EMU Battles Miami Sunday on SportsTime Ohio

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Trying to break a two-game losing skid, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team hits the road Sunday, Jan. 20, for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional showdown at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Millett Hall.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 3-13 (1-2 MAC) record, after falling at home to the University of Toledo, 56-40, in Ypsilanti, Jan. 16. The RedHawks are 10-6 (2-1 MAC) and have won back-to-back contests, including a 73-47 road triumph at Western Michigan University, Jan. 13, and a 78-56 victory over Ohio University, Jan. 17.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE REDHAWKS: The Jan. 20 contest marks the 52nd meeting between the Miami RedHawks and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1979-80 season. Miami has dominated the all-time series, 36-15, but the Eagles have won the last three meetings including the lone contest last season. EMU posted a 72-62 victory in Oxford, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2011, and then got the better of the RedHawks in the MAC Tournament First Round, 82-74, at the Convocation Center. A year ago, Eastern rolled to a 77-66 win in Ypsilanti, Mich., Feb. 4, 2012.

THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF TELEVISION: Sunday's contest will be shown regionally on SportsTime Ohio and Comcast Michigan (Digital Channel 901) with Mike Cairns providing the play-by-play and Jacki Windon serving as the analyst. This is EMU's first of two scheduled appearances this season on the small-screen, but the Eagles are 8-4 over the past two seasons when on television.

MILLETT NOT KIND TO EMU: Miami University's Millett Hall has been a building that has caused EMU coaches to have nightmares. The Eagles have posted an all-time record of 7-15 in the venerable building. However, things of late have started to change as the Eagles have posted 74-56 (Feb. 7, 2007), 56-45 (Feb. 14, 2009) and 72-62 (Jan. 29, 2011) victories in their last three trips to Oxford, Ohio. The only other time Eastern has won consecutive games in Millett Hall was between 1986 and 1987 when Head Coach Kathy Hart guided the then-Hurons to consecutive victories.

A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST MEETING WITH MIAMI: Natachia Watkins snagged a career-best 14 rebounds to go with a game-high 21 points as one of three Eastern Michigan University players with double-doubles, highlighting a 77-66 victory over Miami University in a Mid-American Conference crossover showdown at the EMU Convocation Center, Feb. 4, 2012.
   Paige Redditt equaled Watkins' 21 points to go with 13 boards and Olivia Fouty chipped in 12 points and 10 caroms, as the Eagles won their third-consecutive decision over the RedHawks.
   Courtney Osborn led Miami with 19 points.
   The Eagles forced seven turnovers and held the RedHawks to 2-for-8 from the floor to start the second period, which fueled a 19-4 run to build a 53-38 lead with 12:35 left. An 11-4 run by MU cut the lead to eight with 6:44 to go, but it would get no closer.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its three victories this season, EMU has scored 60.0 points while the opposition has posted 56.0 points. In those games, opponents shot 32.8 percent from the field compared to 37.8 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles have only posted 54.3 points, while giving up 64.8. Another factor in the Eagles' success was the ability to control the glass. EMU has grabbed 38.7 rebounds in the wins, while in setbacks EMU has been out-rebounded by its opponents (37.6 to 37.9).

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 28.1 points per game in the paint, 15.5 points off the bench, 16.2 points per game off turnovers, 11.6 second-chance points and 5.8 fast break points per game.

KENT STATE ON THE HORIZON: The Jan. 24 contest marks the 55th meeting between the Golden Flashes and Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. KSU leads the series, 34-20, including winning 24 of the last 34 meetings between the two schools. EMU is currently riding a program-best four-game winning streak in the series, as KSU has never lost five straight meetings against the Green and White.
   The Eagles posted an 83-47 victory in the lone regular-season meeting last year at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., Feb. 11, 2012. Tavelyn James went on a three-point record-breaking streak to lead the Eagles on Polish-American Day. The 5-foot-7 James not only broke the EMU 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 she scored 40.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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