Mid-American Conference

Eastern Michigan Claims MAC Tournament Title

03.10.2012

Boxscore 

Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert Post Game Press Conference
Tavelyn James Interview
Paige Redditt Interview
Natachia Watkins Interview

CLEVELAND, Ohio – With each team winning once against one another in the regular season, a third meeting between two MAC schools from Michigan, on a neutral floor, was fitting to decide not only bragging rights, but also the MAC Championship.

Natachia Watkins scored 25 points to lead the Eastern Michigan Eagles, but an assist to Paige Redditt with 1.6 seconds left proved to be the deciding factor as the No. 2 seed Eastern Michigan Eagles (23-8) defeated the No. 5 seed Central Michigan Chippewas (20-15) to win the First Energy MAC Women’s Tournament 72-71, and to clinch a spot in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

The first half was highly contested throughout with the game hovering around a 3-5 point differential. A late 6-0 first half run gave the Eagles the biggest lead of the game at seven points, but a layup by Central Michigan’s Skyler Miller layup in the waning seconds gave Eastern Michigan a 40-35 halftime lead.

EMU quickly doubled their lead to 45-35 in the first two minutes of the second half forcing Central Michigan to take a timeout.  Coach Sue Guevara’s timeout paid off as the Chippewas went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to three points. The Chippewas continued to prevent the Eagles from running away with the game. A long outlet pass to Jessica Green gave Central Michigan their first lead since early in the first half 58-57 with 9:29 remaining in the game. Eastern Michigan answered right back with a Natachia Watkins layup to regain the lead for the Eagles. 

The lead continued to seesaw back and forth throughout the rest of the game. With CMU leading 69-68, MAC Player of the Year Tavelyn James drew a foul and drained both free throws to give Eastern Michigan the lead. Following another Central Michigan timeout, Crystal Bradford received the ball at the elbow, dribbled down into the paint, and spun around for a hook shot to give the Chippewas the lead back. James then committed a traveling violation while driving down the sideline giving Central Michigan the ball and forcing the Eagles to put someone on the line. CMU’s Jessica Green went to the charity stripe, but missed the front end of the one-and-one. Eastern Michigan’s Natachia Watkins skied for the rebound to give the Eagles one last chance. Watkins then found Redditt down on the block where the 6’1’’ senior found the cylinder to give Eastern Michigan a 72-71 lead with 1.6 seconds left. A Central Michigan desperation heave fell short, and the Eagles’ bench rushed the court to celebrate their MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.  

Taylor Johnson scored 20 points to lead all scorers for Central Michigan, who gave a valiant effort but fell just short of winning 5 games in 8 days for their trip to the ‘Big Dance.’ 

Eastern Michigan will find out their NCAA Women’s Championship destination on Monday night with a first round game scheduled for either Saturday, March 17 or Sunday, March 18.  The NCAA Women Selection Show Special can be seen on ESPN Monday night.