Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, January 10
Kalamazoo, Mich.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-5,2-3MAC
67
at
62
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Western Michigan
1-6,0-5MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
10
17
19
21
67
Western Mich.
12
23
11
16
62
Women's Basketball Busts the Broncos in Thrilling Comeback, 67-62
1/10/2021 6:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Combs scores 26 to lead team; Skanes records fifth double-double
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The only thing that beats a bus ride home after a win is a bus ride home after a rivalry win. That's just the type of trip the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is making this evening, Jan. 10, after downing its Mid-American Conference and in-state foe, Western Michigan University, 67-62, inside Kalamazoo's University Arena.
With the win, Eastern (5-5, 2-3 MAC) picked up its second conference win of the season and now sits at an even overall ledger on the season. The win was the third for Eastern over Western (1-6, 0-5 MAC) in the last five meetings between the two schools. Additionally, the game marked consecutive contests in which EMU has eliminated a double-digit deficit to emerge victorious on WMU's home court.
Eastern was led by an impressive effort from redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who scored 26 points on 8-for-20 shooting, including 4-for-7 from deep, a stat that proved critical down the stretch. For Combs, the performance is her sixth with 20+ points this season, and third in her last four games. She was joined by yet another double-double effort from redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who recorded 14 points and a game-high 16 boards. Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) rounded out EMU's trio of double-digit scorers with 10 points of her own.
After eliminating an eight-point halftime deficit and holding a three-point, 62-59 lead with 45 seconds to play, it was the Eastern defense that rose to the occasion as it has all season long. Unafraid to pressure the ball, EMU played tight and forced Western out of bounds on its most important possession of the game. In the driver's seat from there on out, the Eagles were able to expand its lead to four, 63-59, when Combs hit a free throw with 22.5 seconds to play. That point proved critical as Western hit a deep three with 16.5 remaining, a shot that brought the home club within one, 63-62. Unwavering in its focus, EMU was able to keep control of the ball and eventually pull off the victory.
For the third consecutive game, EMU was excellent on defense during its opponent's opening possession, as it forced Western to take an off-balance shot with under 10 on the shot clock. From there, Combs was able to convert a post move, which put EMU on the board and ahead, 2-0. Despite the early score, both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter. EMU and WMU were an identical 1-for-5 to start the game, which left the door open for Western to score four unanswered points and take a two-point lead, 4-2, with five minutes remaining in the quarter. EMU went nearly six minutes in the quarter with no baskets and four turnovers, a recipe for scoreboard struggles. Still, its defense was impressive, as Western was just 5-for-13 in the first frame of action. All-in-all, EMU was down just two, 12-10, at the end of the first.
After tying the game at 12-apiece just moments into the second quarter, Western went on another run to go ahead, 20-12. Despite the momentum shift, Eastern remained poised and strung together a 7-0 tilt of its own in just 60 seconds to cut its deficit to one, 20-19, with 5:09 on the clock. Three Eagles contributed points during the stretch as Annecchiarico, Combs, and Skanes all provided offense. A half that was already characterized by lopsided runs was cemented as such in the ensuing minutes. Western used another impressive spurt, this time in the form of a 13-2 run, to go ahead 12, 33-21, with just over two minutes remaining. Again resilient, the Eagles used pressure and persistence to score six unanswered and get back within striking distance, 33-27, with 80 ticks remaining. Western added the final bucket of the half to take an eight-point edge into the locker room, 35-27.
Out of the break, it was Eastern Michigan that seized the momentum to put the Broncos on their heels for the first time in the game to that point. Down, 37-30, Eastern powered its way to a 7-1 run behind layups from Skanes and Anecchiarico, and a right-wing triple from junior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson). After another impressive stop, the Eagles came up the court with a chance to take their first lead since its 2-0 advantage at the start of the game. With the ball in the hands of Combs, the Green and White did just that, as the Oklahoma City native drained a contested, pull-up bucket to put Eastern ahead, 40-38, with just over five minutes remaining. The two teams continued to trade buckets over the final minutes of the third quarter, which ultimately finished in a tie, 46-46. While the scoreboard was even, the momentum was still in Eastern's corner, as it successfully erased the eight-point deficit that it was challenged with at the break. Pineda was definitely a difference maker in the quarter. After being held scoreless in the first half, she poured in five critical points, including the aforementioned three.
