Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball 2006-07 Wrap-up
4/12/2007 3:15:30 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles finish with a 16-13 record and in second place in the MAC West Division with a 10-6 mark.
Complete Release (PDF).
EAGLES CLOSE OUT 2006-07: The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team bowed out of the 2007 Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 71-57 setback to eventual champion No. 18/20 Bowling Green State University. The Eagles finish with a 16-13 record and in second place in the MAC West Division with a 10-6 mark.
Even though the season did not equal the record-setting win totals of the previous three 20+ victory campaigns, EMU did have plenty of noteworthy accomplishments. Senior Sarah VanMetre became the first women’s basketball player in program history to be named an Academic All-American, senior Patrice McKinney was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and freshman Alyssa Pittman was named the MAC Freshman of the Year. Another significant milestone was head coach Suzy Merchant picked up her 200th career win with a victory against Morehead State and days later became the winningest coach in EMU history with a victory over Detroit, passing Kathy Hart with 147 wins at Eastern.
For a complete list of accomplishments, turn to page 3 of these notes.
EMU ADVANCES TO MAC SEMIFINALS FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE TIME: For the fourth straight season the Eagles advanced to the semifinals of the Kraft MAC Tournament. Bowling Green is the only squad to boast that accomplishment over the same span. Prior to the current steak, Eastern had only made the semifinals once in the program’s history.
TWO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS SELECTED ACADEMIC ALL-MAC: Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball players Patrice McKinney and Sarah VanMetre were named to the 12-person Academic All-Mid American Conference women’s basketball team, the league office announced today.
VanMetre and McKinney are joined by Jessie Crooks from Akron, Kelsey Corbin of Ball State, Ali Mann and Liz Honegger of Bowling Green, Kristin Peoples and Kerrie James from Kent State, Lauren Kohn of Ohio, Kristi Zeller from Toledo and Tiera DeLaHoussaye of Western Michigan.
VanMetre, who has a 3.90 GPA in journalism, returns to the Academic All-MAC list for the third consecutive year. The 2006-07 campaign was a break-out season for VanMetre, as she averaged 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 34.7 minutes per game. She ranked fourth in the league in rebounding and seventh in scoring. The Noblesville, Ind. native was also among the MAC leaders in defensive rebounds (3rd - 60.7), three-point percentage (6th - 38.2 percent), and three-pointers made (9th - 1.72). For the year, she turned in nine 20-point performances and 10 double-doubles.
Earlier in the month, she was selected a first team member of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America squad, sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She earned other conference recognition throughout the year, after being selected the MAC West Division Player of the Week (Jan. 8) along with being named the MAC’s Scholar Athlete of the Week (Jan. 4).
McKinney, who boasts a 3.29 GPA as a graduate student in EMU's Sports Management program, joins the squad for the first time in her career. The Lansing, Mich. native was selected the conference's Defensive Player of the Year after ranking third in the MAC in steals, fifth in defensive rebounding, seventh in rebounding, ninth in blocks, 12th in offensive rebounding and 12th in scoring. For the season McKinney topped the Eagles with a team best 72 steals and 25 blocks.
McKinney has pulled down 10 rebounds or more in 10 games this season for a total of 18 contests with double-digit caroms in her career. Not only a defensive force, she was also an offensive threat, recording four 20-or-more point performances during the 2006-07 campaign. For the season she tallied nine double-doubles, which were the fourth most in the league.
To qualify for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for their particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of participation are not eligible for the honor.
PITTMAN SELECTED MAC Freshman Of Year: EMU’s Alyssa Pittman was named the 2006-07 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, as announced March 3 at the MAC Tournament Tip-off Banquet at the Cleveland Marriott at Key Center. The award was voted on by the league’s head coaches and members of the MAC News Media Association.
Pittman, who was also named to the All-Freshman team, is the Eagles’ third women’s basketball Freshman of the Year honoree and the first since Stephanie Smiley took home the honor following the 1998-99 campaign. The Elkhart, Ind. native is also the first EMU player to be elected to the All-Freshman squad since Sarah VanMetre garnered the accolade in 2003-04.
