View full sizeEastern Michigan's Cassie Schrock celebrates the Eagles' victory over Toledo in Friday's semifinal at The Q.CLEVELAND, Ohio — Speed and quickness. That was the formula fifth-seeded Eastern Michigan used to upset No. 1-seed Toledo, 61-55, Friday afternoon in a women's MAC Tournament semifinal.
The Eagles play second-seeded Bowling Green at 1 p.m. today at The Q for the MAC Tournament title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"That's the only team [until Friday] we have not defeated since I've been here," EMU fourth-year coach AnnMarie Gilbert said.
The Eagles have had problems with Toledo in the recent past, including a pair of losses to the Rockets this season. Much of that was due to Toledo's all-league guard, Naama Shafir, who scored 32 points in a win over EMU last month. So Gilbert had one simple game plan.
"Our goal was to shut down Naama Shafir and let other players beat us," Gilbert said.
It worked. Shafir finished 1-of-11 from the field, 0-of-6 on 3-pointers and committed seven of the Rockets' whopping 22 turnovers.
The Rockets outrebounded the Eagles (41-39); shot better from the field (37.9 percent-34.9 percent); and had a big edge in 3-pointers (6-0). What proved the difference was that EMU turned the ball over just 11 times and made 12 more free throws (17-5) than Toledo.
And that points directly to Shafir being held to a whimper.
Eastern Michigan's speed was a clear contrast to Toledo's power and strength throughout the first half. The Eagles forced 16 turnovers in the first half but only four of those were steals. The Rockets traveled and threw passes away trying to beat EMU's speed.
To Toledo's credit, the Rockets trailed by only 27-19 at halftime. When the Rockets were patient, they got decent shots inside. But it was clear Toledo would have to be a lot cleaner with the basketball in the second half if it was going to win.
The Rockets had no turnovers in the first five minutes of the second half but shot a dismal 2-of-8 from the field and the Eagles pushed their lead to 39-26.
The Rockets made a late charge, and with possession and 5:32 to play, trailed, 50-47. But Shafir turned the ball over and EMU scored on the break. The Eagles kept it a two-possession game until 28 seconds remained when Melissa Goodall's 3-pointer made it 59-55. But EMU guard Cassie Schrock iced it with two free throws.
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