Tavelyn James stepped on the basketball court as a highly touted freshman, earning all-state honors four times while in high school.
James will step off as the most accomplished player in Eastern Michigan women’s basketball history.
After scoring an EMU record of 2,461 points and leading the three most successful seasons in EMU history, senior guard James played her last game as an Eagle on March 17, in a losing effort to the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks 80-48.
But that won’t diminish what she accomplished while wearing the green and white.
“Our seniors were outstanding not only this year, but in years past as well,” University Athletic Director Derrick Gragg said. “They have had the best three-year winning percentage ever in the history of the program with three consecutive 22-plus win seasons. Tavelyn James leaves Eastern as the most highly decorated player in the women’s basketball program’s history.”
This season, James led the Eagles to 23 total wins, 13 Mid-American Conference (MAC) wins and a MAC West title. The Eagles also won the MAC tournament and advanced to the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
But it wasn’t only James who led the Eagles.
Senior forward Paige Redditt rewrote the EMU record books and became the 16th Eagle to score more than 1,000 career points.
“Redditt leaves as a team captain and one of only 16 1,000 point scorers in the program’s history,” Gragg said. “They (Redditt and James) are both great young ladies off the court and will not be replaced easily.”
The Eagles began the season with inconsistent play and headed into a game against the University of Michigan with a 5-3 record. The Wolverines came into the game with a 9-1 record, but the Eagles, led by a 38-point effort from James, defeated the maize and blue 77-64.
Despite the impressive victory, the Eagles continued to struggle in non-conference play, finishing 8-5.
Going into its first MAC contest, EMU fell to Ball State 54-51, casting doubt on whether the Eagles would be able to sustain the success they had in the previous season.
A four game winning streak, including an impressive road victory against Toledo, helped the Eagles find their way, as they went 11-2 afterward to finish the regular season 21-8, continuing the streak of three straight 20-win seasons.
An added bonus, James won the MAC Player of the Year award at season’s end.
“I am very pleased with this past season’s performance on and off the court,” Gragg said. “The women’s program had one of the best years in women’s basketball history.”
Under the new MAC tournament rules, the two division winners receive automatic bids to the conference semi-finals. The Eagles faced Toledo in a contest that tested the will of the Eagles.
Toledo led by 10 points with 7:45 remaining, before EMU mounted a ferocious comeback, taking its first lead of the contest with 1:09 remaining. The Eagles sealed the game with free throws, ending the Rockets’ 2011-12 season.
The finals were even more of a scare for the Eagles, facing the Central Michigan University Chippewas for the MAC Championship. The Chippewas routed the Eagles 61-46 in the regular season finale, so this game provided the same scare for the Eagles.
The teams traded leads several times during the last two minutes, but senior forward Paige Redditt hit a game winning, NCAA Tournament bid-clinching shot with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Again, James was named the tournament’s most outstanding player for her efforts.
The Eagles were headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
Paired up with South Carolina in the first round the tournament, the Eagle’s offense was stifled by the intense and aggressive Gamecock defense March 17, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. EMU would ultimately lose in a blowout 80-48. Ending their participation in the tournament.
It would be a game worth forgetting for the Eagles, but a career and legacy to remember for James.
“We hope to continue the winning tradition that has been established here at Eastern,” Gragg said.“Our women’s basketball program is truly one of the many shining stars within the department, and I am looking forward to even more success in the future.”
