Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU to Square off with Wright State
12/7/2006 3:17:27 PM | Women's Basketball
Game time ste for 1 p.m. at the Nutter Center
Complete Game Notes (PDF).
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Gametracker Live Stats.
EAGLES HIT THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST OF FIVE: The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team will have plenty of experience with traveling, as the Eagles play the next five contests away from the friendly confines of the Convocation Center. The Green and White’s first leg on the journey is Saturday, Dec. 9, in Dayton, Ohio for a battle with the Wright State University Raiders.
THE SERIES WITH WRIGHT STATE: The Eagles and Raiders are renewing a series that has been dormant since the 1997 campaign. EMU leads the all-time series, 5-0, including claiming four victories on WSU’s homecourt. The last time the squads met the Eagles pulled off a 68-66 decision, Dec. 31, 1997, at the Nutter Center.For the complete series results turn to page 51 of the EMU 2006-07 women’s basketball media guide.
EMU VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE: Eastern is 36-25 all-time versus the Indianapolis, Ind. based conference, having played against all nine member institutions. EMU has faced the University of Detroit Mercy more times than any other league member, with the Titans holding a 10-6 lead in the series.
During head coach Suzy Merchant’s tenure, EMU holds a 10-3 record against Horizon League foes, posting wins over Butler, Detroit, Chicago-Illinois, Loyola-Chicago and Youngstown State, with a losses against Detroit and Wisconsin-Green Bay.
A GRAND ACCOMPLISHMENT: When Sarah VanMetre scored her 1,000th point against Detroit, she became just the 14th member of the exclusive club and the first to reach the grand mark since Ryan Coleman and Nikki Knapp both did so during the 2004-05 campaign.
The Noblesville, Ind. is just the eighth player in the program’s history to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 500 rebounds in a career. The group includes former EMU greats Ryan Coleman (2002-06), Nikki Knapp (2002-06), Abby Wiseman (1999-2003), Stephanie Smiley (1998-2002), Traci Parsons (1993-1997), Kelly Hebler (1986-1990) and Denise Allen (1978-1982).
COUNTDOWN TO 600 REBOUNDS: Another milestone is in Sarah VanMetre’s sights, as she needs just 23 rebounds for 600 in her career. Nine other players in the program’s 31-year history have reached the exclusive total.
MERCHANT REACHES 200 CAREER VICTORIES: Head coach Suzy Merchant picked up her 200th career victory in dominating fashion, as the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team rolled over Morehead State University, 90-66, in the championship game of the Eagle Classic Saturday afternoon (Nov. 18) at the Convocation Center.
Two weeks later against Detroit (Dec. 6), Merchant became the winningest coach in EMU women’s basketball history, surpassing Kathy Hart with 147 career wins.
In 12 years as a collegiate head coach, Merchant is 201-119, and at EMU she is 147-90. Merchant was the first female coach at EMU to win a Mid-American Conference title and was selected the BCAM Coach of the Year in 2004. That same season, the team had an RPI of 62 the highest in the history of the program and 235 positions over where the program was when Merchant first arrived in 1998.
THE ROAD WARRIORS ARE BACK: The Eagles have been a good road team under Head Coach Suzy Merchant. In eight years under Merchant, EMU is 55-46 in road contests and 15-17 in neutral site games. This trend continues in the MAC, as the Eagles are 36-28 in conference road games.
GRABBING THE BOARDS: Patrice McKinney has pulled down at least 10 rebounds in 12 games while wearing the Green and White uniform. Before transferring from Michigan State, her career-best was nine rebounds against Notre Dame. Since joining EMU, McKinney has averaged 7.7 caroms per game, this season she has stepped it up even more by ripping down 10 or more boards in five of the six games.
HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS: The Eagles’ victory over Detroit (Dec. 6) moved the team’s record to 3-1 at the Convocation Center this winter. Last year, EMU posted a record of 13-2 in the "Nest" and has won 54 of the last 67 home games dating to the 2001-02 campaign. EMU out-scored its opponents by 23.5 points per game at the Convo last season. This year, the Eagles have out-scored foes by an average of 14.5 points.
THREE STRAIGHT 20 WIN CAMPAIGNS: The Eagles boast a streak of three straight 20-win seasons dating back to the 2003-04 campaign. EMU and Bowling Green are the only MAC schools who have won at least 20 games each of the last three seasons.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: The Eagles have recorded the most successful non-league stretch in school history. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, EMU has posted 35 victories in non-league games, the second-best of any MAC school. Bowling Green leads the conference in non-conference winning percentage at 69.6 (39-17), while the Eagles are second at 58.3 (35-25).
Eastern Michigan has been one of the most successful teams in the Mid-American Conference over the last six years (2000-06) winning 114 games. Ball State is third with 110 victories while Kent State leads the way with 118 victories.
HANLEY COMES OF AGE IN ARIZONA: Freshman Emily Hanley posted a pair of terrific games at the Verizon Wireless/ASU Classic, Dec. 1-2, in Tempe, Ariz. The Bloomington, Ill. native averaged 13.0 points and 8.0 rebounds while posting a 50.0 field goal percentage (8-of-16). She was also a stellar 76.9 (10-of-13) from the charity stripe and ripped away a team best five steals.
In the opener versus Northern Arizona, Hanley turned in 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes of work. In the finale versus Boston University, she collected her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 boards in 32 minutes of action.
LOG-ON TO EMUEAGLES.com: For the most complete information on the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball, log on to the EMU Athletic Web site, www.emueagles.com.
The site provides updated statistics, game notes and other pertinent women’s basketball information. The site also offers up-to-date information on all of EMU’s 21 varsity sports, including schedules and results, player and coach biographies as well as the latest news from the EMU athletic program.
