Eagles Look to Get Back on Track Against the Golden Flashes

EAGLES LOOK TO GET BACK ON TRACK AGAINST THE GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team wraps up a stretch of road contests Thursday, Jan. 24, with a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional tilt at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 3-14 (1-3 MAC) record, after falling to Miami University, 70-48, in Oxford, Ohio, Jan. 20. The Golden Flashes are 2-15 (0-4 MAC) and have lost nine consecutive contests, including a 59-44 road setback to Ball State University, Jan. 19.

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE GOLDEN FLASHES: The Jan. 24 contest marks the 55th meeting between the Golden Flashes and Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. Kent State 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.
   The last time the teams played at the M.A.C. Center, the Eagles posted a 75-66 victory, Feb. 2, 2011. EMU's win snapped KSU's 15-game home winning streak, which at the time was the 13th-longest in the country.

STOP, THIEF!: After a record-setting 2011-12 campaign, junior Desyree Thomas has returned to her familiar role of leading the Eagles in steals. This year, Thomas has 46 swipes to lead the Mid-American Conference in that category. Last year, the Waterford, Mich. native set the EMU single-season record by nabbing 110 steals.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: Eastern Michigan has become very familiar with the road, as the team has played nine of its last 12 contests away from the confines of the Convocation Center. EMU is 2-10 during this stretch with wins at Kansas City (Dec. 15) and at Western Michigan (Jan. 10). Following the Kent State game, the Eagles will play seven of its final 11 regular season tilts in Ypsilanti.

STRUGGLES AT THE STRIPE: The Eagles struggled mightily at the free throw line in the 70-48 loss at Miami University, Jan. 20. EMU was a combined 5-for-17 for the contest for just a 29.4 percent clip, conversely the RedHawks were 20-of-24 from the charity stripe.
   The team's free throw woes marked just the third time since the 2004-05 campaign that Eastern Michigan had shot less than 30.0 percent from the free throw line in a single game. EMU made just 1-of-6 attempts (16.7 percent) against Oakland University, Nov. 22, 2006, and was 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) at Youngstown State University, Dec. 11, 2004.

SURPASSING SINGLE-SEASON BESTS: Several Eagles have already surpassed their single-season bests with plenty of basketball still to be played. Senior India Hairston has notched new single-season highs in points (147), rebounds (112), assists (11), steals (21) and minutes played (533). Meanwhile classmate Chelsea Hite has new single-season standards in points (31), rebounds (31), blocks (5), and minutes played (124).

BOWLING GREEN ON THE HORIZON: The Jan. 27 contest marks the 61st meeting between the Bowling Green Falcons and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1976-1977 season. BGSU has dominated the all-time series, 46-14, including winning the last 10 meetings between the two schools. Last season, the Falcons captured a 70-54 victory at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio, Jan. 22, 2012.
   EMU's last victory in the series occurred Feb. 19, 2005, when the Eagle notched a 57-52 win at the Convocation Center.

MAC TITANS: When the Eagles and Falcons have tangled over the past 10 seasons, it has almost been a guarantee that one of the teams (if not both) is on top of the MAC standings. Sunday's game could extend a streak of 13 consecutive meetings featuring the league's divisional leader. The last time neither side was in first place was Jan. 27, 2004. Ironically, EMU and BGSU would next square off in the MAC Tournament title game, March 13, with the Eagles advancing to the NCAA Tournament after a 65-56 victory. BGSU has been in first place in 12 of those games with EMU holding down the divisional lead in five contests. Additionally, both teams have been first in their respective divisions four times (2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012).

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 53,9 points, while giving up 65.1. 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 (37.4 to 38.4).

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 28.1 points per game in the paint, 15.8 points off the bench, 16.0 points per game off turnovers, 11.1 second-chance points and 5.9 fast break points per game.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos