The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team defeated Harvard University by a score of 85-81. EMU scoring was led by star guard Cha Sweeney who put 31 points on the board against the Crimson in Cambridge, Mass. Tuesday evening.

Sweeney and Phillis Webb, who scored 18 points, led the Eagles (5-2) past the Crimson (4-5) in a comeback victory after a slow start that put EMU behind 41-36 at halftime. After the half, the Eagles posted two 20-plus quarters to streak past the Ivy League school.

The two junior guards and Janay Morton combined for 60 of the Eagles’ 85 total points, despite being outscored by the Crimson in the first half of the game. The Eagles scored 22 points off of takeaways from the Harvard offense.

Harvard started the game out strong before Ozelci hit two three-pointers in succession to take the lead from 11-6 to 12-11 in favor of Eastern Michigan. Harvard would eventually come back and tie the game at 15 before Harvard went on a run to finish the first quarter ahead.

The Eagles went ahead for the first time in the night behind a jump shot from Micah Robinson and a lay-up from Webb right before the half. The Crimson again went on a run at the end of the quarter to finish the half with a score of 41-36.

Harvard went up by 10 points in the third quarter before EMU coach Tori Verdi called a time-out to break the Crimson’s steam. Sweeney exploded for 11 points in the third quarter, resulting in a 15-0 run. The third quarter was key for the Eagles comeback, but an even better fourth quarter helped Eastern Michigan towards its victory.

Eagles stepped up to the line eight times in the fourth quarter, scoring all eight to aid a strong defensive stand. Sweeney, Morton, Webb and the rest of the Eagles coasted to a 26 point quarter allowing Eastern Michigan to travel back to Ypsilanti with its fifth victory of the season.

Looking Forward

Eastern Michigan will try and carry its momentum to West Branch, N.J. for a meeting with Monmouth University. The Hawks are 2-5 on the season with victories over Colgate University and Niagara University.

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