to pull within one at the midpoint.
Toledo's momentum carried over to the second half, as the Rockets took control in the third period. The Rockets hit 8-of-15 shots, while the Eagles' went 3-of-15 from the floor, allowing UT to take a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.
With her team on the ropes, Annecchiarico scored 10 of her team-best 19 points in the fourth stanza to force overtime. Toledo led by seven following a three-ball with just under four minutes to go, but Annecchiarico responded with a triple of her own. After an Annecchiarico layup, freshman Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) grabbed a rebound to make way for a Hudson bucket to even the score at 50-all.
Out of a timeout, Pineda came up with a timely block and Hudson pulled down another rebound to give Eastern a chance at the game winner with eight seconds to go. A Cardwell layup was off the mark, but corralled by Hudson who had a putback waved off, sending the game to overtime.
In the first OT, the two sides traded baskets before a Toledo second-chance effort was waved off to make way for a second extra time period.
EMU's regular season comes to a close Saturday, March 9, when the Eagles travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Worthen Arena.
