Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, February 15
Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Returns to Divisional Action Wednesday at WMU
2/13/2012 3:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 » 7 p.m. » University Arena (5,421) » Kalamazoo, Mich.
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EMU RETURNS TO DIVISIONAL ACTION WEDNESDAY AT WMU: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team makes the 114 mile trek to Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for a Mid-American Conference West Division tilt versus Western Michigan University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at University Arena. The game is part of the national “Play 4Kay” initiative with fans being encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer research.
The Eagles enter the game with a mark of 17-7 (9-2 MAC), tied with the University of Toledo atop the MAC West Division. Meanwhile, the Broncos are 6-18 (3-8 MAC) after falling to the University of Akron, 81-67, in Akron, Ohio, Feb. 11.
A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BRONCOS: The Feb. 15 contest marks the 71st meeting between the Western Michigan Broncos and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1976-77 season. EMU leads the all-time series, 40-30, and has won 12 of the last 14 meetings. Eastern has won five of the last six meetings in Kalamazoo dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.
An outstanding second-half effort helped propelled EMU to an 84-59 win over WMU in the team's first meeting this season at the EMU Convocation Center. Holding a slim 34-33 halftime lead, the Eagles exploded for 50 second-half points while holding the Broncos to just 26 in the final 20 minutes to post the win. EMU had four players reach double figures in points, led by senior guard Tavelyn James with 21. Senior forward Paige Redditt and sophomore forward Olivia Fouty both turned in double-double scoring-rebounding efforts, with Redditt scoring 19 points with 11 rebounds and Fouty accounting for 18 points and 11 boards.
JAMES EQUALS THE MAC RECORD WITH 10 TRIPLES AGAINST KENT STATE: Senior guard Tavelyn James went on a record-breaking three-point streak to lead the Eagles to an 83-47 win over Kent State, Feb. 11. The 5-foot-7 James not only broke the school record for three-point field goals in a game with 10 triples on the afternoon, but also set a single-game record for MAC-only games and tied the MAC single-game record against all opponents. James was 10-of-20 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 40 points, the fourth time in her career she has scored 40. James already holds the single-game best with 42 points.
James' 10 threes tied Ohio's Marlene Stollings (Dec. 30, 1997 vs. Robert Morris) for the MAC record against all opponents and broke the record of nine by Miami's Jamie Stewart (Jan. 22, 2000 vs. BGSU) and CMU's Judi Culbertson (Feb. 25, 2000 vs. Ball State) for the standard in MAC-only games. Additionally, the 10 threes topped the EMU mark of eight held by James (Nov. 20, 2009 at Siena), Sydney Huntley (Feb. 2, 2010 at CMU) and Marion Crandall (Feb. 21, 2004 vs. Ball State).
For her efforts, James was named the MAC West Division Player of the Week for the seventh time in her career.
TWO THREE-POINTERS SHY OF A NATIONAL RECORD: Tavelyn James' record-setting performance of 10 three-point field goals made against Kent State, Feb. 11, was just two makes shy of the NCAA Division I record. Louisiana State University's Cornelia Gayden sank 12 triples against Jackson State University, Feb. 9, 1995, while Purdue's Brittany Rayburn nailed 12 against the University of Minnesota, Jan. 12, 2012.
Since 1988, only 34 players in Division I women's basketball have connected on 10-or-more three-pointers in a single game.
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 157 points to pass Ohio's Caroline Mast (1982-86) for second on the MAC list. For the complete list of her accomplishments, turn to page 2 of these notes.
JAMES SCORING IN BUNCHES: With her 21-point second half effort against Kent State, Feb. 11, senior Tavelyn James has posted six halves with 20-or-more points this season.
REDDITT PASSES 900 POINTS: Senior forward Paige Redditt reached a milestone by recording her 900th career point in the team's 83-47 victory over Kent State University, Feb. 11. Redditt totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the 21st member to join the 900-point club for the EMU women's basketball program.
Redditt joins Stephanie Smiley (1998-02) as the only players in school-history to post more than 900 points, 700 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career. Redditt has accumulated 913 points, 728 rebounds and 116 blocks, while Smiley finished her career with 1,401 points, 784 caroms and 103 rejections.
JAMES IN SOME RAREFIED COMPANY: Senior Tavelyn James has joined a select group of the most prolific senior scorers in program history. In 24 games, the Detroit native has racked up 584 points. The mark ranks second 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 Feb. 13 and the Eagles are sixth in the nation (out of 336 eligible teams) in steals per game at 13.6. They are 14th in rebounding margin (+9.4), 15th in turnover margin at +5.75 and 29th in scoring margin (+12.2). Individually, Tavelyn James is second in the nation in scoring with an average of 24.3 points per game and 42nd in free throw percentage per game at 85.0. Desyree Thomas is 10th in the nation with an average of 3.5 steals per game, while Paige Redditt is 92nd in the nation in rebounds with an average of 8.5 per game.
