Battle of Washtenaw County Set for Wednesday in Ann Arbor

BATTLE OF WASHTENAW COUNTY SET FOR WEDNESDAY IN ANN ARBOR: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will put its unblemished 6-0 record on the line Wednesday, Dec. 11, against the University of Michigan. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The "Battle of Washtenaw County" makes the shift to Ann Arbor following three consecutive contests at the EMU Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 6-0 record after outlasting UMKC, 75-66, in a "home" game that took place at the Madonna University Activities Center in Livonia, Mich., Dec. 7. Meanwhile, Michigan is 6-3 on the year following a 73-53 victory at the University of Virginia. The Wolverines' last home game was Nov. 20, when they knocked off Pittsburgh, 83-75.
Veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM) beginning at 6:50 p.m. Live video of the game can also be found on MGoBlue.com.

STREAKING!: Eastern Michigan will look to continue its best start to a season since 2004-05 when the Eagles rolled off eight consecutive victories to begin the year. Coincidently, the squad's seventh win that year was a 69-60 decision over Michigan at then-Crisler Arena, Dec. 8.
The six-game winning streak is the Eagles' longest since posting a nine-gamer during the 2011-12 campaign. Additionally, EMU's six-game streak is currently tied for the ninth-longest in program history.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Despite it being just six games into the 2013-14 season, Eastern Michigan's turnaround from just one season ago is monumental. The Eagles are off to a 6-0 start for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign and have scored 543 points (90.5 ppg). Nationally, the Eagles rank fifth in scoring trailing Baylor University (102.8 ppg).
At this point last year, EMU sported a 1-5 record with an average of 55.0 points a game. The offensively-challenged squad did not score its 550th point until the 10th game of the year.

THREES APLENTY: The Eagles are on a torrid pace from the outside this season. EMU has already posted 171 three-points attempts in 2013-14, making 53 of them. The Green and White tossed out a season-high 37 three-point tries against UMKC, Dec. 7, the second-most in program history. EMU is on pace for 855 attempts, which would shatter the single-season record of 630 set during the 1999-2000 campaign.

ALL-TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN: 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. Michigan was led by Tabitha Poole with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

THE LAST TIME WE MET: Despite victories in the previous three contests between the two Washtenaw County universities, Eastern Michigan fell, 55-43, to Michigan, Dec. 11, 2012, at the Convocation Center. The Eagles outscored the Wolverines, 30-18, in the paint and scored 21 points off turnovers. Although the Green and White's strong defensive effort resulted in 18 Michigan turnovers, the Wolverines shot 39.6 percent from the floor, while Eastern could only muster a 27.0 shooting percentage. The visiting squad in maize shot 7-of-22 from three for the contest while the home squad in white shot 2-of-20 from the outside.
India Hairston led EMU in scoring with 16 points, and Miranda Tate nearly notched a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Bianca Cage also added her then career-high six points off the bench.
Michigan had three players in double digits, led by Kate Thompson who scored a game-high 17 points with the help of five three-pointers. Sam Arnold and Nya Jordan followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 37.7 points per game in the paint, 37.0 points off the bench, 26.7 points per game off turnovers, 16.5 second-chance points and 23.7 fast break points per game.

VERDI VERSUS THE BIG TEN: For the third time since Head Coach Tory Verdi's arrival, the Eagles will take on a team from the Big Ten Conference. EMU is 12-38 all-time versus the Park Ridge, Ill. based conference, but the Green and White are 6-10 against Big Ten foes since the 2000-01 campaign. During that span, Eastern Michigan has posted wins over Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Northwestern, with losses coming against Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, MSU and OSU.

LEADING THE MAC: The Eagles are currently sitting atop the Mid-American Conference in nine categories as well as ranking in the top-five in eight others. The Green and White lead the league in scoring offense (90.5), scoring margin (+30.0), field goal percentage defense (33.1), rebounding offense (53.5), steals (12.2), turnover margin (+9.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4), offensive rebounds (18.0) and defensive rebounds (35.5)
Individually, Desyree Thomas is second in the MAC in steals (3.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5.8) while ranking third in field goal percentage (55.9). Junior transfer Jamaica Bucknor is second in the conference, averaging 3.5 offensive rebounds per contest. Meanwhile, Janay Morton, Desyree Thomas and Olivia Fouty rank in the top-12 in scoring.

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 six games, the newcomers have combined for 57.2 percent (311 points) of the squad's offense.

BENCH PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT: Even though the season is only six 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.

ASSIST-TO-TURNOVER RATIO: EMU has dished out 33 more assists (117) than turnovers (84). Meanwhile, opponents have committed 43 more turnovers (142) than assists (99).

"HOME GAME": Eastern Michigan hosted UMKC Saturday, Dec. 7, but instead of the game taking place at the Convocation Center, it instead was played at the 1,000-seat Activities Center on the campus of Madonna University. The change was necessitated as EMU's home court was occupied by the annual St. Joe's Holiday Ball.
This was 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.

EMU HONORED BY COLLEGIATE GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT: For the second consecutive season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team has the top recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference according to the Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. Olson's site, which is one of the top sources for women's basketball recruiting in the nation, has EMU ranked as the 56th-best class.
EMU was the lone MAC institution represented inside Olson's top-70 ranked teams. The Eagles ranked ahead of LSU (57), Syracuse (58), Kansas State (63), Rutgers (64), Arizona State (66) and Washington (67).
Last year, EMU boasted the 65th-best class in the nation according to the website.

ON THE HORIZON: Following the game at Michigan, Eastern Michigan will remain on the road with a trip to the University of Detroit Mercy, Dec. 15. Game time is set for noon at historic Calihan Hall in Detroit, Mich. The game will also be televised on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 900.
The Eagles and Titans face off for the 23rd time in the program's history with Detroit holding a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series. Sunday's meeting will mark the eighth consecutive season in which the schools have squared off on the hardwood. UDM opened the series with nine consecutive victories before EMU rolled off five wins between 1989 and 1999.
Last season in Ypsilanti, the Eagles fought hard, but eventually fell to the Titans, 61-54, Nov. 18, 2012, at the Convocation Center. The Eagles held just one lead in the game after opening with the first bucket.
The Eagles had three in double-figures for scoring with Natachia Watkins leading the way with 15 points. Miranda Tate posted 11 points, while Desyree Thomas added 10 of her own. On the boards, Olivia Fouty posted nine rebounds. As a team, the Eagles shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the floor and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc.
Shareta Brown led all scorers with 34 points, shooting 13-of-21 (61.9 percent). As a team, Detroit shot 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the floor en route to their 61-54 win.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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