Cha Sweeney came into today's game averaging 20 points a game – third in the Mid-American Conference but, today, was held scoreless.
Despite Sweeney's struggles, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team (11-4; MAC 3-2) used a second half run to cruise past the Kent State University Golden Flashes, 72-51, Saturday afternoon in Ypsilanti.
“It was a tough night for her because of her foul trouble situation,” coach Tory Verdi said. “The fact that she picked up three quick fouls – two early and then another one so it made her passive and she’s [Sweeney] the type of player that plays aggressive and feeds off energy and creates her own offense – flies around for us. I felt like she couldn’t get going because she was on the bench most of the night.”
Sweeney struggled from the field, going 0-for-11 in the game, but transitioned her play by distributing the ball collecting five assists. This was her first time being held scoreless this season. Sweeney could not get her normal shots she would take to fall, especially her transition pull-up jumpers and her floaters at the rim.
With Sweeney’s tough outing, her teammates were able to carry the load defensively and turn it into offense.
“I thought Phillis Webb was terrific down the stretch,” Verdi said. “I thought Sasha Dailey was tremendous attacking her gaps, attacking their pressure, she kept her dribble and we were able to get layups.”
The Eagles leading scorer in the win was Janay Morton who finished with a game-high 19 points and five rebounds.
“I thought Morton was terrific tonight and she’s the player that we know and she needs to be consistent,” Verdi said. “The fact that she was looking to score and was aggressive driving to the basket was how we eventually scored.”
Phillis Webb ended the game with 17 points and five rebounds and the bench came alive with Sasha Dailey’s ten points and Chanise Baldwin 12 point performance.
The Eagles shot 46 percent (27-59) from the field and 36 percent (5-14) from the behind the arc. EMU’s big margin of victory was credited to their 27-6 run to end the game holding the Golden Flashes to only six points in the final quarter.
Under Verdi, the Eagles are 6-0 versus Kent State – the only team in the MAC he’s undefeated against.
“It’s just another MAC game for us that’s how I look at it,” Verdi said. “I’m 6-0, okay I guess I’ll have another diet coke tonight on that.”
Looking Forward:
The Eagles have three of their next four games on the road, with their next game against Ball State University on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Ball State is currently 4-1 in conference play and 12-4 overall.