McKinney Named MAC Defensive Player Of Year: EMU’s Patrice McKinney was selected the 2006-07 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as announced March 3 at the MAC Tournament Tip-off Banquet at the Cleveland Marriott at Key Center. The award was voted on by the league’s head coaches and members of the MAC News Media Association. McKinney, who was also named to the All-MAC third team, is the Eagles’ first-ever women’s basketball Defensive Player of the Year honoree in the 10-year history of the award. The Lansing, Mich. native ranks third in the MAC in steals, fifth in defensive rebounding, eighth in rebounding, ninth in blocks, 10th in offensive rebounding and 12th in scoring. For the season McKinney tops the Eagles with a team best 67 steals and 25 blocks.
VANMETRE Named ESPN The Magazine FIRST-Team Academic All-AMERICAN: Senior Sarah VanMetre has been named a first team member of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America squad, sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Feb. 27. VanMetre is the first Eagle women’s basketball player to be named Academic All-American and the 11th-ever EMU athlete to earn the award.
VanMetre, who has a 3.90 GPA in journalism, is one of five women named to the first team. She advanced to national team consideration after being named to the first team All-District list earlier in the month. Nominated by members of CoSIDA, a student- athlete must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic eligibility, be a starter or key reserve and have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average to be considered for the team.
Joining VanMetre on this year’s ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America women’s basketball first team are Valparaiso’s Betsy Rietema, Middle Tennessee State’s Chrissy Givens, High Point’s Leslie Cook and George Washington’s Kenan Cole.
EMU GETS THREE ON THE ALL-MAC SQUADS: Sarah VanMetre, Patrice McKinney and Alyssa Pittman have all been named to 2007 All-Mid-American Conference teams. VanMetre was selected second-team All-MAC, McKinney earned third-team All-MAC accolades and Pittman was named to the All-Freshman squad. The All-MAC squads are the result of voting by the league’s head coaches.
The 2006-07 season marks the sixth straight year that EMU has had at least two players selected to the all-league team. Prior to the current run, Eastern had not had more than one all-conference pick since 1998-99.
EMU WINS MICHIGAN MAC TITLE: For the second consecutive year, the Eagles won the Michigan Mid-American Conference Women’s title, by defeating rival Western Michigan Wednesday, Feb. 21, by a score of 69-45. The award, sponsored by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, is awarded annually to the team that wins the season series among EMU, WMU, and Central Michigan. EMU finished with a 4-0 record, while CMU and WMU went 1-3.
FOUNTAIN FINALE: An Eastern Michigan University athletic legend wrapped up a long and illustrious career. He did not make a basket or see any on-court action but he painted a radio picture of the game from press row. Since 1963, John C. Fountain has been the Voice of EMU Athletics announcing prior to this season that 2006-07 would be his finale of calling football and basketball games from Hurons to Eagles. Fountain first began his 44-year love affair with EMU athletics in 1963 when he broadcast his first football game for the then-Hurons. He was EMU’s man-on-the-mike for football games from 1963 until his retirement from the football side of things after the 2001 season. Giving up the football broadcasts was a tough decision for Fountain, but he retained the men’s and women’s basketball play-by-play duties until deciding that this year would be his finale. WEMU Radio honored Fountain at tailgate party at Washtenaw Country Club, Monday, March 12. The proceeds from the event went to the Fountain Sportscasters Scholarship Fund at Eastern Michigan University.
CLIPFELL FILLING IN: With head coach Suzy Merchant on maternity leave, assistant coach Shane Clipfell filled in admirably in her absence. Clipfell guided the Eagles to a 13-12 (10-6 MAC) record, including picking up his first Division I victory at Wright State, Dec. 9. Clipfell is no stranger to the EMU program, having been on the Eagles’ sideline for the past eight seasons. Prior to his stint at EMU, the Colon, Mich. native accumulated a 58-35 record as the head coach at Glen Oaks Community College. His 1997 team finished with a No. 3 final ranking in the NJCAA after a 28-8 record and a fifth-place finish in the NJCAA Tournament. He was awarded the NJCAA Tournament Sportsmanship Award and was named the National District Coach of the Year. Clipfell was selected the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and Western Conference Coach of the Year in 1997.
NOT SO CHARITABLE: The charity stripe has not been a kind place for the Eagles this season as they were outscored 398 to 299 at the free throw line. EMU’s opponents have stepped to the line 569 times compared to the Green and White’s 474 attempts, a disparity of 95 free throws. Eastern has made more free throws than its opponent just nine times during the 2006-07 campaign holding a 6-3 record in those contests.
