Eagles and Ramblers Lift the Lid on 2013

EAGLES AND RAMBLERS LIFT THE LID ON 2013: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team closes out the non-conference portion of the schedule Saturday, Jan. 5, against Loyola University Chicago. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a mark of 2-10 after dropping a heartbreaking 61-58 decision to the University of Mississippi in the consolation game of the Tulane University/Doubletree Classic, Dec. 30. The Ramblers are 4-8 on the season, and come in reeling following a 72-69 setback to Eastern Illinois University, Jan. 2, in Chicago, Ill.

A SPOTLIGHT ON LOYOLA: The schools are meeting for the seventh time with EMU holding a 5-1 edge in the series. Last year, the Eagles downed the Ramblers, 63-55, at North Park Gymnasium, Nov. 20, 2011. Paige Redditt recorded her fifth career double-double, scoring 17 points and snagging a career-high 18 rebounds while dishing out three assists. Tavelyn James led the Eagles offensively with 20 points, and Desyree Thomas contributed with nine points and seven assists.
Patrice King led Loyola with 24 points, while Monica Albano chipped in with 16.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!: The game versus the Ramblers marks the Eagles' first game during the 2013 calendar year. Eastern Michigan is 16-20 all-time in the team's first game in the month of January, including winning seven of the last nine contests dating back to the 2003-04 campaign.

EMU VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE: Eastern is 47-34 all-time versus the Indianapolis, Ind. based conference, having played against all nine member institutions. EMU has faced the University of Detroit Mercy more times than any other league member, with the Titans holding a 14-8 lead in the series.

BIRD TAKES FLIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS: Senior Taylor Bird found the city of New Orleans to her liking, as she posted the best two scoring performances of her EMU career at the Doubletree Classic, Dec. 29-30. Bird notched 10 points and four assists against Tulane and followed it up with a career-best 11 points versus Ole Miss.
For the tournament, the Lawrence, Kan. native was 8-of-20 from the floor and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. She also tallied a combined six assists, six rebounds and four steals.

WATKINS TAKING IN THE “BIG EASY”: Junior Natachia Watkins led the Eagles with a near double-double at the Tulane Doubletree Classic, Dec 29-30, in New Orleans. The Cleveland, Ohio native averaged 13.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 steals per contest against Tulane and Ole Miss. Versus the Green Wave, Watkins notched her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 caroms (nine offensive) to go along with four assists and four steals. She followed it up with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in the setback to the Rebels.

NO CUPCAKES: This year's non-conference schedule has left little room for error. Just ask EMU Head Coach Tory Verdi. Going into the season EMU's non-conference strength of schedule was projected to be one of the hardest in the Mid-American Conference if not the country. According to RealTimeRPI.com, EMU has the 28th toughest schedule in the nation. EMU's first 12 opponents have a combined record of 100-51 (66.2 winning percentage) with five schools having already won 10 games (Michigan State, Boston U., Wyoming, Michigan and Tulane).

Fouty Lost for Remainder of Season with Knee Injury: Junior forward Olivia Fouty has been lost for the remainder of the 2012-13 season after suffering a right knee injury, Head Coach Tory Verdi announced Jan. 2. Fouty had surgery to repair the injury in mid-December and will seek a medical redshirt waiver.
The Toledo, Ohio native played in the team's first seven contests before suffering the injury in practice prior to the South Dakota State contest. Fouty is currently tops on the squad in rebounding with 8.3 caroms per contest and second with 10.7 points per game.

Miranda Tate Dismissed From the EMU Basketball Squad: EMU Head Coach Tory Verdi announced Jan. 2 the dismissal of senior guard Miranda Tate from the program, effective immediately.
“Miranda Tate has been dismissed from the women's basketball team due to violating team policy,” said Verdi.
The 5-foot-11 guard from Bolingbrook High School played in 12 games for EMU this season. She led the team in scoring (12.9 ppg) and was sixth in rebounding (3.5 rpg).

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its two victories this season, EMU has scored 62.0 points while the opposition has posted 58.0 points. In those games, opponents shot 37.1 percent from the field compared to 37.6 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles have only posted 56.1 points, while giving up 64.5. Another factor in the Eagles' success was the ability to control the glass. EMU has grabbed 40.0 rebounds in the wins, while in setbacks EMU has been out-rebounded by its opponents (38.5 to 38.6).

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 37 of the last 48 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 131-56 all-time mark.

SHOOTING BLUES: The Eagles have struggled mightily shooting the basketball in 2012-13. The Green and White has averaged just a 35.6 percent clip from the floor and shot less than 30.0 percent against Northeastern (29.8) and Michigan (27.0). EMU's best performance occurred at South Dakota State, when the squad made 25-of-52 shots for a 48.1 percentage.
The three-point shot has also been an issue with EMU making more than the opposition in just two contests (Northeastern and Harvard).

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 28.5 points per game in the paint, 13.6 points off the bench, 15.2 points per game off turnovers, 11.8 second-chance points and 5.2 fast break points per game.

EMU IN MAC OPENERS: Eastern Michigan opens its 32nd Mid-American Conference slate Thursday night, Jan. 10, versus the Broncos of Western Michigan University. The game marks just the third time that the two program's have squared off in a conference lid-lifter and the first since the 1991-92 campaign. EMU notched a 82-38 victory at venerable Bowen Field House, Jan. 8, 1992, while WMU turned in a 72-62 victory in Kalamazoo, Dec. 13, 1986.
The Green and White are 14-17 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won eight of the last 10 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2002-03 season, including a 79-63 win over Northern Illinois University, Jan. 5, 2011.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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