Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ball State
Eagles Travel to the Defending MAC Tournament Champions
2/11/2010 2:58:08 PM | Women's Basketball
Game time set for 1 p.m. in Muncie, Ind.
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BATTLE OF THE BIRDS IN MUNCIE: Looking to re-group following a 79-63 setback Wednesday evening to Miami University, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team makes the 242 mile trek to Muncie, Ind. Saturday, Feb. 13, for a Mid-American Conference West Division tilt versus Ball State University. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at John E. Worthen Arena. 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 enter the game with a mark of 17-6 (7-4 MAC), two games behind the University of Toledo which sits atop the MAC West Division. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 10-14 (4-7 MAC) after upending the University at Buffalo, 84-62, in Muncie, Feb. 10.
A BULLSEYE ON BALL STATE: Wednesday's contest marks the 60th meeting between the Cardinals and Eagles, who first played during the 1979-80 season. Eastern Michigan leads the series, 32-27, including posting a 64-54 victory earlier this season at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Jan. 20. Prior to EMU's recent win, Ball State had walked away victorious in the last six meetings by an average of seven points a game (58.2 to 65.7).
In that first meeting, the Eagles and the Cardinals entered the game tied with Toledo for the top spot in the West Division with identical 3-1 records. EMU rode the one-two scoring punch of Cassie Schrock, with 24, and Tavelyn James, with 20, along with a 46-39 advantage on the boards to move to 4-1 in league play. Junior forward Emily Maggert led Ball State with a double-double on 16 points and 12 rebounds.
CHAMPIONS AT WORK: Since the 2001-02 campaign the Mid-American Conference West Division championship trophy has resided in either Ypsilanti, Mich. or Muncie, Ind., with the Eagles and Cardinals combining to win seven of the eight possible titles. Bowling Green snuck in to capture the 2004-05 crown, while the EMU and BSU shared the 2007-08 championship with identical 11-5 league marks.
CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Following Saturday's game at Ball State, Eastern Michigan will take a rare midweek date off before returning to the hardwood again Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Rose Center in Mount Pleasant, Mich. against instate rival Central Michigan. Tip time is set for 2 p.m.
A LOOK AT THE BIGGEST SINGLE-SEASON TURNAROUNDS IN MAC HISTORY: With its nine-game win improvement in 2009-10, EMU ranks among the top 15 single-season MAC turnarounds since the 1982-83 campaign.
The nine-game improvement from eight wins in 2008-09 to the 17 victories this season is also tied for the best in school history. The previous standard of a nine-game turnaround during the 2003-04 campaign, when the Eagles went from 13 victories to 22 wins en route to the MAC Tournament championship.
WINNING WAYS: The Eagles are 17-6 overall, their .739 winning percentage is third in the Mid-American Conference and 36th best in the nation. EMU's 17 victories are tied for fifth most all time with the 2007-08 squad.
With a victory Saturday, the team will equal the 2001-02 squad for the fourth most victories in a season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Eastern Michigan is 9-2 at the Convocation Center this season. The Eagles have won 10 of the last 12 home games dating back to last year.
JAMES LOOKING TO SET THE SOPHOMORE SCORING MARK AT EMU: With an even 500 points on the season, sophomore Tavelyn James should obliterate the EMU record for most points in a single-season by a sophomore. The current Eastern Michigan record for most points by a sophomore is 507 by Kristy Maska in 1998-99.
James already holds the EMU freshman scoring record with 426 points during the 2008-09 campaign. Previously, the record was held by Ryan Coleman with 417 points in 2002-03.
APPROACHING 1,000: Two Eagles are closing in on 1,000 career points. Sophomore Tavelyn James has scored 926 points during her career. She is 17th all time and needs 11 points to catch Shani Charles for 16th. Junior Cassie Schrock has scored 868 points in her career and is 20th all time. Currently, 14 players are in the 1,000-point club for EMU women's basketball.
A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 30.3 points per game in the paint, 24.8 points off the bench, 23.6 points per game off turnovers, 13.7 second chance points and 12.2 fast break points per game.
IN THE NCAA RANKINGS: In the most recent NCAA Division I statistics rankings, junior Cassie Schrock cracks the list at 12th in assists per contest with 6.0 dimes while sophomore Tavelyn James is ninth nationally in points per game at 21.8. James is also 11th in three-point field goals per game with 3.2. As a team, the Eagles rank eighth in steals with 12.2 swipes per contest.
HUNTLEY ON FIRE OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES: Junior guard Sydney Huntley has been on a blistering pace over the last five games averaging 16.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.8 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is also shooting 48.3 percent from the field, including a 50.0 percent clip from three-point range.
JAMES ON PACE TO SET THE EMU RECORD FOR POINTS IN A SEASON: With her proficiency to score in bunches sophomore guard Tavelyn James is currently charting a course to set the EMU single-season record for points in a season. With an average of 21.7 points per game, the Detroit native is on pace to total 630 points this season and surpass Laurie Byrd's mark of 602 in 26 games during the 1981-82 season.
At her current pace, James' total would come up just short of the all-time mark among sophomores in Mid-American Conference history. Ohio's Caroline Mast holds down the league's current standard of 635 points during the 1983-84.
