Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 11
Muncie, Ind.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-7 (2-1MAC)
54
at
59
Ball State
11-4 (3-0MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Michigan
18
10
16
10
54
Ball State
9
13
16
21
59
Women's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker at Ball State
1/11/2020 3:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Areanna Combs registered her first double-double as an Eagle
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite taking a lead into the halftime break, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team was unable to hold off its Mid-American Conference West Division foe, the Ball State University Cardinals, today, Jan. 11, inside Worthen Arena. A heartbreaking finish saw the Cardinals take a one point lead, 55-54, with just 1:13 remaining in the game. Although it had attempts to score near the end of regulation, Eastern was unable to tie or reclaim the lead, eventually falling, 59-54.
The loss is the first in league play for Eastern (7-7; 2-1 MAC), and levels the Eagles at a .500 overall record on the season. Ball State (11-4; 3-0 MAC) remains undefeated in MAC play, one of just two teams in the conference with that accomplishment (Central Michigan).
The Eagles were led by redshirt junior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who led the team in both points (18), and rebounds (11). The game marked her seventh consecutive double-digit scoring effort, and goes in the books as her first double-double in an EMU uniform. Freshman guard Aaliyah Stanley (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Oxbridge Academy) also chipped in 10 points of her own, her eighth game with 10 points-or-better this season.
Down three, 49-46, with 3:35 left in the game, it was none-other than Combs who found success. Taking her abilities inside the paint, she finished through contact, scoring a two-point bucket and earning a trip to the line. Her free throw tied the game. Still tied and again with the ball, the Oklahoma City native went back to the line with 2:40 left. She hit both to give Eastern the lead, 51-49.
When Ball State went back up one point, 52-51 with just over two minutes remaining, it was sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) who rose to the occasion, draining her second triple of the game to again put Eastern ahead, 55-52.
EMU dominated the first quarter of play, holding Ball State without a field goal for the first 7:58 of the game. The performance came on the heels of holding Kent State without a field goal for the opening-7:31 of the game between the Eagles and Golden Flashes, Jan. 8.
Eastern was locked-in on the offensive end of the court as well. Although Ball State applied early pressure, the Eagles needed just 14 seconds to navigate their way to the hoop, where Stanley found junior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) for the first bucket of the contest.
Up, 18-9, after one quarter of play, Eastern was met by Ball State resistance. This time it was the Cardinals who dialed up the defense, holding the Eagles scoreless for the first 4:10 of the frame. Undeterred, Eastern was able to weather the storm to the tune of a six point, 28-22, halftime lead.
The third quarter proved testy for the Eagles, as Ball State fought to claim a two point lead, 36-34, with 4:56 on the clock. Facing serious adversity, Eastern weathered the storm with veteran poise, outscoring the Cardinals 10-2 to finish the quarter having regained the lead, 44-38. Combs finished the stretch with a team-best five points, while junior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) added a critical jumper with just two ticks on the clock.
While the fourth quarter saw both squads play at a high level, Ball State had the edge, outscoring the Eagles 21-10 to claim the win.
Eastern has a three-day break before returning to the court for its game against Miami, Jan. 15. Tipoff for the MAC tilt is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside EMU's own Convocation Center. Be sure to follow @EMUWBB on social media, and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's hoops.
The loss is the first in league play for Eastern (7-7; 2-1 MAC), and levels the Eagles at a .500 overall record on the season. Ball State (11-4; 3-0 MAC) remains undefeated in MAC play, one of just two teams in the conference with that accomplishment (Central Michigan).
The Eagles were led by redshirt junior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who led the team in both points (18), and rebounds (11). The game marked her seventh consecutive double-digit scoring effort, and goes in the books as her first double-double in an EMU uniform. Freshman guard Aaliyah Stanley (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Oxbridge Academy) also chipped in 10 points of her own, her eighth game with 10 points-or-better this season.
Down three, 49-46, with 3:35 left in the game, it was none-other than Combs who found success. Taking her abilities inside the paint, she finished through contact, scoring a two-point bucket and earning a trip to the line. Her free throw tied the game. Still tied and again with the ball, the Oklahoma City native went back to the line with 2:40 left. She hit both to give Eastern the lead, 51-49.
When Ball State went back up one point, 52-51 with just over two minutes remaining, it was sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) who rose to the occasion, draining her second triple of the game to again put Eastern ahead, 55-52.
EMU dominated the first quarter of play, holding Ball State without a field goal for the first 7:58 of the game. The performance came on the heels of holding Kent State without a field goal for the opening-7:31 of the game between the Eagles and Golden Flashes, Jan. 8.
Eastern was locked-in on the offensive end of the court as well. Although Ball State applied early pressure, the Eagles needed just 14 seconds to navigate their way to the hoop, where Stanley found junior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) for the first bucket of the contest.
Up, 18-9, after one quarter of play, Eastern was met by Ball State resistance. This time it was the Cardinals who dialed up the defense, holding the Eagles scoreless for the first 4:10 of the frame. Undeterred, Eastern was able to weather the storm to the tune of a six point, 28-22, halftime lead.
The third quarter proved testy for the Eagles, as Ball State fought to claim a two point lead, 36-34, with 4:56 on the clock. Facing serious adversity, Eastern weathered the storm with veteran poise, outscoring the Cardinals 10-2 to finish the quarter having regained the lead, 44-38. Combs finished the stretch with a team-best five points, while junior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) added a critical jumper with just two ticks on the clock.
While the fourth quarter saw both squads play at a high level, Ball State had the edge, outscoring the Eagles 21-10 to claim the win.
Eastern has a three-day break before returning to the court for its game against Miami, Jan. 15. Tipoff for the MAC tilt is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside EMU's own Convocation Center. Be sure to follow @EMUWBB on social media, and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's hoops.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
FG%
.254
.354
3FG%
.208
.200
FT%
.481
.759
RB
52
45
TO
17
23
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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