Monday's Scoreboard
Eastern Michigan 65, Tarleton 59
Toledo 64, North Dakota 49
Kent State 73, Duquesne 66
Central Michigan 73, Loyola 64
West Virginia 88, Ohio 79
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Eastern Michigan 65, Tarleton 59
Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (EMUEagles.com) – An 8-0 run over the final 2:29 was the difference as the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team was able to slip by Tarleton State University, 65-59, at the 2020 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic inside South Point Arena today, Dec. 21.
The win snaps a two-game losing skid for Eastern (4-3, 1-1 MAC), and moves its overall ledger to one notch above the .500 mark. The victory also comes at an ideal time, as the game served as the final tune-up before EMU closes its regular season schedule with 18-consecutive Mid-American Conference contests, beginning Jan. 2, against Kent State.
The Eagles were led by a historic effort from redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who put up a career-high 23 rebounds in the win. That number is the most in EMU single-game history, and is the first 20-rebound effort for an Eagle since the 2014-15 campaign when Brianna Puni grabbed 20 in a game against Drake, March. 20, 2015. Skanes added 12 points to secure her third double-double of the season, which leads the team. The 20-rebound performance is the first by any player in the conference this season. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) led the scoring efforts for EMU, as she put up 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting. The game was her fourth this season with 20+ points. Junior Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) was the squad's lone three-point scorer for the day; she hit three long balls for Eastern.
EMU started fast as it took just 29 seconds for the Sooner State Sisters, Combs and Skanes, to hook up for a smooth assist-and-score that put the Eagles ahead, 2-0. Just moments later, it was Skanes who displayed her passing ability, as she fed redshirt junior guard Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) for a quick two. That bucket put EMU ahead, 4-1, just 60 ticks into play. Although Tarleton State was able to muster eight points by the first media timeout, which came with 4:11 left in the first, it was unable to corral the powerful EMU offense. Five Eagles were already on the board by the time of the break as senior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) paced the squad with four points. Hudson finished the contest with a season-best 12 points. The rest of the quarter featured dominant defense by the Eagles. Tarleton State finished the quarter shooting just 15 percent (2-for-13), including a 0-for-7 stretch and a 2:51 scoreless spell to end the quarter. On the contrary, the Eastern offense was incredibly fluid. Five Eagles scored en route to a season-best 21 first quarter points for the Green and White. Combs rebounded well after a season-worst 1-for-10 struggle against Gonzaga, Dec. 20. She finished the frame with a team-best six points on 3-of-6 shooting.
The second quarter began with a rejuvenated TSU team on the floor as the Texans were able to dwindle the EMU lead down to just four, 23-19, with 6:38 remaining on the clock. The run was quickly stifled by the stout EMU defense, however, as it allowed just seven further points before intermission. Most impressive was yet another stretch of unrelenting effort from the defense that kept the Texans off the board for a stretch of 2:46, its second of at least that length in the game. Eastern's defense also held Tarleton State without a field goal for the final three minutes of the half, an effort that allowed EMU's offense to expand its lead to 13, 39-26, by the time the clock hit zero. Eastern's 39 first-half points, sparked by scoring from five different Eagles, are the most by the team in a game this season. Combs finished the half with a game-high 10 points, while Skanes dominated on the boards with 14, her best effort of the season.
Up comfortably to start the second half, 39-26, EMU faced yet another push from the Texans, who are playing their first season at the Division I ranks in 2020-21. Tarleton State opened the half on an 11-4 run, one which saw Eastern's lead shrink to just six, 43-37, with about seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. Two quick buckets by Combs allowed EMU to stretch the lead back to eight, 47-39, before a pair of layups from redshirt junior RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) made it a 13-point edge in favor of the Eagles, 53-40, with three minutes left in the frame. Despite the clear momentum and ability to score with ease, EMU was unable to maintain the wide margin as the Texans closed the quarter on a 9-4 run to bring the game back within eight, 57-49, at the conclusion of the third.
