Ypsilanti, MI – Contributed – Despite four Red Wolves reaching double digits in scoring, Arkansas State fell in overtime to Eastern Michigan Saturday afternoon in the George Gervin GameAbove Center, 73-76.
The Red Wolves shot 32 percent (27-of-84), only finding 22 percent from deep (9-of-41), while Eastern Michigan hit 46 percent of their shots (29-of-63) and 31 percent from three (5-of-16). EMU out-rebounded A-State 51 to 45, and won the battle in the paint, scoring 42 compared to the Red Wolves’ 34.
Crislyn Rose led the Red Wolves with 15 points, followed by Zyion Shannon (13), Bella Weary (11), and Marlie Dickerson (10). Rose also pulled in 10 rebounds for the double-double and added six assists.
An even back-and-forth came throughout most of the first quarter, with neither team drawing more than four points ahead. In the final three minutes, a 9-0 run for the Red Wolves established the lead, with Mimi McCollister swirling a three in as time expired for the seven-point lead.
Shannon dropped in a pair of threes early, but Eastern Michigan put together a 10-0 run to keep things close. Rose scored the final five points of the half for the Red Wolves on a layup and a trio of free throws, which ended up being the difference at half as the Red Wolves led 33-28.
The scoring remained tit-for-tat exiting halftime, neither side able to string more than one field goal together until a 7-0 run to end the quarter for the Eagles, leaving them behind only two, 49-47.
A-State scored with six points in a row, but EMU responded with five of their own to keep things within one score. Down five with under a minute, Eastern Michigan hit a three and got the ball back to put in a layup in the final seconds, A-State unable to respond. A pair of quick scores from Shannon and Rose left A-State with a short lead until a five-point answer gave the lead to the Eagles. Dickerson was sent to the line for the and-one that she made, but EMU found six points in a row in the last 90 seconds to secure the three-point win.
Arkansas State returns to conference play at Georgia Southern on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats can be found at astateredwolves.com/stats.
