Eastern Michigan's Big Second Half Leads To 79-62 Win Over Butler

Dec. 30, 2002

Final Stats

INDIANAPOLIS - After holding a slim 35-33 halftime edge, Eastern Michigan used a 11-0 run midway through the second half to claim a 79-62 non-conference win over the Butler women's basketball team on Monday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse. With the win, the Eagles snap a three-game losing streak, and improve to 3-7 on the season. Butler, which has lost five straight, drops to 2-8 overall.

After four lead changes and seven ties in the first half, Eastern Michigan's Ryan Coleman hit a jumper at the buzzer to send the Eagles into halftime with a 35-33 advantage. Neither team led by more than five points throughout the first 20 minutes.

Nancy Bowden would open the second half with a three pointer from the wing, to give Butler a 36-35 lead. But, that would be the final time the Bulldogs would be on top, as Eastern Michigan quickly countered to pull ahead, and then used an 11-0 run midway through the half to take a 58-46 lead.

Angel Mason cut the gap to nine, 59-50, at 7:22 by hitting the front end of a pair of free throws, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would come throughout the remainder of the game. The Eagles utilized their numerous trips to the free throw line in the second half to put the game out of reach.

"I am just very disappointed in our performance and our all-around effort tonight," said head coach Beth Couture. "I felt like over the last few games we had been making strides in the right direction, but tonight we took a big step backwards."

After shooting 51.9 percent from the field in the first half, the Bulldogs shot a dismal 23.3 percent clip in the second half. Eastern Michigan shot 51.1 percent on the game, including 81.1 percent (30-37) from the free throw line.

Coleman led four Eastern Michigan players in double-figures, scoring 20 points before fouling out. She also led all players with nine rebounds. Nikki Knapp (16), Dru Bishop (14) and Abby Wiseman (13) all reached double figures as well.

Bowden recorded a season-high 20 points to go along with a career-high seven steals and five assists to lead the Bulldogs. Cortney Urquhart chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds and Lisa Pryor finished with 12 points.

The Bulldogs will conclude their four-game homestand on Saturday when they open up the Horizon League portion of their season by hosting UIC in a 2 p.m. contest at Hinkle Fieldhouse.