By Mitch Barnett
Western Herald
The Western Michigan University (7-20, 2-12 Mid-American Conference) women’s basketball team lost 65-52 to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. on Wednesday night.
Junior Ebony Cleary led the way for the Broncos with her 500th career rebound and a double-double on the night. Going into the game Cleary needed 11 rebounds to reach 500 and that’s exactly what she finished with. Along with pulling in 11 off the glass, she scored 12 points before fouling out with 2:39 left in the game.
This was Cleary’s second double-double this season and the ninth of her career.
WMU trailed EMU, the No. 2 team in the division, by one, 13-12, with 6:36 remaining in the first half.
However, a pair of back-to-back three pointers would spark a 13-5 Eagle run to close out the half.
At half time, the Brown and Gold faced a nine-point deficit, 26-17.
WMU started out strong defensively, holding EMU to just 21.2 percent from the floor in the first half. EMU had only been held to fewer than 26 points in a half just three times throughout conference play.
Offensively, however, the Lady Broncos had problems giving the ball away on turnovers, as they gave up 15 in the first 20 minutes of play.
WMU couldn’t keep up with EMU in the second and the Eagles warmed up to hit 60 percent in the second half. The Eagles widened their lead to 18 over the first seven minutes on the half.
The Brown and Gold gave one last push to pull within nine to make it 43-34, with 9:24 left, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.
Sophomore Miame Giden and junior Taylor Manley also chipped in with double-figure scoring with 10 points each. Freshman DeAirra Goss finished the game with nine points, five rebounds and four steals.
WMU shot 27.3 percent in the first half and 38.5 percent in the second, to finish the night at 33.3 percent from the floor. The Broncos were able to win the battle on the boards out rebounding EMU, 44-39, but they couldn’t win when it came to turnovers, 26-17.
Sydney Huntley led the way for EMU with 11 points, while Cassie Schrock and Paige Redditt each had 10. WMU held the Mid-American Conference’s leading scorer, guard Tavelyn James, to seven points, which is more than 13 under her season average of 20.7 points per game.
The Lady Broncos will finish out the regular season with a pair of home games next week.
WMU hosts Central Michigan University on Saturday at 2 p.m. and returns to University Arena Tuesday to take on Northern Illinois University at 7 p.m.
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