Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 7
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
14-15,9-9MAC
69
at
76
Central Michigan
23-6,16-2MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
12
29
14
14
69
Central Mich.
18
9
25
24
76
Halftime Lead Not Enough as Women's Hoops Falls to CMU, 76-69
3/7/2020 3:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Courtnie Lewis recorded her third-career double double
Photo Gallery.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A 14-point halftime lead was not enough for the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team as it fell on the road in its regular season finale, 76-69, to Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan University today, March 7, inside McGuirk Arena.
With the result, Eastern (14-15; 9-9) officially ends its regular season one game below the .500 mark, and ends with an even ledger in MAC play. The team will now focus its efforts on the MAC tournament. The Eagles will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will host No. 10 seeded Northern Illinois University in its first round game Monday, March 9, 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Eastern was led by junior guard Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton), who paced the team with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep. She added 11 rebounds to notch her third-career double-double, and her first since her freshman season in 2017-18. Redshirt junior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) extended her double-digit scoring streak to an impressive 22 games with her 22-point effort.
EMU faced adversity early as the Chips raced out to a quick two-bucket lead, 7-3, in front of a packed home crowd. Undeterred by the atmosphere or early deficit, Eastern fought back with four quick points of its own to tie the game at seven apiece heading into the game's initial media timeout. Combs hit her first shot of the game, a triple from the left side, to lead EMU with three points at the stoppage. Despite coming back, CMU quickly grabbed momentum and took a six point lead, 18-12, after one frame.
Although the court shimmered with Maroon and Gold, the second quarter was owned by the Green and White. Down six, 18-12, EMU got three consecutive triples courtesy of Lewis, who nailed two, and sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin). The nine-point run was just the beginning of the onslaught that followed. Eastern went on to outscore Central, 29-12, in the 10-minute span that was the second quarter and took a commanding 14-point lead, 41-27, into the locker room. Lewis was the star of the show, as she hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor, including 4-of-5 from deep, to score a team-best 14 points in the second period. Combs added five more points of her own to finish with 13 at the break. Together, the two combined to score 27 first-half points, the same number that CMU collectively totaled at the break. Redshirt junior Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) came off the bench to add five points for Eastern as well.
Central Michigan used halftime adjustments to put together an impressive run of its own after the break. It took CMU just six minutes into the third quarter to open up a 21-6 scoring parade and retake the lead, 48-47. From there, Eastern rallied back and was able to finish the third quarter in front, 55-52.
Although it fought, EMU was forced to endure the pressure of the nearly-full McGuirk Arena crowd in the fourth quarter. Coupled with Central's improved shooting, which included nine second-half triples, the home team was able to finish the game in front, 76-69. Central, the top-ranked offensive team in the conference, outscored EMU 49-28 in the second half to complete its impressive come-from-behind win.
Eastern will now return home to begin preparations for its first round MAC tournament game. The Eagles will play NIU at 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUWBB.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A 14-point halftime lead was not enough for the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team as it fell on the road in its regular season finale, 76-69, to Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan University today, March 7, inside McGuirk Arena.
With the result, Eastern (14-15; 9-9) officially ends its regular season one game below the .500 mark, and ends with an even ledger in MAC play. The team will now focus its efforts on the MAC tournament. The Eagles will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will host No. 10 seeded Northern Illinois University in its first round game Monday, March 9, 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Eastern was led by junior guard Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton), who paced the team with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep. She added 11 rebounds to notch her third-career double-double, and her first since her freshman season in 2017-18. Redshirt junior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) extended her double-digit scoring streak to an impressive 22 games with her 22-point effort.
EMU faced adversity early as the Chips raced out to a quick two-bucket lead, 7-3, in front of a packed home crowd. Undeterred by the atmosphere or early deficit, Eastern fought back with four quick points of its own to tie the game at seven apiece heading into the game's initial media timeout. Combs hit her first shot of the game, a triple from the left side, to lead EMU with three points at the stoppage. Despite coming back, CMU quickly grabbed momentum and took a six point lead, 18-12, after one frame.
Although the court shimmered with Maroon and Gold, the second quarter was owned by the Green and White. Down six, 18-12, EMU got three consecutive triples courtesy of Lewis, who nailed two, and sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin). The nine-point run was just the beginning of the onslaught that followed. Eastern went on to outscore Central, 29-12, in the 10-minute span that was the second quarter and took a commanding 14-point lead, 41-27, into the locker room. Lewis was the star of the show, as she hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor, including 4-of-5 from deep, to score a team-best 14 points in the second period. Combs added five more points of her own to finish with 13 at the break. Together, the two combined to score 27 first-half points, the same number that CMU collectively totaled at the break. Redshirt junior Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) came off the bench to add five points for Eastern as well.
Central Michigan used halftime adjustments to put together an impressive run of its own after the break. It took CMU just six minutes into the third quarter to open up a 21-6 scoring parade and retake the lead, 48-47. From there, Eastern rallied back and was able to finish the third quarter in front, 55-52.
Although it fought, EMU was forced to endure the pressure of the nearly-full McGuirk Arena crowd in the fourth quarter. Coupled with Central's improved shooting, which included nine second-half triples, the home team was able to finish the game in front, 76-69. Central, the top-ranked offensive team in the conference, outscored EMU 49-28 in the second half to complete its impressive come-from-behind win.
Eastern will now return home to begin preparations for its first round MAC tournament game. The Eagles will play NIU at 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUWBB.
Team Stats
EMU
CMU
FG%
.362
.426
3FG%
.348
.393
FT%
.688
.765
RB
34
48
TO
7
16
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
3
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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