It was a record-setting day for the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team as it defeated Northeastern Friday 85-53 in Boston in the season opener.
Tavelyn James led EMU with 42 points to set a single-game school-scoring record. With 40 points, she had held the previous record set against Toledo in 2010.
Along with James, Olivia Fouty and Desyree Thomas also posted double-digit performances.
Fouty scored a career-high 20, while Thomas also recorded 10, the best of her career.
The game got off to a slow start as the Eagles took the first basket two minutes into the first quarter. From there EMU refused to relinquish the lead, taking a 19-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Eastern then went on to a 32-10 lead with five minutes left in the half.
With three minutes left into the first half, James made a three pointer from an assist by Thomas to take a 35-12 lead, heading into the final minutes in the first half.
The Huskies ended the half with a three-pointer, still down 35-16.
To open the second half, the Eagles made their lead 41-20.
A layup from Natachia Watkins gave the Eagles a 51-28 lead with 12 minutes left in the second half. The Eagles continued to apply pressure throughout the course of the game, leading to 17 steals.
With only seven minutes left along with a media timeout, the Eagles held a lead of 65-37.
After coming off the timeout the game continued without much changing, with Taylor Byrd making two free throws to give the Eagles a 81-53 lead.
The Eagles will play again Nov. 14 in their home opener against Marygrove at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Tip-off is scheduled for a 7 p.m.
