Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-3,1-1MAC
Gonzaga
4-2,0-0WCC
Valiant Effort Falls Short as Women's Hoops Falls to No. 25 Gonzaga
12/20/2020 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Jenna Annecchiarico scored a game-high 27 points; hit four triples
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fought valiantly, but ultimately fell short in its non-conference matchup with the 25th-ranked Gonzaga University Bulldogs, 77-68, tonight, Dec. 20, inside Las Vegas' South Point Arena. The game was the first of two that EMU is playing as part of the 2020 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
The game, which remained close throughout, offered a display of EMU's talent and ability to overcome adversity. The Eagles battled back from multiple double-digit deficits to finish the game within striking distance.
Eastern (3-3, 1-1 MAC) was led by the duo of junior Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who led all scorers with 27 and 24 points, respectively. Annecchiarico's point total, which was fueled by a game-high four three-point makes, is a season-high. The game was also her best from the long line since Feb. 12, 2020, when she hit four against Bowling Green State in a 22-point effort. Skanes' effort was her third with 20+ points this season, which ties redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) for the team lead. Combs, who entered the contest with 29 consecutive games with 10+ points, was held to just four points on 1-of-10 shooting. Combs did tie for the team lead with six boards, the same amount that redshirt junior Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) collected.
The fast-paced first half saw Gonzaga score the game's first bucket, a mid-range jumper that flushed through 60 seconds into the contest. EMU came right back with points of its own as Combs was able to work her way to the free throw line and split a pair. Just moments later, EMU was able to take its first lead of the contest, 3-2, courtesy of a Skanes layup. That score sparked what was an eventual 5-2 Eastern Michigan run, which culminated with a three-point make by Annecchiarico, a bucket that put the Eagles up, 8-4. EMU remained resilient after an ensuing 6-0 run by GU put the Zags up three, 11-8, with 3:16 to go in the opening quarter. Dialed in early, it was Annecchiarico that came through again as she poured in her second three-ball of the game to knot the score at 11-apiece. Still deadlocked with 33 seconds to go, 16-16, Skanes drew a foul which put her at the line. She hit both to give EMU a two-point lead, 18-16, at the end of the first.
EMU opened the second quarter with clear momentum as Annecchiarico intercepted a Zags pass and fed Combs for an easy bucket to put EMU up four, 20-16, just 30 ticks into the frame. A chess match ensued over the next set of minutes as the two squads exchanged leads five times in under five minutes. Tied at 27-all with 4:58 to play in the half, the Bulldogs put together a 6-0 run to go ahead, 31-27. Although a layup by senior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) brought to margin back to two, 33-31, with 2:35 remaining, EMU was unable to climb all the way back before the break and went into halftime down seven, 39-32.
Eastern was energetic out of the intermission and remained at a steady pace with its West Coast Conference-competition. A five-point Gonzaga run saw the Bulldogs extend their lead to eight, 47-39, with under five minutes remaining in the frame. Consistent in its ability to fight, EMU continued to climb back and used the next minute to close the gap to six, 51-45. A three-point make by junior transfer Kylee O'Hara (Ajax, Ontario- Henry Street (Florida International)) highlighted the stretch for Eastern. Today's game was O'Hara's first start as an Eagle. EMU's comeback attempt took a blow in the ensuing minutes, as Gonzaga held the Eagles off the board for the quarter's final 3:18, which gave it time to build a 12-point, 57-45, lead heading into the fourth.
Evert resilient as the clock wound down, Eastern continued to swarm the Zags in the fourth quarter. After going behind by 15, 64-49, just three minutes into the frame, the Eagles went on an 11-6 run to get back within 10, 70-60, with just under three minutes remaining. Although the effort was undeniable, the comeback efforts came with too little time on the clock. EMU did get the final margin under 10, but ultimately fell, 77-68.
Although the game is marked as a loss, it is worth noting that the result was Eastern's best against an Associated Press top-25 team since the 2014-15 season, when EMU finished with the same eight-point margin of defeat against the No. 14/15 Michigan State University Spartans, Nov. 16, 2014.
Eastern will get a quick opportunity to remedy its defeat as it returns to action tomorrow, Dec. 21, for the final game of its 2020 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic appearance with a game against Tarleton State. Tipoff for the first-ever game between the Texans and Eagles is set for 12 p.m. PT.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball, continue to visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media, at @EMUWBB.