EAST-WEST ALLEGIANCES: When the Eagles and Broncos take to the court Wednesday, Feb. 15, it will not only be a battle between in-state rivals, but for family bragging rights as well. WMU redshirt senior guard Maria Iaquaniello is the older sister of EMU junior volleyball standout Rachel Iaquaniello. Maria is the Broncos' leading scorer in 2011-12 with 13.5 points per contest after being named the squad's Defensive MVP last year. Meanwhile Rachel collected first-team All-MAC accolades in 2011 after ranking second in the league with 3.99 kills per set. She also sits fourth overall in EMU history with 1,382 career kills.
ABOUT PLAY4KAY: The Women's Basketball Coaches Association rebranded Pink Zone and Think Pink games as Play 4Kay, beginning in Feb. 2012, in honor of former North Carolina State University Head Coach Kay Yow, who lost her battle with breast cancer in Jan. 2009. The mission of the annual pink games, which were brought to life in 2007, is a nation of coaches raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the official charity of the initiative. The late Kay Yow is remembered for the hundreds and thousands of lives she touched through basketball and through her tireless efforts to fight cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away Jan. 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Having coached for 38 seasons, Yow was one only six Division I head women's basketball mentors to achieve 700 career victories.
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 41-14 (74.5) against in-state rivals, including a 19-11 mark under AnnMarie Gilbert.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 18 contest marks the 37th meeting between the Northern Illinois Huskies and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1981-82 season. Eastern leads the overall series, 27-9, and has won 22 of the last 25 games over the Cardinal and Black. Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert has tallied an 8-1 mark against NIU since taking over the program in 2007-08.
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 38.8 percent of EMU's points (655), 41.9 percent of its rebounds (424) and 54.2 percent of the assists (182).
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.
PIPING HOT TURNOVERS: After forcing 769 turnovers (20.8 per game) last season, Eastern Michigan is at it again this year, causing 557 turnovers (23.2 per game) in its 24 outings. The majority of those turnovers have come via EMU steals, with the Eagles registering 319 thefts (13.2 per game) after ranking first in the Mid-American Conference in that category last season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Eastern Michigan is 9-1 at the Convocation Center this season. The Eagles have won 34 of the last 43 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 70.3 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 128-54 all-time mark.
Listen to the Game.
Live Stats.
EMU RETURNS TO DIVISIONAL ACTION WEDNESDAY AT WMU: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team makes the 114 mile trek to Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for a Mid-American Conference West Division tilt versus Western Michigan University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at University Arena. The game is part of the national “Play 4Kay” initiative with fans being encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer research.
The Eagles enter the game with a mark of 17-7 (9-2 MAC), tied with the University of Toledo atop the MAC West Division. Meanwhile, the Broncos are 6-18 (3-8 MAC) after falling to the University of Akron, 81-67, in Akron, Ohio, Feb. 11.
A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BRONCOS: The Feb. 15 contest marks the 71st meeting between the Western Michigan Broncos and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1976-77 season. EMU leads the all-time series, 40-30, and has won 12 of the last 14 meetings. Eastern has won five of the last six meetings in Kalamazoo dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.
An outstanding second-half effort helped propelled EMU to an 84-59 win over WMU in the team's first meeting this season at the EMU Convocation Center. Holding a slim 34-33 halftime lead, the Eagles exploded for 50 second-half points while holding the Broncos to just 26 in the final 20 minutes to post the win. EMU had four players reach double figures in points, led by senior guard Tavelyn James with 21. Senior forward Paige Redditt and sophomore forward Olivia Fouty both turned in double-double scoring-rebounding efforts, with Redditt scoring 19 points with 11 rebounds and Fouty accounting for 18 points and 11 boards.
JAMES EQUALS THE MAC RECORD WITH 10 TRIPLES AGAINST KENT STATE: Senior guard Tavelyn James went on a record-breaking three-point streak to lead the Eagles to an 83-47 win over Kent State, Feb. 11. The 5-foot-7 James not only broke the school record for three-point field goals in a game with 10 triples on the afternoon, but also set a single-game record for MAC-only games and tied the MAC single-game record against all opponents. James was 10-of-20 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 40 points, the fourth time in her career she has scored 40. James already holds the single-game best with 42 points.
James' 10 threes tied Ohio's Marlene Stollings (Dec. 30, 1997 vs. Robert Morris) for the MAC record against all opponents and broke the record of nine by Miami's Jamie Stewart (Jan. 22, 2000 vs. BGSU) and CMU's Judi Culbertson (Feb. 25, 2000 vs. Ball State) for the standard in MAC-only games. Additionally, the 10 threes topped the EMU mark of eight held by James (Nov. 20, 2009 at Siena), Sydney Huntley (Feb. 2, 2010 at CMU) and Marion Crandall (Feb. 21, 2004 vs. Ball State).
