Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 28
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Hope to See Plenty of Red Versus the Zips
1/26/2012 1:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 » 2:06 p.m. » Convocation Center (8,784) » Ypsilanti, Mich.
Complete Release.
Watch the Game.
Listen to the Game.
Live Stats - Fan-Based. Media-Based.
EAGLES HOPE TO SEE PLENTY OF RED VERSUS THE ZIPS: Do not be alarmed Saturday if you see Eastern Michigan University student-athletes and staff departing from their green and white colors, in favor of red. It is the University's way of supporting heart disease prevention for women as part of the American Heart Association's national Go Red for Women Day on Friday, Feb. 3.
To help with the cause, the EMU Department of Athletics will be holding a “Green Goes Red” basketball doubleheader Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Convocation Center. The women's basketball team hosts Mid-American Conference foe the University of Akron at 2:06 p.m., followed by the men's game against Bowling Green State University at 6:07 p.m.
All fans wearing a red shirt will be admitted free to the game to help cheer on the Eagles. There will be various events to raise money for the AHA such as money from concessions, a silent auction and much more.
SETTING THE SCENE: Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 13-7 (5-2 MAC) mark after downing Buffalo, 72-54, on the road, Jan. 25. Meanwhile, Akron was tripped up by Northern Illinois University, 72-66, at James A. Rhodes Arena to push its record to 9-12 (3-4 MAC).
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Jan. 22 contest against the University of Akron marks the 30th meeting between the Zips and Eagles, who first met during the 1981-82 season. UA leads the series, 16-13. The teams met only once during the 2010-11 regular season with EMU claiming a 56-51 decision in the Rubber City.
OFFENSE VERSUS DEFENSE: How do you like your basketball? EMU and UA could not be more different when it comes to their style of play. Eastern Michigan focuses on lock down defense, limiting the opposition to an average of 59.0 points per game while scoring 68.6 points. Meanwhile, Akron likes to light up the nets to a tune of 74.5 points per game while giving up 73.6 points.
The Eagles rank 122nd nationally in scoring defense and 78th in scoring offense, while the Zips are 19th in scoring offense and 322nd in scoring defense. UA has reached 80-or-more points in a game seven times with EMU passing the 80-point plateau just three times.
A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST MEETING WITH AKRON: Six consecutive free throws by Tavelyn James over the final 40 seconds sealed EMU's 56-51 victory over Akron, Jan. 22, 2011, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Eagles, who held the lead for most of the ballgame, placed three players in double figures but had to survive a late Zips rally to escape with the Mid-American Conference cross-divisional win.
James led the Eagles with 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go along with 12 points from senior guard Sydney Huntley. Senior Cassie Schrock also chipped in 10 points on the afternoon, going 8-for-14 at the free throw stripe.
Rachel Tecca paced Akron with 19 points to go along with 18 rebounds in a losing effort. No other Zip reached double figures in points, as they shot just 31 percent (15-of-51) for the contest and 1-of-16 from the long line.
Eastern Michigan struggled shooting just 22.9 percent for the game, but grabbed a season-best 54 rebounds. Twenty-eight of those caroms came on the offensive glass, leading to 21 second-chance points.
SUPER SOPHOMORES: The sophomore trio of Olivia Fouty, Desyree Thomas and Natachia Watkins have been a large part of the team's continued success in 2011-12. The trifecta has combined for 39.9 percent of EMU's points (547), 40.8 percent of its rebounds (333) and 53.9 percent of the assists (137).
This is a dramatic change from their freshman campaign, when the three players combined for a season total of 170 points, 159 rebounds and 41 assists.
JAMES MOVING UP THE MAC LIST: Senior Tavelyn James, the leading scorer in EMU history, is also moving up the Mid-American Conference list. Just the 11th student-athlete in MAC history to surpass the 2,000-point mark in a career, James needs 50 points to pass Western Michigan's Carrie Moore (2003-07) for fourth on the MAC list. For the complete list of her accomplishments, turn to page 2 of these notes.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Eastern Michigan has had double-digit steal totals in 16 games this season. The Green and White has also forced 15 opponents into more than 20 turnovers in a contest.
CROSS-DIVISIONAL PLAY RETURNS: The 2011-12 season is the seventh utilizing the current Mid-American Conference scheduling format for women's basketball. Each of the 12 schools opens league action with five divisional games, followed by six cross-divisional games and then five more divisional contests to close the regular season.
Eastern Michigan has posted a 31-24 record versus MAC East Division opponents since the 2004-05 campaign. Eastern was 5-2 last season after finishing 4-4 in 2009-10. The Green and White were 2-5 in cross-divisional games in 2008-09, 4-3 in 2007-08, 4-4 in 2006-07, 6-2 in 2005-06 and 5-3 in 2004-05.
