Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Hoops Hits the Road for the First Time
11/12/2007 4:58:14 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU to battle Detroit Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m.
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EAGLES TANGLE WITH THE TITANS: The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team makes the trek to the University of Detroit Mercy Wednesday, Nov. 14, for a 7 p.m. contest at Calihan Hall. EMU enters the game with a mark of 1-0 following a 108-22 victory over Temple Baptist College, Nov. 11, while UDM is 0-2 following a pair of setbacks to Western Carolina and Auburn.
THE SERIES WITH DETROIT: The Eagles and Titans are squaring off for the 17th time in the program’s history with Detroit holding a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series. Wednesday’s meeting will be just the second since 2000. Last season EMU knocked off Detroit 73-56, Dec. 6, 2007, at the Convocation Center. The last time the squads squared off in Detroit, the Red and White posted a 90-76 victory at Calihan Hall, Dec. 30, 2000. UDM opened the series with nine consecutive decisions before EMU rolled off five wins between 1989 and 1999. For the complete series results turn to page 52 of the EMU 2007-08 women’s basketball media guide.
EMU VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE: Eastern is 35-25 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.
EMU COACHING DEBUTS: AnnMarie Gilbert, the seventh women’s basketball coach in program history, became the third coach at EMU to win their first game in her Eagle debut. Gilbert is also just the second coach to pick her first victory at home, joining Dana Munk as the other to accomplish the feat. Here’s how Eastern Michigan’s six previous head coaches fared in their first game:
• Kathy Hart - Jan. 11, 1977 at Michigan (L, 52-63)
• Cheryl Getz - Nov. 28, 1987 at Robert Morris (W, 65-50)
• Dana Munk - Dec. 1, 1992 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee (W, 78-76)
• Paulette Stein - Nov. 30, 2007 at Michigan (L, 52-76)
• Suzy Merchant - Nov. 15, 1998 vs. Saint Peter’s (L, 64-75)
• Shane Clipfell - Dec. 1, 2006 vs. Northern Arizona (L, 69-89)
TATE RETURNS TO DETROIT: EMU assistant coach LaTonya Tate returns to Calihan Hall for the first time following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Detroit Mercy. The 36-year-old Tate was a member of the Detroit Mercy women’s basketball staff for two separate stints, from 2004-07 and from 1995-97. A native of Detroit, Tate graduated from Detroit Cass Technical High School in 1988 after earning All-State honors in basketball. She was an All-State Dream Team selection, an honorable mention All-American and the runner-up for Miss Basketball in the state of Michigan in 1987.
RECORDS FALL VERSUS TEMPLE BAPTIST: The AnnMarie Gilbert’s era got started on a high note as the Eagles cruised to a 108-22 non-conference win over the visiting Temple Baptist Runnin’ Rams Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Convocation Center. The win set a number of Convocation Center records, including most points scored in a game (108), fewest points scored (22), margin of victory (86), most points in a half (62-first half), fewest points in a half (10-first half), steals (29), field goals made (46) and field goals attempted (81).
108 SETS SCHOOL’S RECORD FOR POINTS IN A GAME: EMU’s 108 points against Temple Baptist, Nov. 11, surpassed the school-record for most points in a single game. Previously the record was 106 against Windsor, Jan. 18, 1978.
GILBERT BEGINS A NEW ERA OF EMU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: First-year EMU head coach AnnMarie Gilbert and her staff of Leonard Drake, LaTonya Tate and Darin Thrun bring 58 years of coaching experience to the Eagles that include stops along the way in the Big Ten, Big East, Big XII, MAC and the Horizon League, to name a few. Gilbert spent the last five years helping turn Michigan State University into a national championship contender under head coach Joanne P. McCallie. In five years as an assistant coach at Michigan State, she helped the Spartans compile an impressive 120-44 record, good for a .732 winning percentage. During her time in East Lansing, the Spartans made it to five consecutive NCAA tournaments and to the 2005 national championship game.
EMU COACHES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR: First-year EMU head coach AnnMarie Gilbert is the seventh head coach in the program’s 32-year history. Gilbert is out to become the fourth first-year head coach to post winning records in their inaugural campaign joining Kathy Hart, Suzy Merchant and Shane Clipfell. Hart recorded a 13-8 mark in 1976-77, Merchant turned in a 14-13 record in 1998-99 and Clipfell added a 13-11 mark in 2006-07.