EMU RELIES HEAVILY ON FRESHMEN: The Eagles were very dependent on their freshman class. As a group, EMU’s frosh averaged 24.0 points per game, which accounted for 35.1 percent of the offense.
RANKING NATIONALLY: Eastern Michigan University ranked in the top 100 in several national categories as a team, as of April 3. EMU was 12th in three-point field goals at 7.1 per game and 672nd nationally in assists at 14.6 per game. EMU also ranked 61st in three-point percentage (33.8%) and 78th in scoring offense (68.3 ppg).
DAY BY DAY: The Eagles were 11-5 in weekday contests this season. They were 8-3 on Wednesdays, 1-0 on Tuesdays, 1-0 on Thursdays and 1-2 on Fridays. Eastern shot 44.3 percent from the floor and 37.8 percent from long range in games that fall on Tuesday through Friday, compared to 38.9 percent and 31.3 percent, respectively, in weekend contests. EMU was 5-8 in games that come on Saturday or Sunday.
EAGLES IN THE BUCKEYE STATE: For the eighth time during the 2006-07 season the EMU women’s basketball team played a game in the state of Ohio when the Eagles took to the floor versus Bowling Green State University in Cleveland, Ohio, March 9. Eastern is 5-2 this year while playing in the Buckeye State including victories against Wright State (W, 76-59), Toledo (W, 58-53), Kent State (W, 69-64) Miami (W, 74-56) and Ohio (W, 79-69) with the pair of loss coming against the Akron Zips (L, 53-69) and BGSU (L, 57-71).
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK: Eastern Michigan’s nine turnovers against Ohio University, Feb. 10, were its lowest single-game total of the season. The Eagles forced 19 Bobcat mishaps as well, but it was not enough as OU upended EMU, 70-62, at the Convocation Center.
THE OFFENSE AND DEFENSE WERE CLICKING: The Eagles posted dominating victories over Toledo, Feb. 17, and Western Michigan, Feb. 21, winning by an average of 29.0 points. EMU shot 45.5 percent (56-of-123) from the field and 34.6 percent (18-of-52) beyond the arc, while holding the opposition to just 34.0 percent (36-of-106) from the field and 2-of-14 from three-point range. Another major key to the Eagles’ success was the rebounding margin; EMU grabbed three more rebounds per game than the opposition (39.0 to 36.0). For the first-time this season the Eagles have also held a pair of opponents to less than 50 points. In 2005-06, EMU held a school record 10 opponents below 50 points and finished second in the MAC with 56.8 ppg allowed.
SENIORS LEAVE THEIR MARK: Seniors Annie Malatinsky and Sarah VanMetre have made major contributions to the Eagles’ unparalleled success the last four seasons. During their time at EMU, the team recorded three consecutive 20-win seasons, the first time in school history that feat has been achieved, and had the most wins in a four-year period with 83 victories. The Eagles have also won the school’s first two MAC West Division titles and a MAC Tournament Championship. Additionally, Eastern has advanced to the postseason in each of the last three seasons with an NCAA Tournament and a pair of WNIT appearances, both firsts for the Eagles.
MAC BENCH WOES: During Eastern Michigan’s 10-6 Mid-American Conference slate, the Eagles have relied heavily on their starting five for production in every game and seen the production from the bench fall. EMU has gotten 77 percent of its scoring (51.3 ppg) and 68 percent of its rebounding (25.3 rpg) from its starting five in conference action. EMU’s best bench outing in conference came with 26 points and 20 boards against Toledo accounting for 14 percent of the scoring and 12 percent of the rebounding. The bench is averaging 15.3 ppg (23% of total) and 12.1 rpg (32%) in conference play. That is down four points and one rebound per game from 20.4 ppg (29%) and 13.6 rpg (34%) in non-conference action.
HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS: The Eagles’ win over Western Michigan, Feb. 21, moved the team’s record to 8-4 at the Convocation Center this winter. Last year, EMU posted a record of 13-2 in the "Nest" and has won 59 of the last 73 home games dating to the 2001-02 campaign. EMU out-scored its opponents by 23.5 points per game at the Convo last season.
VANMETRE TIES THE RECORD FOR GAMES PLAYED: Senior Sarah VanMetre played in 120 games during her four-year career tying Nikki Knapp and Melis Ulker for the all-time record for the most games played in an EMU uniform. That duo set the record just last season.
