The Eastern Michigan (1-2) women's basketball team lost 79-77 to non-conference foe Youngstown State at the Beeghley Center on Saturday, Nov. 16. Jenna Annecchiarico was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 19 points and three steals. Freshman Aaliyah Stanley had a season-high 16 points and was 4-for-7 on 3-pointers.
Youngstown State (2-2) senior Mary Dunn had 30 points, which was a career-high. She put up 19 points in the second half that helped the Penguins erase a 15-point halftime deficit. Chelsea Olson had 16 points and 15 rebounds as well.
The first half was all Eastern Michigan as they led 31-14 after the first quarter. The Eagles shot 56% from the field, were 6-for-14 from behind the 3-point arc and out-rebounded the Penguins 20-13. Youngstown State didn't make it close until the end of the third quarter.
Olson made a 3-pointer to make it 58-54 with 1:22 left in the quarter. She scored a on a layup just a couple of plays later to get them within two. Annecchiarico missed on a 3-point shot and then Dunn drained a three at the other end to give Youngstown State their first lead at 59-58.
There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter and every possession was key for both teams. The Penguins went up 71-67 with five minutes to play after a pair of free throws by Dunn. Stanley hit a 3-pointer moments later and EMU was back within one. Then it was Corrione Cardwell for the Eagles who made a jumper to take the lead back at 72-71.
A back and forth stretch came after that, with Olson scoring and then Natalia Pineda making a 3-pointer for EMU. Dunn tied the game at 75-75 with 1:49 remaining. The defense stepped up on both sides with Dunn missing a shot, Kiara Johnson blocking a shot for EMU and then the Penguins forcing a miss from Cardwell.
Olson rebounded Cardwell's miss and later found Dunn in the paint for an assisted layup and the lead at 77-75. That led to a timeout by EMU head coach Fred Castro. Cardwell had a redemption play out of the timeout as she made a game-tying layup with 15 seconds remaining. Youngstown State head coach John Barnes called a timeout to talk over their last possible possession.
Maddie Schires was fouled by Annecchiarico with less than a second remaining on an attempted 3-pointer. Schires made two free throws from the stripe and Castro took another timeout with Youngstown State leading 79-77. The final play was Stanley attempting a 3-pointer but it was blocked by Olson and the game was over.
The Penguins reached the free throw line more often in the second half where they made 75% of their attempts. EMU shot 44.4% from the line in the second half. Youngstown State shot over 60% from the field and hit 66.7% from behind the arc in the second half.
EMU's next game is versus Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