With the win, Eastern (5-5, 2-3 MAC) picked up its second conference win of the season and now sits at an even overall ledger on the season. The win was the third for Eastern over Western (1-6, 0-5 MAC) in the last five meetings between the two schools. Additionally, the game marked consecutive contests in which EMU has eliminated a double-digit deficit to emerge victorious on WMU's home court.
Eastern was led by an impressive effort from redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who scored 26 points on 8-for-20 shooting, including 4-for-7 from deep, a stat that proved critical down the stretch. For Combs, the performance is her sixth with 20+ points this season, and third in her last four games. She was joined by yet another double-double effort from redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who recorded 14 points and a game-high 16 boards. Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) rounded out EMU's trio of double-digit scorers with 10 points of her own.
After eliminating an eight-point halftime deficit and holding a three-point, 62-59 lead with 45 seconds to play, it was the Eastern defense that rose to the occasion as it has all season long. Unafraid to pressure the ball, EMU played tight and forced Western out of bounds on its most important possession of the game. In the driver's seat from there on out, the Eagles were able to expand its lead to four, 63-59, when Combs hit a free throw with 22.5 seconds to play. That point proved critical as Western hit a deep three with 16.5 remaining, a shot that brought the home club within one, 63-62. Unwavering in its focus, EMU was able to keep control of the ball and eventually pull off the victory.
For the third consecutive game, EMU was excellent on defense during its opponent's opening possession, as it forced Western to take an off-balance shot with under 10 on the shot clock. From there, Combs was able to convert a post move, which put EMU on the board and ahead, 2-0. Despite the early score, both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter. EMU and WMU were an identical 1-for-5 to start the game, which left the door open for Western to score four unanswered points and take a two-point lead, 4-2, with five minutes remaining in the quarter. EMU went nearly six minutes in the quarter with no baskets and four turnovers, a recipe for scoreboard struggles. Still, its defense was impressive, as Western was just 5-for-13 in the first frame of action. All-in-all, EMU was down just two, 12-10, at the end of the first.
After tying the game at 12-apiece just moments into the second quarter, Western went on another run to go ahead, 20-12. Despite the momentum shift, Eastern remained poised and strung together a 7-0 tilt of its own in just 60 seconds to cut its deficit to one, 20-19, with 5:09 on the clock. Three Eagles contributed points during the stretch as Annecchiarico, Combs, and Skanes all provided offense. A half that was already characterized by lopsided runs was cemented as such in the ensuing minutes. Western used another impressive spurt, this time in the form of a 13-2 run, to go ahead 12, 33-21, with just over two minutes remaining. Again resilient, the Eagles used pressure and persistence to score six unanswered and get back within striking distance, 33-27, with 80 ticks remaining. Western added the final bucket of the half to take an eight-point edge into the locker room, 35-27.
Out of the break, it was Eastern Michigan that seized the momentum to put the Broncos on their heels for the first time in the game to that point. Down, 37-30, Eastern powered its way to a 7-1 run behind layups from Skanes and Anecchiarico, and a right-wing triple from junior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson). After another impressive stop, the Eagles came up the court with a chance to take their first lead since its 2-0 advantage at the start of the game. With the ball in the hands of Combs, the Green and White did just that, as the Oklahoma City native drained a contested, pull-up bucket to put Eastern ahead, 40-38, with just over five minutes remaining. The two teams continued to trade buckets over the final minutes of the third quarter, which ultimately finished in a tie, 46-46. While the scoreboard was even, the momentum was still in Eastern's corner, as it successfully erased the eight-point deficit that it was challenged with at the break. Pineda was definitely a difference maker in the quarter. After being held scoreless in the first half, she poured in five critical points, including the aforementioned three.
EMU rallied to take control in the fourth. Despite Western's comeback attempts at the close, the Eagles proved too powerful in their 67-62 victory.
EMU returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 13, when it heads to the neighboring state of Ohio for a midweek contest at Miami. Tipoff from Oxford is set for 5:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's hoops, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUWBB.
EMU returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 13, when it heads to the neighboring state of Ohio for a midweek contest at Miami. Tipoff from Oxford is set for 5:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's hoops, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUWBB.
Team Stats
EMU
WMU
FG%
.371
.418
3FG%
.318
.333
FT%
.824
.556
RB
37
41
TO
10
18
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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