Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Detroit
EMU Motors into Detroit for Saturday Afternoon Showdown
12/4/2009 12:33:16 PM | Women's Basketball
Rivalry renewed for the 19th time at Calihan Hall
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EMU MOTORS INTO DETROIT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHOWDOWN: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team remains on the road Saturday, Dec. 5, for a non-conference affair versus the University of Detroit Mercy. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Calihan Hall in Detroit, Mich.. The game is the first part of a doubleheader with the UDM men's basketball team, who tangle with Cleveland State University following the conclusion of the women's contest.
EMU enters the game with a 5-2 record after falling to nationally ranked Notre Dame, 69-59, Wednesday evening, Dec. 2, in South Bend, Ind.. The Titans are 1-4 on the young season following a 70-53 setback to Indiana State University Tuesday, Dec. 1.
THE SERIES WITH DETROIT: The Eagles and Titans face off for the 19th time in the program's history with Detroit holding an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series. Saturday's meeting will be the fourth consecutive season the schools have squared off on the hardwood. Last season, Detroit knocked off EMU, 76-75, Dec. 20, 2008, in double-overtime at the Convocation Center.
The last time the squads squared off in Detroit, the Green and White posted a 65-54 victory at Calihan Hall, Nov. 14, 2007. UDM opened the series with nine consecutive victories before EMU rolled off five wins between 1989 and 1999.
TATE RETURNS TO DETROIT: EMU assistant coach LaTonya Tate returns to Calihan Hall for the second-time on the EMU bench. 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.
BEST START TO A SEASON SINCE 2004-05: The Eagles' 5-2 start to the 2009-10 season is the best by an EMU squad since the 2004-05 campaign. That season, the Green and White opened the year with eight straight victories before being tripped up 56-42 at Indiana, Dec. 18. Eastern Michigan finished the year with a 23-8 record and a WNIT appearance.
EAGLES SPEED AND ATHLETICISM WREAK HAVOC ON FIGHTING IRISH: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team's first trip to the University of Notre Dame in 27 years was a memorable one, as the Eagles gave the nationally ranked Fighting Irish everything they could handle in a 69-59 setback, Dec. 2, at the Purcell Pavilion in Notre Dame, Ind. The Fighing Irish, ranked fifth in the Associated Press poll and sixth in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, needed a 19-7 run mid-way through the second half to escape with the hard-fought victory.
EMU's athleticism and speed wreaked havoc on Notre Dame, as the Eagles out-rebounded the Irish (45 to 43) while blocking six shots and forcing 19 turnovers. The Green and White held an early 14-11 lead before UND rallied back to take an eight-point lead at halftime. In the second half, EMU again used tenacious defense to open the second half on an 11-1 run to retake a 38-36 advantage. However, an 11-0 run ensued for Notre Dame to push the edge back to nine points, 51-42, as Eastern was unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
SCHROCK NAMED MAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE: Junior guard Cassie Schrock was named the Mid-American Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Week for the period ending Nov. 29. This marks the first time in her career and the fifth time in school history that a women's basketball player has won the weekly honor. EMU senior wrestler Chris Jenkins earned this week's Male co-Scholar Athlete of the Week award.
The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during the week's competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.
Schrock, who holds a 3.07 GPA as a special education major, led the Eagles to a 1-1 mark last week against Temple University and Missouri State University, averaging 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and four assists in the two contests. Against the Owls, Schrock finished just shy of a double-double, going for 15 points and grabbing nine boards for the Eagles. At home against MSU, Nov. 29, Schrock went for 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in EMU's 93-81 victory over the Lady Bears.
FROM DOWNTOWN, YES!: In the 93-81 victory over Missouri State, Nov. 29, the Eagles connected on 15 three-pointer in 28 attempts for a 53.6 percent clip. The total was one shy of the school-record for most triples set Feb. 12, 2000, with 16 against Bowling Green State University at Anderson Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio. The 28 attempts is tied for 13th most by an EMU squad, while the 53.6 three-point percentage ranks 19th best. In addition, the 15 three balls were tied for the most in the Convocation Center's history with the Cardinals of Ball State University tossing in that amount against EMU, Jan. 27, 2001.
CRUSING AT 90: EMU's 93-point performance against Missouri State University, Nov. 29, was the most by an EMU squad since a 92-point output against Madonna University, Nov. 22, 2008. It is also the most points scored against a Division I team since the 2006-07 season when the Green and White laid 90 points on Morehead State University, Nov. 18.
The Eagles have won 14 in a row dating back to the 2003-04 campaign when hitting the 90-point plateau.
SUPER SOPHOMORE: Sophomore guard Tavelyn James had another stellar week in helping the Eagles to a 1-1 week with a victory over a talented Missouri State University team inside the Convocation Center, Nov. 30. On the week, the sophomore sensation accounted for 29 percent of the EMU offensive total by averaging 20.0 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.0 assists and a 90.0 percent clip from the charity stripe in 31.0 minutes per game.
Against the Lady Bears, James poured in 31 points had four rebounds, two assists, and a steal while going 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. The seven treys by James was one shy the school record of eight threes and was one-point short of her career-best 32 points set just a week ago at Siena. Versus Temple, James notched nine points, three rebounds and two steals. She is the only Eagle to have hit the 30-point plateau this season.
