March 5, 2011
Final Stats
YPSILANTI, Mich. - It was a game of runs that came down to the wire, but ultimately the fifth seed Eastern Michigan Eagles came away with an 82-74 win over the 12th-seeded Miami RedHawks in the First Round of the MAC Tournament Saturday. The Eagles improve to 20-11 overall and advance to the quarterfinals against fourth seed Kent State next Wednesday. The RedHawks finish the season at 11-19 overall.
Courtney Osborn led Miami with 17 points. She finishes the season with 520 points, the fourth-highest total in school history. Kirsten Olowinski recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was her 13th double-double of the season, which ties the Miami single-season record.
Miami opened the first half on an 11-0 run. Maggie Boyer, Olowinski and Osborn each hit three-pointers, while Lillian Pitts converted on two free throws to complete the run. The RedHawks eventually extended the lead to 21-9 after another Boyer three-pointer with 12:24 left.
The Eagles would close the deficit to six points at 21-15, but Erica Almady answered with five straight points to spark a 12-4 run that made it 33-19 with 6:35 remaining in the half. Miami would maintain that advantage when Osborn hit a couple of jumpers, and Boyer hit her third three-pointer of the half to send the RedHawks into the break with a 45-30 lead.
Miami shot 42.1 percent (16-for-38) during the first half, including hitting seven three-point baskets. Miami held the Eagles to 29.6 percent (8-for-27) shooting during the period.
EMU made its run back into the contest during the first four minutes of the second half. A 15-1 run by the Eagles would cut the RedHawks lead to only one point at 46-45 with 16:06 left in the contest. Osborn stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer, but Eastern took its first lead of the game at the 14:18 mark with two Tavelyn James free throws.
Miami did not falter after losing the lead as Hannah Robertson hit a jumper to take the advantage right back. The teams traded the lead back and forth until a three-pointer from Rachael Hencke and a jumper by Olowinski put the RedHawks up by four at 59-55 with 10:48 remaining.
After falling behind 62-59, a layup from Almady and three layups from Hencke put the RedHawks up 67-64. An old-fashioned three-point play by Paige Redditt tied the game at 67. The turning point came on EMU's next offensive play when Osborn attempted to take a charge on James. She was unable to get the call and the Eagles converted the free throws to take the lead for good. A layup from Almady would make it 75-72 with 2:17 remaining, but EMU would hit their free throws the rest of the way to come away with an 82-74 win.
The Eagles hit 53.6 percent (15-for-28) of their shots in the second half to complete the comeback. Miami finished the game shooting 40.9 percent (27-for-66). In addition to her 17 points, Osborn recorded eight assists. Boyer had 14 points, while Almady contributed a career-high 12. EMU outrebounded the RedHawks, 47-37, and was led by James with 36 points.
