Jan. 4, 2009
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DAYTON, Ohio - Sophomore Kristin Daugherty scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting to help Dayton escape its final non-conference game with a 61-54 win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Sunday at UD Arena. Dayton will enter Atlantic 10 play next weekend with an 11-5 record.
The Flyers held Eastern Michigan (4-8) to 19-of-59 from the field (32.2 percent), but the Eagles sank 10 three-pointers to stay within striking distance for most of the game.
After leading by as many as 15 points, UD held off EMU's comeback which brought them back to within three points with 1:37 remaining.
Dayton's dominance around the hoop was one factor to the win as the Flyers outrebounded the Eagles 46-29 and outscored them in the paint 30-12.
Junior Kendel Ross and freshman De'Sarae Chambers each added 11 points, and freshman Justine Raterman scored eight and hauled in 14 rebounds.
The Flyers also took 12 more free throw attempts than Eastern Michigan.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start, but the game remained competitive throughout the first half. Combined, the squads started 2-of-20 from the floor and committed nine turnovers in the first 11:13.
However, a three-pointer by Chambers helped both teams get on track as each connected on its next two attempts.
Although Eastern Michigan began just 4-of-17, three of those field goals were from three-point range. A trey by Mary Lawson at the 7:49 mark cut Dayton's slim lead to 14-12.
With the game tied at 14 moments later, Marie Rosche ignited an 8-3 run with a jumper from the top of the key. However, 12 first-half turnovers crippled the Flyers and their halftime lead was cut to 27-25.
Daugherty led the way at the half with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Dayton turned to the low post to begin the second half. An old-fashioned three-point play by Raterman on UD's first attempt helped swing the momentum back in Dayton's favor.
Seven minutes later, Dayton grabbed its first double-digit lead, 42-32, on a lay-up by Daugherty at the 12:29 mark, forcing an EMU timeout.
This basket was part of a 13-0 Dayton run where the Eagles were held scoreless for 8:12. With 8:04 left to play, the Flyers found themselves ahead 47-32.
Eastern Michigan broke out of its funk with a three-pointer that started a 9-0 EMU run. Daugherty snapped the run with a baseline jumper as the shot clock wound down, putting UD up 49-41 with 6:31 on remaining.
After a Dayton free throw, UD went cold and back-to-back three-pointers by Eastern Michigan trimmed the lead to 50-47.
With 3:30 left, freshman Patrice Lalor sunk Dayton's first basket in over three minutes to put the Flyers up by four points. Following an EMU turnover, Ross scored on a lay-up and a foul shot to extend the lead to seven.
Once again, the Eagles refused to quit, and consecutive three-pointers brought them back to within three.
Back on the offensive end, a rebound and put back by Chambers put Dayton up 59-54. A turnover by EMU with less than one minute to play put the game out of reach.
The Flyers will hit the road to begin Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, Jan. 10 against Saint Louis at 8 p.m. EST. Fans can follow the action with live stats via Gametracker by logging onto www.DaytonFlyers.com.
