Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, December 3
East Lansing, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Michigan State
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Eastern Michigan Renews Ties With Michigan State
11/29/2011 3:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 » 3 p.m. » Breslin Center (14,797) » East Lansing, Mich.
Complete Release (PDF).
Listen to the Game.
Live Stats.
EASTERN MICHIGAN RENEWS TIES WITH MICHIGAN STATE: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, as its five-game road trip comes to a close Saturday, Dec. 3, against Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Breslin Center on the MSU campus.
The Eagles are 5-1 on the young season after capturing a 65-53 victory over Canisius College, Nov. 27, in Buffalo, N.Y. Meanwhile, the Spartans are 5-3 on the year after being tripped up by the University of Miami, 76-60, Dec. 1.
JAMES' MARCH TOWARDS HISTORY: Tavelyn James needs just 41 points to pass Laurie Byrd for the EMU all-time career scoring record. James has 1,859 points, while Byrd notched 1,899 points from 1978-82.
Currently ranked 14th all-time in points in Mid-American Conference history, James has reached double figures in points on 85 occasions in her career. The Detroit, Mich. native has scored 20 or more in 38 of those contests. Her career average of 18.0 points per game is sixth-best in MAC annals, while she ranks in the top 20 in the conference record book in three-pointers attempted (733), field goals attempted (1,631), three-pointers made (230) and field goals made (657) .
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Eagles and Spartans wake up the echoes of a non-conference rivalry that has been dormant since the 2003-04 campaign. The all-time series has been dominated by Michigan State, winning 12 of the 13 meetings dating back to a 66-46 victory at Bowen Field House, Feb. 1, 1977. The last time the teams met was Nov. 28, 2003, in East Lansing, Mich. when MSU escaped with a 79-62 victory. In that contest, the Eagle offense awoke in the second half to out-score the Spartans 43-33 in the second half at the Breslin Center. It was too late though after trailing by as much as 27. Eastern got it as close as 14 points on two occasions, thanks largely to the three-point shooting of Sarah VanMetre, who hit five of her school-record seven treys in the second period on her way to 25 points.
EMU's lone win over MSU came exactly 11 years ago, Dec. 3, 2000, when the then-Suzy Merchant led Eagles defeated the Spartans, 66-59, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
GILBERT VERSUS THE BIG TEN: For the fourth time since Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's arrival, the Eagles will take on a team from the Big Ten Conference. EMU is 11-36 all-time versus the Park Ridge, Ill. based conference, but the Green and White are 5-7 against Big Ten foes since the 2000-01 campaign. During that span, Eastern Michigan has posted wins over Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Northwestern, with losses coming against Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, MSU and OSU.
BEST TEAM IN WASHTENAW COUNTY?: The combined efforts between AnnMarie Gilbert and Suzy Merchant have quietly built Eastern Michigan into one of the most dominant teams in the state of Michigan. Since the 2003-04 campaign, the Eagles have won 158 games, posted five 20+ victory seasons and made five postseason tournament appearances.
MAGIC NUMBERS: In Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's tenure, when two particular numbers on the scoreboard are achieved it typically has been a sign of an EMU win. When the Eagles have scored at least 70 points, their record is 41-10, including winning their last 19 games, while when they hold opponents under 70 points, their record is 67-21.
Under Gilbert's leadership, Eastern Michigan is 62-11 when leading at the half and 66-3 when holding a lead with five minutes to play in the game.
A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 39.3 points per game in the paint, 15.5 points off the bench, 28.3 points per game off turnovers, 15.2 second-chance points and 17.0 fast break points per game.
WATKINS GOLDEN AT CANISIUS: In 27 minutes against the Canisius Golden Griffins, Nov. 27, sophomore Natachia Watkins turned in a career-best 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. In the second half alone she posted 16 points.
CRASHING THE BOARDS: Senior Paige Redditt has established herself as a formidable rebounder. Redditt has at least six caroms in five of her six games this season, and she already has two double-figure rebounding performances (18 at Loyola, 14 at Green Bay). Thirty-nine of her 60 total rebounds have come on the offensive glass, including a season-high 12 against the Phoenix.
GET THAT SHOT OUTTA HERE: Senior forward Paige Redditt recorded a blocked shot Sunday, Nov. 20, in the win over Loyola. She upped her career total to 94 and currently stands in third place on the EMU all-time list. Redditt needs nine more rejections to pass Stephanie Smiley for second all time. Smiley tallied 103 rejections for Eastern from 1998-2002.