The fourth quarter was the most action-packed of the day as Tarleton State inched too close for Eastern Michigan's comfort. Up eight, 57-49, EMU fell victim to a 9-0 TSU run through the first 7:30 of the fourth and final stanza. It was not until the 2:29 mark of the quarter that EMU was able to fill up its first bucket of the quarter, a layup courtesy of Hudson, that tied the game at 59-apiece. Reliant on its defense all afternoon long, EMU rose to the occasion for one final stand against the Texans. After forcing a contested shot and bringing down the defensive rebound, Eastern reclaimed the lead for good on a Combs make, 61-59, with 1:44 to play. That bucket was the second in an eventual game-ending 8-0 run for the Green and White.
Despite a resilient effort from Tarleton State, Eastern proved too good to beat, and eventually secured its 65-59 victory.
EMU is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 2, as it welcomes Kent State to the Convocation Center for the first leg of a women's/men's doubleheader in Ypsilanti. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
Toledo 64, North Dakota 49
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo closed out the 2020 calendar year in grand fashion, securing a 64-49 victory against North Dakota in Monday's non-conference finale in Savage Arena. With the win, the Rockets improve to 5-1 on the season.
Sophomore Quinesha Lockett paced the Midnight Blue & Gold with 23 points, a season-high seven boards and three assists. The 2020-21 team captain shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field in only 23 minutes, including a collegiate-best 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, marking the first time a Rocket has registered at least 20 points in back-to-back games since Mariella Santucci did it against Kent State and Miami on Feb. 1 and Feb. 5, 2020.
Freshman Sammi Mikonowicz added a season-high 16 points, five caroms and a season-tying best three thefts. Toledo also benefited from eight points each from sophomore Sophia Wiard and freshman Khera Goss to run its all-time record to 6-0 against Summit League foes.
As a team, the Rockets shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from three-point land, and a flawless 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Toledo has now made double-digit triples in two of the last three games. They also finished with 15 assists and only 12 turnovers, signifying the second time they had more helpers than miscues this year.
Juliet Gordon led North Dakota with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Jacklyn Jarnot chipped in 10 points. UND's leading scorer, Julia Fleecs, was held to a season-low five points. The senior captain entered today's matinee tallying 18.2 ppg. The Fighting Hawks were limited to 29.3 percent (17-of-58) from the floor, including 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from three-point range.
Kent State 73, Duquesne 66
Box Score
KENT, Ohio – Another stellar three-point shooting performance and converting turnovers into points allowed Kent State to beat Duquesne, 73-66, in the final scheduled non-conference game of the season on Monday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (3-2), which have won three games in a row, followed a school record 16 three-pointers in the home opener against Ohio on December 11 with a 12-of-22 performance from behind the arc against the Dukes. Junior Lindsey Thall showcased the type of shooter she can is capable of being with five makes on six attempts. Sophomore Katie Shumate connected on all three of her three-point shots. Both players finished with 17 points.
Sophomore Nila Blackford led Kent State with 18 points and nine rebounds to narrowly miss her third straight double-double. Thall collected seven boards to help the Flashes to a 33-30 rebounding edge and matched her season-high with four blocked shots.
Duquesne opened the game with a defensive stop and then a basket by Laia Sole for its only lead of the day. That lead was short-lived, as Katie Shumate found Nila Blackford on the wing for a three-pointer just under a minute later. A trio of three-point field goals by Lindsey Thall gave the Flashes their largest lead of the opening period, 12-4. A three-pointer and conventional three-point play by the Dukes in the final 1:30 of the quarter helped the guests get within 21-18 despite Kent State shooting 5-of-8 from long range in the first 10 minutes.
The Flashes made their first four three-point shots in the second period as part of a 16-1 run to push the lead to 18. Duquesne's first field goal in the quarter came at the 3:43 mark to get within 37-21. Kent State's offense stalled for the remainder of the quarter, missing both field goal attempts and splitting eight shots at the charity stripe, and took a 41-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. Nearly half (20) of the team's points were scored following a Duquesne turnover.
After their lead was trimmed to seven just over four minutes into the third, the Flashes pushed the lead back to 14 on Thall's fifth triple of the day with 1:31 left in the quarter.
The lead was 12 to start the fourth, but the Dukes scored 10 points on their first four possessions to make it 57-55 and force Kent State to take timeout. A turnover after the timeout gave Duquesne an opportunity to tie the game, but a pair of terrific defensive plays by Thall fueled a 7-0 run to lead by nine. Isolated in the port against the Dukes' Laia Sole, who had a game-high 23 points, the Mid-American Conference's top shot blocker was able to get a finger on Sole shot attempt and give the ball back to the Flashes. Mariah Modkins took advantage of an aggressive defender to drive to the basket and dish to Blackford for a layup. The next time down the floor, Thall closed a driving lane and swatted a shot attempt that she was able to grab. Relentless effort on the offensive glass resulted in another Blackford basket on her third attempt of the possession. Modkins added a three-pointer to close the run.
