Battle of Washtenaw County Renewed

BATTLE OF WASHTENAW COUNTY RENEWED: Following a three-game, 3,299-mile road trip, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns home Tuesday, Dec. 11, for a non-conference test against the University of Michigan at the Convocation Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:06 p.m.
The Eagles are 1-7 (0-0 MAC) on the season after a heartbreaking 66-65 setback to South Dakota State University, Dec. 4. Meanwhile, the Wolverines are 7-2 (0-0 Big Ten) on the year following a 56-45 victory over Illinois State University, Dec. 5, at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE SERIES WITH MICHIGAN: The series, which was dormant for five seasons, returned in March 2011 when the two teams were pitted against each other in the opening round of the Women's Postseason WNIT. In that game, the Eagles came up with an outstanding effort on both ends of the court to post a 67-59 win over the Wolverines, March 17, 2011.
Last season, Eastern proved that the WNIT victory was no fluke as it posted a convincing 77-64 win over Michigan, Dec. 11, 2011. In the victory Tavelyn James broke the EMU women's career scoring record with a 38-point effort.
EMU is 5-4 all-time in home games versus Michigan, but the Wolverines lead the all-time series, 12-8.

BEST TEAM IN WASHTENAW COUNTY?: The combined efforts between Tory Verdi, 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 178 games, posted six 20+ victory seasons and made six postseason tournament appearances.

STRONG UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS: Despite having not played often on the hardwood in recent years, the ties run deep between the Eastern Michigan and Michigan women's basketball programs. U-M athletic trainer, Melissa Pohorence, spent four seasons in Ypsilanti.
Away from the bench, U-M's Athletic Media Relations Office has a heavy EMU flavor to it with Associate Director Tom Wywrot and Assistant Director Sarah VanMetre both having been standout student-athletes for the Green and White.

TATE EXCELS IN THE MOUNT RUSHMORE STATE: Maybe the sightseeing stop Mount Rushmore inspired her because senior Miranda Tate had her best game following the team's stop at the landmark prior to playing South Dakota State, Dec. 4. Tate notched a career-high 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting against the Jackrabbits. She tacked on a pair of steals and a rebound in 32 minutes of work during the heartbreaking one-point setback.

BOGARD EXCELS IN HER FIRST CAREER START: Amber Bogard made the most of her first career start at South Dakota State, Dec. 4, as the sophomore set personal-bests in nearly every statistical category. The Cleveland, Ohio native was 4-of-9 from the field for a total of 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists while playing 36 minutes.

AGAINST IN-STATE SCHOOLS: Eastern Michigan has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 10 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Eagles are 43-16 (72.9%) against in-state rivals.

EMU TRIES TO SNAP THE SKID: EMU will be trying to avoid its first eight game losing skid since the 2008-09 campaign. That season the Green and White lost 10 consecutive contests en route to an 8-21 record.

BALANCED SCORING: Senior Miranda Tate has been EMU's leading scorer at 14.4 points per game. Olivia Fouty has added 10.7 points per game, while Natachia Watkins is right behind her at 8.9 points per game.

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 24.8 points per game in the paint, 14.0 points off the bench, 12.5 points per game off turnovers, 10.6 second-chance points and 4.9 fast break points per game.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its lone victory this season, EMU scored 50.0 points while the opposition posted 47.0 points. In that game, opponents shot 27.3 percent from the field compared to 29.8 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles have only posted 56.4 points, while giving up 65.4. Another factor in the Eagles' success was the ability to control the glass. EMU grabbed 42.0 rebounds in the win, while in setbacks EMU has been out-rebounded its opponents by only a carom (38.7 to 38.1).

UMKC ON THE HORIZON: The schools are meeting for the fourth time with EMU holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Last season EMU dropped a 70-68 overtime decision to UMKC at the Convocation Center, Dec. 9, 2011. Tavelyn James led the Eagles with 19 points while Natachia Watkins scored 18.
During the 2010-11 campaign the Eagles downed the Kangaroos, 64-58, in a non-conference affair at the Swinney Recreation Center, Dec. 1, 2010. EMU led by as many as 21 points in the second half before UMKC began chipping away to get within two, 60-58, in the final minute. However, Sydney Huntley hit a pair of free throws with 22 seconds to play to seal the six-point victory.
The only other meeting was an opening round contest at the State Farm Tiger Classic hosted by the University of Missouri, Dec. 3, 2004, in Columbia, Mo.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE SUMMIT LEAGUE: Eastern Michigan is 11-12 all-time versus the Elmhurst. Ill. based Summit League, having played against six of the nine member institutions. EMU is 7-7 against Oakland, 1-0 versus IPFW, 1-1 against IUPUI, 2-1 versus UMKC, 0-1 against Western Illinois and 0-1 versus South Dakota State.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 37 of the last 47 home games dating back to the 2008-09 campaign. Eastern Michigan has racked up a solid home-court advantage inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center since the doors opened during the 1998-99 campaign. The Green and White has won 70.7 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 131-55 all-time mark.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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