For her efforts, James was named the MAC West Division Player of the Week for the seventh time in her career.
TWO THREE-POINTERS SHY OF A NATIONAL RECORD: Tavelyn James' record-setting performance of 10 three-point field goals made against Kent State, Feb. 11, was just two makes shy of the NCAA Division I record. Louisiana State University's Cornelia Gayden sank 12 triples against Jackson State University, Feb. 9, 1995, while Purdue's Brittany Rayburn nailed 12 against the University of Minnesota, Jan. 12, 2012.
Since 1988, only 34 players in Division I women's basketball have connected on 10-or-more three-pointers in a single game.
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 157 points to pass Ohio's Caroline Mast (1982-86) for second on the MAC list. For the complete list of her accomplishments, turn to page 2 of these notes.
JAMES SCORING IN BUNCHES: With her 21-point second half effort against Kent State, Feb. 11, senior Tavelyn James has posted six halves with 20-or-more points this season.
REDDITT PASSES 900 POINTS: Senior forward Paige Redditt reached a milestone by recording her 900th career point in the team's 83-47 victory over Kent State University, Feb. 11. Redditt totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the 21st member to join the 900-point club for the EMU women's basketball program.
Redditt joins Stephanie Smiley (1998-02) as the only players in school-history to post more than 900 points, 700 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career. Redditt has accumulated 913 points, 728 rebounds and 116 blocks, while Smiley finished her career with 1,401 points, 784 caroms and 103 rejections.
JAMES IN SOME RAREFIED COMPANY: Senior Tavelyn James has joined a select group of the most prolific senior scorers in program history. In 24 games, the Detroit native has racked up 584 points. The mark ranks second 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 Feb. 13 and the Eagles are sixth in the nation (out of 336 eligible teams) in steals per game at 13.6. They are 14th in rebounding margin (+9.4), 15th in turnover margin at +5.75 and 29th in scoring margin (+12.2). Individually, Tavelyn James is second in the nation in scoring with an average of 24.3 points per game and 42nd in free throw percentage per game at 85.0. Desyree Thomas is 10th in the nation with an average of 3.5 steals per game, while Paige Redditt is 92nd in the nation in rebounds with an average of 8.5 per game.
EAST-WEST ALLEGIANCES: When the Eagles and Broncos take to the court Wednesday, Feb. 15, it will not only be a battle between in-state rivals, but for family bragging rights as well. WMU redshirt senior guard Maria Iaquaniello is the older sister of EMU junior volleyball standout Rachel Iaquaniello. Maria is the Broncos' leading scorer in 2011-12 with 13.5 points per contest after being named the squad's Defensive MVP last year. Meanwhile Rachel collected first-team All-MAC accolades in 2011 after ranking second in the league with 3.99 kills per set. She also sits fourth overall in EMU history with 1,382 career kills.
ABOUT PLAY4KAY: The Women's Basketball Coaches Association rebranded Pink Zone and Think Pink games as Play 4Kay, beginning in Feb. 2012, in honor of former North Carolina State University Head Coach Kay Yow, who lost her battle with breast cancer in Jan. 2009. The mission of the annual pink games, which were brought to life in 2007, is a nation of coaches raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the official charity of the initiative. The late Kay Yow is remembered for the hundreds and thousands of lives she touched through basketball and through her tireless efforts to fight cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away Jan. 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Having coached for 38 seasons, Yow was one only six Division I head women's basketball mentors to achieve 700 career victories.
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 41-14 (74.5) against in-state rivals, including a 19-11 mark under AnnMarie Gilbert.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 18 contest marks the 37th meeting between the Northern Illinois Huskies and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1981-82 season. Eastern leads the overall series, 27-9, and has won 22 of the last 25 games over the Cardinal and Black. Head Coach AnnMarie Gilbert has tallied an 8-1 mark against NIU since taking over the program in 2007-08.
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 38.8 percent of EMU's points (655), 41.9 percent of its rebounds (424) and 54.2 percent of the assists (182).
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.
PIPING HOT TURNOVERS: After forcing 769 turnovers (20.8 per game) last season, Eastern Michigan is at it again this year, causing 557 turnovers (23.2 per game) in its 24 outings. The majority of those turnovers have come via EMU steals, with the Eagles registering 319 thefts (13.2 per game) after ranking first in the Mid-American Conference in that category last season.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Eastern Michigan is 9-1 at the Convocation Center this season. The Eagles have won 34 of the last 43 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 70.3 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 128-54 all-time mark.
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