YPSILANTI, Mich. (11/13/2021) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team concluded a two-game road stint at Eastern Michigan on Saturday night from the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, coming up on the short end of a 76-66 final.
The end of the first quarter saw the Titans down just two, 22-20, following a steal by sophomore
Irene Murua leading to a three-point basket by freshman
Sonia Pereda. Detroit Mercy went a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line in the quarter to stay within striking distance.
Early in the second quarter, the Titans would claim the lead 25-24 following a Murua layup and free throw. Two minutes later, senior
Monique Pruitt would get into double digits scoring with 10, scoring a layup to tie the game at 27-27 with 6:39 to go in the half.
The Titans trailed at the half, 38-34, with Pruitt leading the way with 10 points, while fellow senior guard
Sydney Searcy added eight points and four rebounds in the half.
In the third quarter, the Titans' defense tightened up, allowing the lowest shooting percentage of any single quarter to the Eagles (38.5%), while also tallying 10 points off turnovers. The Titans ended the quarter trailing just 54-48.
To start the final quarter of play, Pruitt put the team on her back hitting a layup to cut the Eagles' lead to 54-50. Moments later, Pruitt would strike again hitting a layup and drawing a foul. After hitting the bonus opportunity, the Eagles' lead was diminished to 54-53. The Titans and Eagles would trade buckets for the next five minutes, hitting the final media timeout with Detroit Mercy trailing 65-64. Eastern Michigan would close the game on an 11-2 run and come away with the 76-66 win.
Pruitt finished with a team and career-high 23 points, including 9-11 from the free-throw line, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Searcy finished with 13 points – the only other Titan in double figures – adding five rebounds and three steals for the night.
The red, white, and blue will be back in action on Thursday, November 18, as they host Horizon League foe Robert Morris at Calihan Hall at 7 p.m. .
