Chanise Baldwin

Sera Ozelci

With final exams in the rearview mirror, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returned to the hardwood Friday, Dec. 18, to wrap up a five-game road trip. The Eagles (6-2) made the short trip to The Activities Center to take on Madonna University (3-7, 2-5 WHAC), where seven Eagles scored in double digits to overpower the Crusaders, 104-45.The balanced box score of the Eagles marked the first time since Nov. 30, 2013, that seven players recorded double-digit scoring efforts and believed to be just the second time in school history the feat has been accomplished. Additionally, the Eagles forced the Crusaders into 32 turnovers in the contest, the most forced miscues by EMU since Niagara committed 31, Dec. 28, 2011.Juniorled the way, scoring a team-high 16 points while adding five assists. Graduate transferregistered the third double-double of her EMU career with 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Senioradded 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc while seniorand junioradded 11 each and sophomorechipped in career-high 10.Eastern Michigan's defensive pressure overwhelmed the Crusaders early on, holding them to just three points over the first four minutes of play. The stout defensive effort of the Green and White fueled a strong offensive start, paced by the play of Kehoe and Webb. Together the duo combined for eight of the Eagles' first 10 points, as Eastern grabbed an early 10-3 lead.Following a media timeout midway through the quarter, Ozelci knocked down a baseline triple before Easley converted a pull-up jumper to extend EMU's lead to 12, 15-3.Madonna hit a few shots late in the opening period but the Eagles controlled the game, 26-9, through ten minutes of play.The Eagles kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, forcing the Crusaders into nine turnovers while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor. Kehoe and Baldwin led the charge in the second quarter, combining for 14 points and six rebounds, giving the Eagles a 62-19 lead at halftime.EMU's offensive explosion of 36 points marked its most scored in a quarter this season while the 62-point first half performance ranks fourth in program history.Madonna hit a three to open the half, but a 13-2 run by the Eagles extended their lead to 53, 77-24, with five minutes to play in the third period. From that point forward, the Eagles outscored the Crusaders 10-0, to take a 63-point lead into the final quarter of play.The Eagles led by as many as 72 in the fourth quarter, before overpowering Madonna by a final score of 104-45. With the win, the Eagles finished 4-1 on a season-long five-game road trip.After spending a majority of the month of December on the road, the Eagles return to the Convocation Center, Wednesday, Dec. 23, for a midweek battle with the University of Michigan. Tipoff for the pre-holiday matinee is set for 3:30 p.m.