Mid-American Conference

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Another stalwart defensive performance lifted the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team to a 52-38 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago Tuesday, Nov. 27, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (3-1) forced a season-best 31 turnovers to extend the Flames' (1-4) losing streak to four consecutive games.
 
Redshirt senior Danielle Minott (Miami, Fla.-Miami Country Day (Syracuse)) authored her best performance of the season, tallying a season-high 16 points and a career-best six steals, the most in a single game by an EMU player since Sasha Dailey recorded seven swipes against Longwood, Dec. 20, 2017. Redshirt sophomore Corionne Caldwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while tying for the team lead with six rebounds and three assists. In all, seven Eagles pulled down four or more boards in the program's first victory over UIC since Dec. 23, 2010.
 
The Green and White finished 30.4 percent (21-for-69) from the floor, but held the Flames to a woeful 26.0 percent (13-for-50) efficiency. Additionally, the Eagles forced 31 UIC miscues, resulting in a season-high 16 steals and 25 points off turnovers. EMU dished out 11 assists and scored 30 points in the paint compared to the Flames' total of 22. UIC's 38 points were the fewest EMU has held a NCAA Division I opponent to since the Eagles topped Northern Illinois, 62-35, Feb. 19, 2011.
 
Knotted at four with fewer than six minutes remaining in the opening period, the Eagles jumped back in front with eight unanswered points. Cardwell made a layup despite drawing heavy contact, before Minott buried back-to-back triples to give EMU a 12-4 advantage with 4:34 to go in the first frame.
 
Leading 17-12 heading into the second stanza, Minott's corner three capped a 6-0 EMU run to push the Green and White's cushion to 23-12 with 4:42 to play in the first half. The Eagles' defense stifled UIC throughout the quarter, holding the Flames to four points as the hosts took a 29-16 edge into the locker room.
 
EMU continued to carry the play coming out of the break, moving ahead by as many as 18 in the third period. The result was never in doubt as EMU preserved its double-digit lead throughout the second half en route to a 52-38 victory.
 
Eastern Michigan hits the road for its first true road game this weekend, as the Green and White travels to Champaign, Ill. for a clash with the University of Illinois. Tipoff between the Eagles and Illini is set for 2 p.m. CT inside the State Farm Center.


Courtesy of Eastern Michigan's Sport Information Department