Georgia Southern University
2-0,0-0Sun Belt
Eastern Michigan
0-2,0-0MAC
Second Quarter Run Leads Georgia Southern Past EMU, 82-58
11/11/2023 4:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles go on a 24-3 spurt in the second, grab 68 rebounds in the SBC/MAC Challenge victory
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern women's basketball embarked on a 24-3 run in the second quarter and had a record-setting day on the glass in Saturday's 82-58 win over visiting Eastern Michigan as a part of the SBC/MAC Challenge at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Eagles (2-0) kept the Sun Belt ahead in the challenge by knocking off the EMU Eagles (0-2) in just the second meeting between the two teams in program history. Georgia Southern won the prior meeting, 87-67, back in 1993.
It was Eastern Michigan, however, who would come out early in the contest, building a 13-5 lead through the game's first nine minutes. Georgia Southern would cut the advantage to 13-9 at the end of the first period, then embark on the 24-3 run over a seven minute and 29 second stretch in the second period, turning a slim 16-15 lead by the home Eagles into a 35-18 advantage with just two minutes to go until the break.
From that standpoint, it was the defense that took over for Georgia Southern as the team forced Eastern Michigan to shoot just 27% from the field in the contest (20-of-74), including just 19 percent (4-of-21) from the three-point line. Georgia Southern outrebounded Eastern Michigan by a 68-42 margin, including a 24-14 edge on the offensive glass.
Terren Ward led a trio of Georgia Southern Eagles in double figures with 20 points, while junior Zaria Johnson added 13 points and junior Torrion Starks chipped in 10. Eastern Michigan was led by the duo of ZaNiya Nelson and Lachelle Austin, who each had 17 points on the afternoon
Player of the Game
Ward had her second straight double-double to open the season and her 20th career double-double with her game-high 20 points to go with 14 rebounds. She also added four assists and three steals in the contest.
Stat of the Game
The 68 rebounds for Georgia Southern on the day were the most in program history against an NCAA Division I opponent, eclipsing the 63 rebounds that the Eagles had against the College of Charleston on November 30, 2021. It was the second-most rebounds in a game in program history, trailing only the 80 recorded against NAIA opponent Coastal Georgia on December 12, 2020.
Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on the second quarter stretch
"We talked about their zone, which gave us problems early on. It slowed us down, we got to see what we wanted to do against it. We knew it was coming, but it was the first time seeing a zone. It stifled us a bit, but I thought we got out, we rebounded and ran, and we defended a bit better in the second quarter."
On the 68 rebounds on the day
"It's a point of emphasis for us. It's funny, I challenged them to get 70, so we were two shy of that. But I know that if we get more possessions, then we have a better opportunity to win ball games. I'm really proud of them."
Next Up
Georgia Southern will travel up to Athens, Ga., to take on SEC foe Georgia on Monday evening at 7 p.m. at Stegman Coliseum. It's the first trip to Athens for the Eagles since 2018 and Georgia Southern will be looking to halt a 22-game losing streak to the Bulldogs that dates back to 1981.