JAMES IN SOME RAREFIED COMPANY: Senior Tavelyn James has joined a select group of the most prolific senior scorers in program history. In 20 games, the Detroit native has racked up 466 points. The mark ranks fourth best in EMU senior laurels. The MAC record for most points by a senior is Western Michigan's Carrie Moore with 813 points in 2006-07.
James also holds the EMU freshman (426), sophomore (641) and junior (642) single-season scoring marks.
NCAA RANKINGS: The latest NCAA Statistical Rankings came out Jan. 23 and the Eagles are eighth in the nation (out of 336 eligible teams) in steals per game at 13.4. They are 16th in turnover margin at +5.95, 24th in rebounding margin (+7.3) and 59th in scoring margin (+9.2) . Individually, Tavelyn James is seventh in the nation in scoring with an average of 22.7 points per game and 42nd in free throw percentage per game at 85.5. Desyree Thomas is 12th in the nation with an average of 3.5 steals per game, while Olivia Fouty is 124th in the nation in rebounds with an average of 8.2 per game.
PIPING HOT TURNOVERS: After forcing 769 turnovers (20.8 per game) last season, Eastern Michigan is at it again this year, causing 471 turnovers (23.6 per game) in its 20 outings. The majority of those turnovers have come via EMU steals, with the Eagles registering 271 thefts (13.6 per game) after ranking first in the Mid-American Conference in that category last season.
OHIO ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 1 contest marks the 52nd meeting between the Ohio Bobcats and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. Ohio leads the series, 30-21, with EMU posting an 85-40 victory in the team's only meeting last season back in Ypsilanti, Jan. 26, 2011.
The EMU-Ohio game will mark the sixth time Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert has squared off versus the Bobcats. Gilbert began her collegiate career at Ohio University, playing two seasons (1986-88) before transferring to Oberlin College. She transferred to Oberlin for her junior and senior seasons (1989-91), where she was a two-time Kodak first team All-American, a two-time NCAC Player of the Year, the Honda Division III Athlete of the Year. Additionally, Gilbert and Ohio's Head Coach Semeka Randall worked together as assistant coaches at Michigan State University from 2005-07.
Watch the Game.
Listen to the Game.
Live Stats - Fan-Based. Media-Based.
EAGLES HOPE TO SEE PLENTY OF RED VERSUS THE ZIPS: Do not be alarmed Saturday if you see Eastern Michigan University student-athletes and staff departing from their green and white colors, in favor of red. It is the University's way of supporting heart disease prevention for women as part of the American Heart Association's national Go Red for Women Day on Friday, Feb. 3.
To help with the cause, the EMU Department of Athletics will be holding a “Green Goes Red” basketball doubleheader Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Convocation Center. The women's basketball team hosts Mid-American Conference foe the University of Akron at 2:06 p.m., followed by the men's game against Bowling Green State University at 6:07 p.m.
All fans wearing a red shirt will be admitted free to the game to help cheer on the Eagles. There will be various events to raise money for the AHA such as money from concessions, a silent auction and much more.
SETTING THE SCENE: Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 13-7 (5-2 MAC) mark after downing Buffalo, 72-54, on the road, Jan. 25. Meanwhile, Akron was tripped up by Northern Illinois University, 72-66, at James A. Rhodes Arena to push its record to 9-12 (3-4 MAC).
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Jan. 22 contest against the University of Akron marks the 30th meeting between the Zips and Eagles, who first met during the 1981-82 season. UA leads the series, 16-13. The teams met only once during the 2010-11 regular season with EMU claiming a 56-51 decision in the Rubber City.
OFFENSE VERSUS DEFENSE: How do you like your basketball? EMU and UA could not be more different when it comes to their style of play. Eastern Michigan focuses on lock down defense, limiting the opposition to an average of 59.0 points per game while scoring 68.6 points. Meanwhile, Akron likes to light up the nets to a tune of 74.5 points per game while giving up 73.6 points.
The Eagles rank 122nd nationally in scoring defense and 78th in scoring offense, while the Zips are 19th in scoring offense and 322nd in scoring defense. UA has reached 80-or-more points in a game seven times with EMU passing the 80-point plateau just three times.
A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST MEETING WITH AKRON: Six consecutive free throws by Tavelyn James over the final 40 seconds sealed EMU's 56-51 victory over Akron, Jan. 22, 2011, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Eagles, who held the lead for most of the ballgame, placed three players in double figures but had to survive a late Zips rally to escape with the Mid-American Conference cross-divisional win.
