Eagles and Roos to Tangle Saturday at Madonna University

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EAGLES AND ROOS TO TANGLE AT MADONNA UNIVERSITY: Off to its best start in nine seasons, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will square off against the University of Missouri-Kansas City Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Activities Center on the campus of Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. The game is scheduled to begin at noon. Admission to the game will be free.
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a perfect 5-0 record after cruising past Loyola University, 82-64, at the Gentile Center in Chicago, Ill. After dropping their first six contests, the Kangaroos come in riding a two-game winning streak following an 83-79 victory over Division III Maryville College, Dec. 4.
Madonna University, is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member, located approximately 25 miles from EMU's Ypsilanti campus.

"HOME GAME": Eastern Michigan will host UMKC Saturday, Dec. 7, but instead of the game taking place at the Convocation Center it will instead be played at the 1,000-seat Activities Center on the campus of Madonna University. The change was necessitated as EMU's home court will be occupied with the annual St. Joe's Holiday Ball.
This is not the first time EMU has been forced to relocate a home game. During the 2001-02 season, EMU played IPFW at Fenton High School in Fenton, Mich. The Eagles pulled out a 76-60 non-conference victory over the Mastodons.

DIRECTIONS TO MADONNA UNIVERSITY: The Activities Center - 36600 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48150

From the South West (Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor)
Take I-94 east to M-14 east to I-96 east. Immediately upon entering I-96 merge to the right and exit at Newburgh Rd./Levan Rd. Proceed straight on the I-96 service drive for ½ mile to Levan Rd. Turn left on Levan and follow to the second driveway on the left. That is the gym parking lot. Park at the south end (toward I-96) and the door facing I-96 is the main entrance to the gym.

From Detroit
Take I-96 West to exit 173B, Levan Road. Turn right on Levan and turn into the second driveway on the left. That is the gym parking lot. Park at the south end (toward I-96) and the door facing I-96 is the main entrance to the gym.

From the North/East suburbs
Take I-696 West to I-275 south to I-96 east (exit is in the left two lines approximately 1 mile south of 6 mile). Immediately upon entering I-96 merge to the right and exit at Newburgh Rd./Levan Rd. Proceed straight on the I-96 service drive for ½ mile to Levan Rd. Turn left on Levan and follow to the second driveway on the left. That is the gym parking lot. Park at the south end (toward I-96) and the door facing I-96 is the main entrance to the gym.

From the South (Ohio)
Take I-275 north to I-96 east. Stay in the right lane on I-96 and exit at the first ramp, Newburgh Rd./Levan Rd. Proceed straight on the I-96 service drive for ½ mile to Levan Rd. Turn left on Levan and follow to the second driveway on the left. That is the gym parking lot. Park at the south end (toward I-96) and the door facing I-96 is the main entrance to the gym.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Despite it being just five games into the 2013-14 season, Eastern Michigan's turnaround from just one season ago is monumental. The Eagles are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign and have scored 468 points (96.3 ppg). Nationally, the Eagles rank second in scoring trailing only the University of Oregon (98.3 ppg).
At this point last year, EMU sported a 1-4 record with an average of 54.2 points a game. The offensively-challenged squad did not score its 465 point until the ninth game of the year.

EMU OFF TO BEST START TO A SEASON SINCE 2004-05: The Eagles' 5-0 start to the 2013-14 campaign is the best by an EMU squad since the 2004-05 campaign opened the year with a program-best eight consecutive wins.

ALL-TIME AGAINST UMKC: The schools are meeting for the fifth time with EMU holding a 3-1 edge in the series. Last season EMU escaped with a 74-69 decision at the Swinney Recreation Center, Dec. 15, 2012. The EMU offense was paced by Amber Bogard and Natachia Watkins who posted 21 points apiece.

THOMAS SHINES IN CHICAGO: Senior guard Desyree Thomas had one of the best games of her career in the Eagles' 18-point victory at Loyola, Dec. 4. The Waterford, Mich. native picked up her second career double-double, posting 15 points and 11 assists in 30 minutes of work. To add to the impressive feat, the Waterford, Mich. native had zero turnovers and she also equalled her career-high with seven steals.
The 11 helpers are tied for the 11th most in a single game in the program's 38-year history. Betsy Brown holds the record set in 1995 with 14 dimes against Chicago State.

ASSIST-TO-TURNOVER RATIO: EMU has dished out 35 more assists (104) than turnovers (69). Meanwhile, opponents have committed 35 more turnovers (119) than assists (84).

SPEEDING UP THE TEMPO: The Eagles have averaged 88.2 possessions a contest during the 2013-14 campaign with an average length of a time controlling the ball of 12 seconds.
The national average for possessions per game was 65.9 last season.

LEADING THE MAC: The Eagles are currently sitting atop the Mid-American Conference in 12 categories as well as ranking in the top-five in five others. The Green and White lead the league in scoring offense (93.6), scoring margin (+34.2), field goal percentage (43.5), field goal percentage defense (32.3), three-point field goal percentage defense (.230), offensive rebounds (56.2), rebounding margin (+12.4), assists (20.8), steals (13.8), turnover margin (+10.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), offensive rebounds (19.4) and defensive rebounds (36.8)
Individually, Desyree Thomas tops the MAC in steals (3.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (7.3). Junior transfer Jamaica Bucknor leads the conference, averaging 4.2 offensive rebounds per contest. Cha Sweeney and Olivia Fouty rank in the top-10 in scoring as Sweeney is sixth in the league, averaging 15.4 points per game and Fouty is 10th with 14.6 points per game.

YOUTH BEING SERVED: Heading into the 2013-14 campaign, Head Coach Tory Verdi knew he would be leading a very young team this season as the Eagles welcomed eight newcomers to the roster. In five games, the newcomers have combined for 57.6 percent (270 points) of the squad's offense.

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 40.8 points per game in the paint, 39.2 points off the bench, 27.8 points per game off turnovers, 17.6 second-chance points and 26.6 fast break points per game.

BENCH PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT: Even though the season is only five games old, the Eastern Michigan bench has shown that it can provide a spark. Versus Madonna (Nov. 9), the bench poured in 42 of the team's 101 points while against Butler (Nov. 13) the reserves notched 21 of the team's 81 points. The trend continued at Cleveland State (Nov. 17), when the reserves tossed in 41 points. EMU reached is season-best with a 55 point showing in the record-setting win over Marygrove (Nov. 30)
Last year, the EMU bench averaged just 15.6 points per contest.

ROAD LEGS: Eastern Michigan will not return to the friendly confines on the Convocation Center again until Dec. 31 against Lawrence Tech.

ON THE HORIZON: Following the game against UMKC, Eastern Michigan will renew the "Battle of Washtenaw County" as the team makes the short trek Wednesday, Dec. 11, to the University of Michigan. Game time is schedule for 7 p.m. at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 12-8, but the Eagles have won three of the last four meetings.
Wednesday's contest will mark the first time the teams have played in Ann Arbor since the 2004-05 season, when EMU escaped to a 69-60 decision. In that contest, Ryan Coleman scored 19 points and Nikki Knapp chipped in 14 as the team equalled the best start in the program's history.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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