The Eastern Michigan Eagles (10-10, 5-4) women’s basketball team has split their last two games, as they defeated the Toledo Rockets on the road, 77-62, before falling to the Akron Zips in overtime last Saturday. The Eagles were led by Arenna Combs versus the Rockets as she finished with 27 points. Juanita Agosto had 21 points against Akron.
Against Toledo, Eastern Michigan fell down 15-12 after the first quarter but were able to come back before halftime as they took a 35-32 lead into the second half. The Eagles continued to pour it on in the third and fourth quarter, pulling away for a 15-point win. Combs was unstoppable in the win, totaling 27 points, four rebounds and one steal.
Eastern Michigan also had two other players score in double figures against Toledo. Jenna Annecchiarico finished with 13 points, four assists and four steals in 39 minutes. Corrione Cardwell helped the Eagles with 12 points and three assists. However, Annecchiarico and Cardwell were a combined 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
In the Eagles next matchup, they fell to Akron on the road. EMU was down 74-72 with 19 seconds left in the game. The Eagles defense forced a turnover and captured a steal which set junior Courtnie Lewis up for a 3-pointer. The made 3-pointer gave EMU a 75-74 lead with 11 seconds remaining.
After redshirt sophomore Agosto made a free throw late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 76 points apiece, the game was sent to overtime. However, the Zips came out on top and captured an 88-81 overtime victory. Akron controlled the game in overtime as they outscored the Eagles 12-5.
Agosto finished with a career-high 21 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the floor. She was able to score four of the five final buckets for the Eagles. Redshirt junior Cardwell finished with 16 points, which is her second double-digit scoring performance. It was also a season-best performance for her.
Lewis finished with 15 points which is her second highest point performance for the season. Combs was the fourth Eagles player to score in double-digits as she finished with 12 points. The last to score in double-digits was point guard. Annecchiarico as she dropped 11 points.
Both teams kept it close in field goal percentage. EMU and Akron shot 41% from the floor. The Eagles shot the ball well from deep with a 43% clip. Meanwhile, the Zips shot 30% from beyond the arc. However, the Zips were able to maintain the advantage from the free throw line. The Zips shot 86% from the line, compared to EMU’s 57%.
Akron held the advantage on the boards as the team outrebounded the Eagles, 53-40. The Eagles had less turnovers, though, and caused more turnovers for the Zips. Eastern Michigan’s defense captured 10 steals and finished the game with 12 turnovers. The Zips had 17 turnovers in total.
EMU is set to compete against Ohio on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Convocation Center.
