Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Toledo
Early Season Battle of West Division Unbeatens in the Glass City
1/11/2010 2:38:52 PM | Women's Basketball
Women's basketball travels to Toledo Wednesday, Jan. 13
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SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE WEDNESDAY IN THE GLASS CITY: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team makes the short trek south Wednesday night, Jan. 13, to the University of Toledo for an early season test of Mid-American Conference unbeatens at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in the Glass City.
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a mark of 12-2 (2-0 MAC) after escaping with a 61-52 victory over Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Jan. 9. The Rockets are 12-3 (2-0 MAC) on the season and enter the game having won four straight, including a 74-60 win over Central Michigan University in Toledo, Jan. 9.
ALL-TIME VERSUS TOLEDO: Saturday's contest marks the 60th meeting between the Rockets and Eagles, who first met during the 1977-1978 season. Toledo leads the overall series, 37-22. Eastern has won six of the last eight meetings, including three of the last four at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
OUT TO TAME THE SAVAGE: Despite being the Eagles' closest conference opponent at just 49 miles, the Rockets have dominated the all-time series with a 21-8 record in Savage Arena. Of late though, that luck has begun to change, with EMU winning three of the last four dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.
FINDING THE GAME ON YOUR RADIO DIAL: With the EMU men's basketball team hosting the University of Toledo Wednesday night at the Convocation Center, the women's contest will only be broadcast on Eagle All-Access rather than WEMU (89.1 FM). Chad Bush will have the call beginning at 6:50 p.m. from Savage Arena. As always, on demand replays of most EMU basketball games are available to subscribers at EMUEagles.com/showcase.
COULD THIS BE THE BEST 15-GAME START IN SCHOOL HISTORY?: The Eagles' 12-2 start to the 2009-10 season is tied with the 2004-05 EMU squad for the best 14-game beginning of a season. However, a win over the Rockets Wednesday would give this year's team the record for the best 15-game start, as the 2004-05 crew dropped their 15th contest at Western Michigan to fall to 12-3.
STRIVING FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT: The Eagles have strung together seven consecutive victories for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. That season the Green and White rolled off a pair of nine-game winning streaks. In total, the program has 12 winning streaks of five-or-more contests.
During the current steak, the Eagles are winning games by an average of more than 24 points (78.0 to 53.7) and out-rebounding opponents by 10 per game (47.6 to 37.6). Hot shooting has been another key as Eastern is shooting 40.3 percent from the floor while the defense is holding the opposition to just 34.8 percent.
HOW EMU RANKS ACCORDING TO COLLEGERPI.COM: With a 12-2 record under its belt, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is starting to gain notoriety in the RPI (Rating Percentage Index). EMU cracks the Jan. 11 release at 74th out of 345 Division I schools, and tops among teams in the Mid-American Conference with the University of Toledo second at 77th.
EMU's best ever ranking in the RPI was 62nd during the squad's 2003-04 run to the Mid-American Conference Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
LEADING THE PACK: Eastern Michigan has been the most dominant team statistically in the Mid-American Conference this season, leading the league in 10 categories and ranking in the top seven in seven others. The Green and White are tops in the MAC in: scoring offense (75.1 ppg), scoring defense (57.6 ppg), scoring margin (+17.5), field goal percentage defense (37.3 percent), rebounding offense (45.4 rpg), rebounding margin (+8.1), blocks (4.64), steals (12.50), turnover margin (+5.86) and offensive rebounds (19.14).
IN THE NCAA RANKINGS: In the most recent NCAA Division I statistics rankings, junior Cassie Schrock cracks the list at ninth in assists per contest with 6.9 dimes while sophomore Tavelyn James is 14th nationally in points per game at 20.2. James is also 12th in three-point field goals per game.
DOUBLE DIGITS – NO PROBLEM: The 2009-10 campaign has been one of dramatic runs and rallies for the Eagles, with EMU having won three consecutive games in which it has trailed by 10-or-more points. The Green and White trailed North Dakota by 12 points in the first half before rebounding to win by 11, 76-65, Jan. 4. Despite again falling behind by 11 against Central Michigan, Jan. 6, and 10 points at Western Michigan, Jan. 9, Eastern still managed to turn both into victories.
NEMO WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU: In an effort to provide the most complete coverage of EMU Athletics, radio play-by-play man Brian Nemerovski will be taking your e-mails during this season's broadcasts. You can e-mail Nemo at emueaglesradio@gmail.com.
BLOCK YOU VERY MUCH: Since 1987 when the statistical category of blocks was added, swatting away shots has never been a strong point for the Eagles. However, that statement is changing for the 2009-10 squad, as EMU leads the Mid-American Conference in blocks with 4.6 rejections per contest. Given its current pace, Eastern Michigan will shatter the all-time mark of 3.8 swat-a-ways (106 in 28 games) by the 1991-92 team.
THOMAS CRASHING THE GLASS: Junior Kristen Thomas has been a rebounding machine for the Eagles during the 2009-10 campaign, hauling down a team-best 8.9 caroms per contest. The Winter Park, Fla. native grabbed eight rebounds in her EMU debut against Illinois-Chicago, Nov. 13, before notching 14 boards against Marygrove, Nov. 16. She also hauled down 15 caroms versus Missouri State, Nov. 29, and then a personal-best 16 rebounds at Western Michigan, Jan. 9.