The Dukes countered with a their own 7-0 run to get within 64-62 with just over two minutes remaining. After Modkins split a pair of free throws, Blackford was able to contest a shot by Sole that was off the mark and rebounded by Katie Shumate. The duo added second-chance baskets on the Flashes' next possession to push the lead to seven. Blackford tracked down a missed three-point attempt and drove strong to the basket for a reverse finish while being fouled. Clare Kelly rebounded the missed free throw and Shumate was at the right place at the right time to catch a shot that came up short and lay it in with just a second on the shot clock to extend the lead to seven with just 38.7 seconds to play.
Junior Mariah Modkins led Kent State with five assists while committing just a single turnover in 28 minutes at the point guard position.
The Flashes will return to MAC play with a trip to Eastern Michigan on Saturday, January 2.
Central Michigan 73, Loyola 64
Box Score
CHICAGO – Micaela Kelly scored 23 points and Kyra Bussell added 18 on Monday as the Central Michigan women's basketball team posted a 73-64 nonconference victory over Loyola-Chicago at the Ramblers' Gentile Arena.
The win sends CMU into the Christmas break at 4-2, with its losses coming at Michigan and at Michigan State, which are a combined 11-0.
"I thought it was good to get a win going into Christmas break – happy bus ride home," said CMU coach Heather Oesterle, whose team is ranked fifth in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. "We have a week as a coaching staff to come up with a list of things we need to get better at."
West Virginia 88, Ohio 79
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Ohio (3-2, 1-1 MAC) women's basketball team fell to West Virginia (6-2, 0-2 Big 12), 88-79, on Monday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
Ohio was led by senior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio), who had 29 points on 10-of-23 shooting. Hooks was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and added three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Redshirt junior guard Erica Johnson (Mansfield, Ohio) added 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting. Johnson was 5-of-9 from the three-point line and recorded six rebounds and three assists.
"I thought both Cece (Hooks) and Erica (Johnson) did a tremendous job of controlling the game for us," head coach Bob Boldon said. "Their shot selection was fantastic. Cece (Hooks) got guarded by post players to start with, they tried to guard her with length and they tried to guard her with speed, and she was really good at taking what they gave her. I thought Erica (Johnson) was really good at directing and getting the ball where she wanted to get the ball."
Hooks now has 33 20+ point games in her career, while Johnson now has 25. Both have posted 20 or more points four times this season. Hooks is now averaging a Mid-American Conference best 25.6 points per game.
Senior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) added 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-of-7 from the three-point line.
"She (Gabby Burris) was spectacular today," Boldon added. "That was one of the best games she's ever played at Ohio. I know she's scored more in other games, but she was being guarded by one of the best post players in the Big 12. She made threes when they gave her threes and took layups when they gave her layups. Her ball screen coverage the last two games has been the best of her career defensively."
Redshirt junior guard Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) and redshirt freshman guard Madi Mace (Parkersburg, W. Va.) each had three points, while redshirt junior guard Jasmine Hale (Cincinnati, Ohio) had two points each. Kroll added a season-high nine rebounds, one short of her career-high she set at St. Francis (PA).
"I thought Jasmine (Hale) came in and gave us a great spark and made a couple of plays," Boldon said. "Peyton (Guice) didn't have the opportunity to score like at NIU but defensively she was fantastic. Madi (Mace) got off to a slow start but did a great job of rebounding and righting herself. She's a competitor."
Ohio was 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) from the field and 10-of-25 (40.0) percent from the three-point line. WVU was 33-of-62 (53.2 percent) overall and 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from deep. Ohio was 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the free-throw line while West Virginia was 15-of-23 (65.2 percent).
OU was outrebounded 37-34 and pulled down 11 offensive rebounds. Kroll pace Ohio with nine, while Johnson had six rebounds. Mace had five boards while Hooks, Burris and Guice each had three.
Ohio had nine assists, with Johnson and Hooks each posting three.
