Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Preps for a Saturday Afternoon Tilt with CMU
1/19/2006 4:31:28 PM | Women's Basketball
Game time set for 2 p.m. in Rose Arena
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EMU PREPS FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON TILT WITH CMU: The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team hits the road again, traveling to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for a Saturday, Jan. 21, Mid-American Conference West Division tilt with Central Michigan University. The Eagles, who look to improve on the program’s first-ever 4-0 start to league play, boast a 10-5 mark, while the Chippewas sport a 10-5 record (1-3 MAC).
THE SERIES WITH CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Saturday afternoon’s contest marks the 56th meeting between the Chippewas and Eagles, who first met during the 1976-1977 season. CMU leads the overall series, 32-23, but Eastern currently holds a 10-game winning streak over the Maroon and Gold dating back to the 2000-01 season. During the four- year span, the Eagles are winning games by an average of more than 15 points (70.2 to 54.9) and have recorded five of EMU’s nine all-time victories in Rose Arena.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Eastern Michigan has rolled off six consecutive wins, dominating the opposition on both ends of the floor. During the steak, the Eagles are winning games by an average of more than 19 points (70.2 to 50.7) and out-rebounding opponents by seven rebounds per game (38.7 to 31.5). Hot-shooting has been another key as Eastern is shooting 46.4 percent from the floor while the defense is holding the opposition to just 34.2 percent.
MCKINNEY BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS: Sophomore Patrice McKinney has been making heads turn throughout the Mid-American Conference this season. After struggling to begin the season, the Lansing, Mich. native has knocked the rust off and is nearly averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during the Eagles six-game winning streak.
McKinney is playing only her second season of college basketball in four years and her first in an Eastern Michigan uniform. A Nike All-American finalist in high school, she redshirted the 2002-03 season at Michigan State after suffering a torn ACL before the season started. McKinney returned in 2003-04 to play in all 30 games for the Spartans, as MSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. Following the season she elected to transfer to EMU and due to NCAA transfer rules, had to sit out the 2004-05 campaign.
MERCHANT RETURNS TO ROSE ARENA: EMU Head Coach Suzy Merchant leads her Eagles into Rose Arena for the ninth time in her head coaching tenure boasting an 11-3 record against her alma mater. Merchant earned four letters playing for head coach Donita Davenport from 1988 to 1991. A product of Traverse City High School, Merchant still holds the Chippewa record for assists in a career with 463.
INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its 10 victories this season, EMU is averaging 67.8 points while the opposition is posting just 50.5 points. In those games, opponents are shooting 32.8 percent from the field compared to 42.7 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles are only scoring 60.0 points, while giving up 70.6.
Another factor in the Eagles’ success has been the ability to control the glass. EMU is grabbing 43.0 rebounds to just 33.1 for the opponents in the wins, while in setbacks EMU is being out-rebounded by nearly seven caroms (36.0 to 42.8).
THE ROAD WARRIORS ARE COMING BACK: The Eagles have been a good road team under Head Coach Suzy Merchant. In eight years under Merchant, EMU is 49-44 in road contests and 14-14 in neutral site games. This trend continues in the MAC, as the Eagles are 30-27 in conference road games.
DEFENSE GETTING IT DONE FOR EMU: Eastern has held six opponents to less than 50 points this season. Last year the Eagles’ defense also accomplished that feat six times. EMU has given up 70 or more points just three times this season and tops the league in field-goal percentage defense (35.8).
EMU VERSUS THE MAC: This is EMU’s 25th season competing in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles hold a 161-243 record against current conference foes and are looking for their sixth straight winning season in the MAC. EMU has had the most success against Northern Illinois, going 17-7, and the least versus Miami, 9-33. Western Michigan has been the Green and White’s most frequent opponent with 58 meetings while Buffalo holds the distinction of the fewest conference games against the Eagles with 10.
