A nail-biting game ultimately led the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team to fall to the University of Akron Zips in overtime at home by one point inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
The Eagles (5-16, 2-9 Mid-American Conference) witnessed four players reaching double-digit scoring, led by Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain), who achieved a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich.) added a career-high 14 points. Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio) contributed from the bench with another double-double, recording 13 points and 13 rebounds. Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.) brought in 11 points, along with a season high of eight assists.
Eke grabbed five offensive rebounds leading an offense that generated numerous second-chance opportunities for Eastern Michigan. The team secured 14 boards translating them into 17 second-chance points.
The Green and White's defense limited Akron to a mere 40% shooting from the field. Despite attempts to recover their misses on the offensive glass, the Zips struggled, securing only nine offensive rebounds and converting them into just eight second-chance points.
Eastern Michigan took a 4-2 lead and then went on a 6-0 run in the first quarter, highlighted by a basket from Myles, to stretch their lead to 10-2. Although they experienced a slight dip in momentum, the Eagles finished the quarter with a 19-14 advantage. The majority of EMU's first-quarter points were scored near the basket with 14 of their 19 points coming from inside the paint. Despite the Zips' efforts to narrow the gap, the Eagles maintained a slim 30-29 lead at halftime.
After halftime the Zips briefly led 31-30, but Eastern Michigan responded with an 11-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Capaldi to surge ahead 41-31 in the third quarter. Although the Zips narrowed the gap before the period ended, the Eagles maintained a 45-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
EMU yielded their lead as Akron forced overtime, tying the game at 56-56 by the end of the fourth quarter. Despite this, the Green and White capitalized on their opportunities in the paint, scoring eight of their 11 points from close range.
In the first overtime period, Akron got ahead 61-56. However, Eastern Michigan came back by going on a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Austin, to reclaim a 63-61 lead. Akron regained control, outscoring the Eagles 7-4 for a final score of 68-67, handing Eastern Michigan the loss.
Next up for the EMU women’s basketball team, they will take a break from conference play as they prepare to play host to Sun Belt Conference member, the University of South Alabama, on Saturday, Feb. 10, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
