Eastern Michigan Downed By Purdue in the WNIT, 56-50

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) - Despite a 28 point effort from Tavelyn James (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford), the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell to Purdue University, 56-50, in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Wednesday evening, March 17, here at Mackey Arena. The Eagles, who were making their fourth postseason appearance and first since the 2006 campaign, saw a first half lead evaporate as the Boilermarkers used clutch free throw shooting to seal the victory.

With the loss, EMU finishes the season with a 22-9 overall record and 11-5 in league play. PU improves to 15-16 and will face the winner of the Illinois State-Butler game in WNIT action.

James was 10-of-25 shooting on the night, including connecting on six three-pointers in 34 minutes of work. With her total she moved atop the all-time scoring rankings among sophomores in Mid-American Conference history. Ohio's Caroline Mast previously held down the league's sophomore standard of 635 points during the 1983-84.

Junior Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) finished with 15 points on the night, as she was 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. On the glass, sophomore Paige Redditt (Kansas City, Mo.-Belton) hauled down 12 rebounds to pace all players.

Brittany Rayburn keyed Purdue with 20 points off the bench, as the Boilermakers shot 68.8 percent (11-of-16) in the second half.

Following the intermission, Purdue quickly slashed the four-point halftime deficit into a two-point lead when Rayburn connected on a trio of charity tosses to make it 25-23 with 17:38 to go in the contest. The lead was the Boilermakers' first lead since the edge was 6-3 in the early stages of the ballgame.

James ended EMU's nearly 11 minute scoreless streak at the 15:40 mark and Schrock followed it up with a fastbreak layup to again knot the score at 27.

The offensive woes continued as EMU would go another five minutes without a make from the field, but again PU was unable to capitalize as the lead remained just two.

Then with 5:45 to go, James stepped back and drained a triple to give the Eagles a 40-38 edge. But again Purdue would build a six-point advantage, 47-41, on a steal and layup by Malone at the 3:42 mark.

Eastern would give it another push to again get within three, 50-47, but Purdue would go 4-4 down the stretch to hold on to the 56-50 victory.

It was raining threes out of the gate, as the Eagles and Boilermakers exchanged score with James knocking home a pair to knot the score at 6-6 with less than two minutes gone. Eastern would continue to score with an 8-0 run while holding the Purdue without a bucket on their next eight shot attempt to go up 14-6 with 15:19 to go.

The scoring onslaught would continue in favor of the the Green and White with the lead ballooning to 10, 20-10, with 8:45 to play as James connected on her fourth trey of the half. Purdue would burn a timeout to regroup.

The scoring dramatically slowed with both teams not recording a field goal for remaining five minutes of the period with EMU still heading into the lockerrroom with a four point cushion, 23-19. James led all players with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, Schrock (five points) and Redditt (one points) were the only other Eagles to score. Howell keyed Purdue with five, as the home team shot just 25.0 percent (5-of-20) for the half to go along with 10 turnovers.