Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Miami
Battle of the Birds in Oxford
2/13/2009 12:27:39 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles look to spoil “Think Pink Day” for the defending MAC Tournament Champions
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BACK OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns to the road Saturday, Feb. 14, with a stop in Oxford, Ohio for a matchup with the Miami University RedHawks. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Millett Hall. The game is part of the national “Think Pink” initiative with fans being encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer research. The Eagles (5-17, 1-9 MAC) come in riding high, following a 69-58 victory over the University at Buffalo, Feb. 11, for the team's first Mid-American Conference victory of the campaign. Meanwhile, the RedHawks (13-10, 5-5 MAC) are reeling after dropping an 80-66 decision Wednesday evening at Northern Illinois University.
ALL-TIME VERSUS MIAMI: Saturday's contest marks the 46th meeting between the RedHawks and Eagles, who first met during the 1979-80 season. Miami has dominated the all-time series, 34-11, but Eastern has won two of the last three meetings. In 2006, the Green and White rolled to a 75-55 victory in Ypsilanti, Feb. 11, 2006, and followed it up the next year with a 74-56 decision in Oxford, Ohio, Feb. 7, 2007. The victory marked the Eagles' first victory in Oxford since a 69-66 overtime triumph, Feb. 2, 1991. The win at Millett Hall was also just the fifth in the program's history. Last season, after being down by as many as 20 points, the Eagles posted a valiant comeback that fell just short, as they dropped an 81-70 decision to the RedHawks at the Convocation Center, Jan. 29, 2008. EMU was down by 20 in the second half before storming back to within six, 72-66, with 2:50 remaining. Miami answered every Eagle run, hanging on for the tough road victory. Leading the way for Eastern was Colleen Russell, who just missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Senior Amanda Jackson notched a game-high 22 points for the RedHawks.
SCHROCK COMES CLOSE TO A TRIPLE-DOUBLE AGAINST TOLEDO: As rare as triple-doubles are in basketball, sophomore Cassie Schrock nearly accomplished the feat with 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the Eagles' 69-58 win over Buffalo at the Convocation Center, Feb. 11. Ryan Coleman and Stephanie Smiley are the only two players to accomplish the feat in the program's 33-years.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON THE HORIZON: EMU will take a week off following the Miami game before returning to the floor Saturday, Feb. 21, versus Northern Illinois University. The contest marks the 31st meeting between the Huskies and Eagles, who first met during the 1981-82 season. Eastern leads the overall series, 21-9, and has won 16 of the last 19 games over the Cardinal and Black. Earlier this season, the Huskies edged the Eagles 69-62 in overtime at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill., Jan. 17.
SIMPLY THE VEST: Superstitions have historically gone hand-in-hand with athletics and this season is no exception for the EMU women's basketball team. Director of Basketball Operations Kevin Lehman's wardrobe and facial hair have had a correlation to the team's success on the court. The Green and White are 2-0 when Lehman sports a sweater vest under his suit coat with victories over Siena (Nov. 24) and Buffalo (Feb. 11). Additionally, the Eagles are 1-0 with an easy win over Weber State (Dec. 30) when Lehman is rocking a mustache.
SCHROCK SURPASSES 500 CAREER POINTS: Sophomore Cassie Schrock passed the 500 career point plateau Wednesday, Feb. 11, versus the University at Buffalo. Schrock has accumulated 508 points in 51 games, while going 149-for-400 from the floor and 192-for-252 from the charity stripe. Schrock became the 48th player in program history to score 500-or-more points in their career.
PINKZONE SET FOR FEB. 21: Join the Eagles Saturday, Feb. 21, as they celebrate the WBCA Pink Zone™, formerly known as “Think Pink”, an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. Promotional group tickets will be available for purchase at $3 per ticket with $1 of every ticket donated back to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™. Collection boxes will be set up throughout the Convocation Center for individuals who wish to make additional donations.
EMU TEAMS WITH AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION: EMU Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator Stephannnie Vandenberg, head women's basketball coach AnnMarie Gilbert and sophomore guard Cassie Schrock served as models in the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women luncheon and fashion show Friday, Feb. 13. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College. Proceeds benefited education and research specific to women and heart disease.
ROAD STRUGGLES: The Eagles are still in search of their first road victory of the season and have posted a 0-10 mark away from the confines of the Convocation Center. Nationally, Eastern Michigan is one of 13 teams still looking for its first victory away from home.
