The women’s basketball team at Eastern Michigan University fell just short of defeating University of Detroit Mercy Tuesday night. The 2-8 Titans defeated the 6-4 Eagles in overtime, 70-69.
The Titans started the game on fire from the 3-point line, scoring the game’s first nine points. Titan guards Senee Shearer and Jalesa Jones played well offensively, but gave the ball up just as well. Shearer had 23 points, three steals and six turnovers. Jones had 18 points and six turnovers.
For the Eagles, it was the sophomores that played well against the Titans.
Sophomore Olivia Fouty had herself a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Natachia Watkins scored 28 points for the Eagles and added nine rebounds.
But the Eagles committed one too many turnovers, tallying up 23 turnovers; the Titans had 22. The Titans went to the free throw line more than the Eagles, making 21-out-of-32 free-throws.
The biggest lead of the game came in the first part of the first half. The Titans sustained a lead throughout the first half; at one point, they were up ten with 9:31 remaining in the first half.
The Eagles managed to get themselves back into the game and ended the first half leading 29-28.
Senior Tavelyn James struggled, scoring just nine points, going 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-5 from the 3-point line. Senior Page Redditt scored eight points, going 4-for-5 from the field.
At one point in the second half, the Eagles had a four point lead with Fouty’s tenth rebound and put back with 5:55 remaining in the game. Fouty kept her team in the game by scoring two points with 00:44 left on the clock.
In overtime, the Titans made free throws and cleaned up the boards at opportune moments. Jones, Lauren Allen and Shearer contributed to the scoring, making free throws and big shots.
The Eagles’ next game is at 11 a.m. on Dec. 29 against St. Louis.
