YPSILANTI, Mich. (11-6-23) - Detroit Mercy delivered a dominating performance on both sides of the ball with efficient offense and suffocating defense en route to a 68-38 thumping over in-state rival Eastern Michigan to tip off the 2023-24 season on Monday night at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. UDM's win over EMU snaps a four-game skid against the Eagles, marks the first season-opening win since the 2018-19 season, and is the first over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since the Titans defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
Detroit Mercy (1-0) took advantage of EMU's (0-1) zone by shooting a blistering 9-for-20 (45.0%) from 3-point range and 28-for-60 (46.7%) from the field. The Titans' lock-down defense held the Eagles to only seven points in the first quarter and nine points in the fourth while limiting them to just 14-for-56 (25.0%) shooting from the floor and 2-of-15 (13.3%) from behind the arc. UDM also crashed the boards with 51 total rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.
The Titans had four players in double-figures led by junior
Emma Trawally Porta and senior
Irene Murua who picked up where they left off from last season as they both posted double-doubles. Trawally Porta had 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 11 rebounds and three blocks while Murua also added 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 10 boards.
Freshman
Paris Gilmore had quite the collegiate debut scoring a team-best 13 points on 3-of-7 from 3-point range. Graduate Student
Imani McNeal was the fourth player in double figures with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-for-3 from long range with five assists and two steals. Sophomore
Amaya Burch chipped in with nine points on 2-for-3 shooting from behind the arc.
The Titans come out firing from long range going a perfect 3-for-3 with Gilmore knocking down two 3-balls to take an 11-4 lead. The hot shooting continued as UDM went 4-for-8 from downtown to take an early 13-point lead, 20-7, at the end of the first quarter.
Detroit Mercy extended their lead to 19 points at 32-13 before EMU ended the half with a 6-0 run but still trailed 34-19 heading into the locker room.
UDM had a chance to end EMU's run to open the second half as the Eagles were assessed a technical foul for a substitution error by starting a player not indicated in the official scoring book. However, McNeal missed both of the ensuing technical free throws. The Eagles went on an 8-4 spurt to pull within 11 pts at 38-27 at the first media timeout.
However, that would be as close as EMU would get as the Titans responded in a big way with a 13-2 run of their own to take a commanding 51-29 lead at the end of the third quarter and never looked back outscoring the Eagles 17-9 in the fourth to close out the win.
Detroit Mercy hosts Chicago State in the home opener on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
