Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-10,1-6MAC
Bowling Green
8-7,3-3MAC
Women's Basketball's Comeback Falls Short Versus Bowling Green, 71-60
1/24/2022 9:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Areanna Combs finished with 21 points and two assists on the night
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Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Despite mounting a late-game comeback effort, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team dropped a Mid-American Conference affair at the hands of Bowling Green State University, 71-60, tonight, Jan. 24, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) led the Eagles (4-10, 1-6 MAC) with 21 points and a pair of assists. Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam West (Florida International)) added nine points while redshirt senior Danielle Rainey (Washington D.C.-Vista Ridge (Florida)) chipped in with eight points of her own to go along with two assists.
Led by Combs' three offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in nine second-chance points. Additionally, the redshirt senior hauled in a team-best eight rebounds
The Eastern Michigan defense caused its share of mistakes in tonight's game, forcing 18 Bowling Green turnovers while committing 14. Those takeaways turned into 13 points on the other end of the floor. Combs' three steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
After falling behind 10-4, Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run with 5:04 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 10. Bowling Green then pulled ahead, sending the Eagles into the second quarter down 15-13. Bowling Green kept adding to that lead in the second quarter, building a 17-13 advantage before the Green and White went on a 5-0 run to take an 18-17 lead. The Falcons then came roaring back to take a 35-27 lead heading into halftime.
Eastern Michigan's deficit continued to grow in the third stanza as the Eagles faced a 59-43 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. EMU played well near the basket, scoring 10-of-16 points in the paint. Eastern narrowed BGSU's advantage in the fourth quarter, but could not get over the hump, losing 71-60. Eastern Michigan got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring eight of its 17 total points.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan forced a total of 18 turnovers in the contest. The game marks the sixth time this season that EMU has led the turnover battle and the fourth time the Eagles have won that battle in MAC play.
» EMU cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game. It is the ninth time this season the Green and White have tabbed 10+ offensive boards in a contest. It is also the fourth-straight game Eastern has racked up 10-or-more rebounds on the offensive end.
» Combs led the offense with 21 points. Tonight marked her fourth game this season scoring 20+ points for Eastern Michigan and the fifth time this season an Eagle has scored 20-or-more in a game. Eastern has a record of 1-3 in those games. Individually, Combs has scored 20+ points in 23 career games (58 career games total).
» The Eagles got a team-high eight rebounds from Combs. The guard has now led the team in rebounds three times in the 2021-22 campaign and 14 times while donning the Green and White.
» Eight different players scored points in the game for Eastern Michigan. It is the eighth time this season Eastern has had eight-or-more players score in a game.
» Redshirt junior Toyosi Abiola (London, England.-City of London Academy (Iona)) played her first minutes of basketball as an Eastern Michigan Eagle. Abiola was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in the 2017-18 season at Iona College.
» With 21 points, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 55 of her 58 career games with the Green and White (94.8%). That number is the highest percentage in the Mid-American Conference.
Historical Notes
» Tonight marked the 73rd all-time meeting between the Eagles and the Falcons. BGSU leads the all-time series, 53-20.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan travels to Northeast Ohio to take on the Zips of Akron University Wednesday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN3 and fans can hear the game on WEMU 89.1 FM or on the Varsity Network app, with Tom Helmer providing the play-by-play and Alex Jewell serving as the analyst.