Listen to the Game.
Live Stats.
EASTERN MICHIGAN RENEWS TIES WITH MICHIGAN STATE: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, as its five-game road trip comes to a close Saturday, Dec. 3, against Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Breslin Center on the MSU campus.
The Eagles are 5-1 on the young season after capturing a 65-53 victory over Canisius College, Nov. 27, in Buffalo, N.Y. Meanwhile, the Spartans are 5-3 on the year after being tripped up by the University of Miami, 76-60, Dec. 1.
JAMES' MARCH TOWARDS HISTORY: Tavelyn James needs just 41 points to pass Laurie Byrd for the EMU all-time career scoring record. James has 1,859 points, while Byrd notched 1,899 points from 1978-82.
Currently ranked 14th all-time in points in Mid-American Conference history, James has reached double figures in points on 85 occasions in her career. The Detroit, Mich. native has scored 20 or more in 38 of those contests. Her career average of 18.0 points per game is sixth-best in MAC annals, while she ranks in the top 20 in the conference record book in three-pointers attempted (733), field goals attempted (1,631), three-pointers made (230) and field goals made (657) .
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Eagles and Spartans wake up the echoes of a non-conference rivalry that has been dormant since the 2003-04 campaign. The all-time series has been dominated by Michigan State, winning 12 of the 13 meetings dating back to a 66-46 victory at Bowen Field House, Feb. 1, 1977. The last time the teams met was Nov. 28, 2003, in East Lansing, Mich. when MSU escaped with a 79-62 victory. In that contest, the Eagle offense awoke in the second half to out-score the Spartans 43-33 in the second half at the Breslin Center. It was too late though after trailing by as much as 27. Eastern got it as close as 14 points on two occasions, thanks largely to the three-point shooting of Sarah VanMetre, who hit five of her school-record seven treys in the second period on her way to 25 points.
EMU's lone win over MSU came exactly 11 years ago, Dec. 3, 2000, when the then-Suzy Merchant led Eagles defeated the Spartans, 66-59, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
GILBERT VERSUS THE BIG TEN: For the fourth time since Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's arrival, the Eagles will take on a team from the Big Ten Conference. EMU is 11-36 all-time versus the Park Ridge, Ill. based conference, but the Green and White are 5-7 against Big Ten foes since the 2000-01 campaign. During that span, Eastern Michigan has posted wins over Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Northwestern, with losses coming against Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, MSU and OSU.
BEST TEAM IN WASHTENAW COUNTY?: The combined efforts between AnnMarie Gilbert and Suzy Merchant have quietly built Eastern Michigan into one of the most dominant teams in the state of Michigan. Since the 2003-04 campaign, the Eagles have won 158 games, posted five 20+ victory seasons and made five postseason tournament appearances.
MAGIC NUMBERS: In Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert's tenure, when two particular numbers on the scoreboard are achieved it typically has been a sign of an EMU win. When the Eagles have scored at least 70 points, their record is 41-10, including winning their last 19 games, while when they hold opponents under 70 points, their record is 67-21.
Under Gilbert's leadership, Eastern Michigan is 62-11 when leading at the half and 66-3 when holding a lead with five minutes to play in the game.
A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 39.3 points per game in the paint, 15.5 points off the bench, 28.3 points per game off turnovers, 15.2 second-chance points and 17.0 fast break points per game.
WATKINS GOLDEN AT CANISIUS: In 27 minutes against the Canisius Golden Griffins, Nov. 27, sophomore Natachia Watkins turned in a career-best 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. In the second half alone she posted 16 points.
CRASHING THE BOARDS: Senior Paige Redditt has established herself as a formidable rebounder. Redditt has at least six caroms in five of her six games this season, and she already has two double-figure rebounding performances (18 at Loyola, 14 at Green Bay). Thirty-nine of her 60 total rebounds have come on the offensive glass, including a season-high 12 against the Phoenix.
GET THAT SHOT OUTTA HERE: Senior forward Paige Redditt recorded a blocked shot Sunday, Nov. 20, in the win over Loyola. She upped her career total to 94 and currently stands in third place on the EMU all-time list. Redditt needs nine more rejections to pass Stephanie Smiley for second all time. Smiley tallied 103 rejections for Eastern from 1998-2002.
Game week work😤
Monday, October 27
2025-26 Field of 68 Women's Basketball Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tuesday, October 21
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11