Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
13-16
Ball State
8-22
Comeback Complete: Eagles Top Cardinals in Regular Season Finale
3/9/2019 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU overcome a 13-point deficit to pick up its first win at BSU since 2015
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team overcame a 13-point deficit to close out the regular season with a thrilling come-from-behind win over Ball State University Saturday, March 9, at Worthen Arena. The Eagles outscored the Cardinals by 19 points in the second half to knock off BSU, 67-57.
A three-pointer by freshman Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) gave the Green and White its first lead of the afternoon, 46-45, with 9:20 to go in the fourth quarter. Moments later, sophomore Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) broke a 51-51 tie with a pair of free throws to put Eastern in front, 53-51, with four minutes to go. From that point on, the Eagles never looked back and completed the comeback, 67-57.
With the win, Eastern picked up its first victory inside of Worthen Arena since Feb. 25, 2015. Additionally, the Eagles swept the season series with the Cardinals for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Redshirt senior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) registered the fifth double-double of her career, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Annecchiarico was the Eagles' leading scorer, netting a game-high 19 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Annecchiarico filled up the stat sheet with seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Sophomore Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) added 10 points and Hudson chipped in seven points and 12 rebounds.
As a team, it was Eastern's defense that caused Ball State fits. The Eagles held advantages in shooting percentage, 36.2 to 35.0, three-point field goal percentage, 25.0 to 13.3, and rebounds, 44-42. Meanwhile. EMU turned BSU over 18 times and tallied nine steals. Freshman Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) registered a career-best four swipes, while Annecchiarico added two.
Nothing went Eastern's way in the opening quarter, as Ball State scored the games first 11 points. A pull-up jumper by Minott got the Eagles on the board, but the Cardinals were in control, 15-2, after 10 minutes.
EMU used a 7-0 run over the first three and a half minutes of the second period to cut BSU's advantage to six, 15-7. The Green and White turned the Cardinals over seven times in the quarter to keep the deficit manageable with a Minott triple at the buzzer sending Easter into the half down nine, 26-17.
A pair of triples and back-to-back and-ones by Minott and Annecchiarico cut Ball State's lead to four, 32-28, with 5:39 to go in the third. The Cardinal's responded though, completing their own and-one opportunity and adding a layup to expand their lead back to nine, 37-28, at the media timeout.
The Green and White doubled up BSU in the remainder of the period, outscoring Ball State 12-6, over the final four minutes. It was a balanced effort that led the charge for the Eagles, as five different players scored, as EMU cut BSU's lead to three, 43-40, with 10 minutes to go.
Eastern Michigan took its first lead of the game, 46-45, on a three-pointer by Annecchiarico with 9:20 on the clock, but it was short lived. Ball State responded eventually, leveling the game at 51 all at the media.
Out of the break, the Eagles continued to roll behind the play of Annecchiarico and Minott. After a pair of free throws by Hudson, Minott drained a triple to put Eastern up five, 56-51. From that point, the Eagles never wavered, using a barrage of freebies from Annecchiarico to close the season with a 67-57 victory.
With the regular season complete, Eastern Michigan turns its attention to the MAC Tournament. EMU will begin its journey for a conference title on the road Monday, March 11. The No. 9 seeded Eagles will take on No. 8 University of Akron in the Rubber City. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena.
MAC Women's Basketball Tournament presented by Visit Myrtle Beach
Monday, March 11, 2019 -- First Round (High Seed Campus Sites)
Game 1: No. 9 Eastern Michigan at No. 8 Akron, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 12 Bowling Green at No. 5 Kent State, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 10 Western Michigan at No. 7 Northern Illinois, 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 11 Ball State at No. 6 Toledo, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 -- Quarterfinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. No. 1 Central Michigan, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. No. 4 Buffalo, TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. No. 2 Ohio* (ESPN+)
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 3 Miami* (ESPN+)
Friday, March 15, 2019 -- Semifinals
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 11 am ET (ESPN+)
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner * (ESPN+)
Saturday, March 16, 2019 -- MAC Championship
Game 11: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 11 a.m. EST (CBS Sports Network)
*30 minutes following the completion of the first game of the session.