James led the Eagles with 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go along with 12 points from senior guard Sydney Huntley. Senior Cassie Schrock also chipped in 10 points on the afternoon, going 8-for-14 at the free throw stripe.
Rachel Tecca paced Akron with 19 points to go along with 18 rebounds in a losing effort. No other Zip reached double figures in points, as they shot just 31 percent (15-of-51) for the contest and 1-of-16 from the long line.
Eastern Michigan struggled shooting just 22.9 percent for the game, but grabbed a season-best 54 rebounds. Twenty-eight of those caroms came on the offensive glass, leading to 21 second-chance points.
SUPER SOPHOMORES: The sophomore trio of Olivia Fouty, Desyree Thomas and Natachia Watkins have been a large part of the team's continued success in 2011-12. The trifecta has combined for 39.9 percent of EMU's points (547), 40.8 percent of its rebounds (333) and 53.9 percent of the assists (137).
This is a dramatic change from their freshman campaign, when the three players combined for a season total of 170 points, 159 rebounds and 41 assists.
JAMES MOVING UP THE MAC LIST: Senior Tavelyn James, the leading scorer in EMU history, is also moving up the Mid-American Conference list. Just the 11th student-athlete in MAC history to surpass the 2,000-point mark in a career, James needs 50 points to pass Western Michigan's Carrie Moore (2003-07) for fourth on the MAC list. For the complete list of her accomplishments, turn to page 2 of these notes.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Eastern Michigan has had double-digit steal totals in 16 games this season. The Green and White has also forced 15 opponents into more than 20 turnovers in a contest.
CROSS-DIVISIONAL PLAY RETURNS: The 2011-12 season is the seventh utilizing the current Mid-American Conference scheduling format for women's basketball. Each of the 12 schools opens league action with five divisional games, followed by six cross-divisional games and then five more divisional contests to close the regular season.
Eastern Michigan has posted a 31-24 record versus MAC East Division opponents since the 2004-05 campaign. Eastern was 5-2 last season after finishing 4-4 in 2009-10. The Green and White were 2-5 in cross-divisional games in 2008-09, 4-3 in 2007-08, 4-4 in 2006-07, 6-2 in 2005-06 and 5-3 in 2004-05.
JAMES IN SOME RAREFIED COMPANY: Senior Tavelyn James has joined a select group of the most prolific senior scorers in program history. In 20 games, the Detroit native has racked up 466 points. The mark ranks fourth best in EMU senior laurels. The MAC record for most points by a senior is Western Michigan's Carrie Moore with 813 points in 2006-07.
James also holds the EMU freshman (426), sophomore (641) and junior (642) single-season scoring marks.
NCAA RANKINGS: The latest NCAA Statistical Rankings came out Jan. 23 and the Eagles are eighth in the nation (out of 336 eligible teams) in steals per game at 13.4. They are 16th in turnover margin at +5.95, 24th in rebounding margin (+7.3) and 59th in scoring margin (+9.2) . Individually, Tavelyn James is seventh in the nation in scoring with an average of 22.7 points per game and 42nd in free throw percentage per game at 85.5. Desyree Thomas is 12th in the nation with an average of 3.5 steals per game, while Olivia Fouty is 124th in the nation in rebounds with an average of 8.2 per game.
PIPING HOT TURNOVERS: After forcing 769 turnovers (20.8 per game) last season, Eastern Michigan is at it again this year, causing 471 turnovers (23.6 per game) in its 20 outings. The majority of those turnovers have come via EMU steals, with the Eagles registering 271 thefts (13.6 per game) after ranking first in the Mid-American Conference in that category last season.
OHIO ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 1 contest marks the 52nd meeting between the Ohio Bobcats and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. Ohio leads the series, 30-21, with EMU posting an 85-40 victory in the team's only meeting last season back in Ypsilanti, Jan. 26, 2011.
The EMU-Ohio game will mark the sixth time Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert has squared off versus the Bobcats. Gilbert began her collegiate career at Ohio University, playing two seasons (1986-88) before transferring to Oberlin College. She transferred to Oberlin for her junior and senior seasons (1989-91), where she was a two-time Kodak first team All-American, a two-time NCAC Player of the Year, the Honda Division III Athlete of the Year. Additionally, Gilbert and Ohio's Head Coach Semeka Randall worked together as assistant coaches at Michigan State University from 2005-07.
Sisi Eleko 1,500 Points Highlight
Saturday, January 17
Believe Tshibangu Highlights vs Kent State, Jan. 10, 2026
Sunday, January 11
Brooklyn Thrash career-high 22 points against Ohio: Highlights
Thursday, January 08
Ovalle, Hill, and Eleko 20+ Point Highlights vs. BGSU
Monday, January 05