The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball continued its road game stretch with a 78-68 victory over the Monmouth Hawks in West Long Branch, N.J. on Thursday night.
Junior Cha Sweeney picked up right where she left off from her previous game, scoring a game-high 26 points, but it was junior Phillis Webb’s 20-point 11-rebound performance that helped seal the victory over the MAAC school.
The Eagles went into the locker room ahead of the Hawks 38-23 at the break. After the half, the Eagles went on a scoring drought for over two minutes, which allowed the Hawks to capture a 9-0 run in the third quarter. The Hawks would put five three-pointers as they tally 30 points in the third quarter as they cut the lead to within one heading into the fourth.
The momentum for the Hawks would carry into the fourth quarter as they would go yet another to take a seven point lead their largest of the game. EMU coach Tori Verdi called a time-out to cool off the hot Hawk’s run.
The momentum would swing back to the Eagles with help from Phillis Webb as she earned ten of the Eagles 12 points down the stretch of the game. The Eagles defense held Monmouth scoreless for nearly four minutes in the fourth quarter, which allowed them to take the lead.
In the final five minutes of the game, the Eagles went on a 18-2 run and Sweeney would knockdown some clutch free throws in the closing minutes of the game. Junior Janay Morton reached her 1,000 career points as she scored nine in the ball game to along with her four steals.
The Eagles shot 40 percent (26-65) from the field and 77 percent (20-26) from the free-throw line. The EMU defense held Monmouth to only 33 percent for the game while scoring 16 points off of its 14 turnovers. The Eagles also won the rebound battle 47-43 with help from senior Chanise Baldwin’s 10 boards.
Looking Ahead:
The Eagles look to their third straight road game as they travel Livonia, Mich. to face the Crusaders of Madonna University. The Crusaders are 2-7 on the season with victories over Aquinas College and Cornerstone University.
