EMU Returns to Divisional Action Wednesday at Ball State

Listen to the Game via All-Access (FREE).

BATTLE OF THE BIRDS IN MUNCIE: Looking to re-group following a 79-63 setback Saturday afternoon to the University at Buffalo, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team makes the 242-mile trek to Muncie, Ind. Wednesday, Feb. 20, for a Mid-American Conference West Division tilt versus Ball State University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at John E. Worthen Arena.
The Eagles enter the game with a mark of 6-18 (4-7 MAC) after a 79-63 home loss to the University at Buffalo, Feb. 16. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 11-13 (8-3 MAC) following a 64-52 road defeat at the University of Akron, Feb. 16.

FINDING THE GAME ON YOUR RADIO DIAL: With the EMU men's basketball team on the road Wednesday, the women's contest will only be broadcast on Eagle All-Access rather than WEMU (89.1 FM). Greg Steiner will have the call of the free broadcast beginning at 6:50 p.m. on EMUEagles.com/showcase.

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CARDINALS: The Feb. 20 contest marks the 65th meeting between the Cardinals and Eagles, who first played during the 1979-80 season. Eastern Michigan leads the series, 36-29, but BSU got the better of EMU with a 56-41 victory in the team's first meeting this season at the Convocation Center, Feb. 3.
The Eagles played solidly on the glass particularly in the offensive zone, but could not generate enough offense to post the win. EMU led by as many as eight points in the first stanza and took a 20-18 lead into halftime, but the Cardinals ramped up their offense in the second half with 38 points to run away with their fifth-straight victory. Senior India Hairston recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, BSU's Nathalie Fontaine had 14 points and hauled in 10 boards for a double-double.

THOMAS BECOMING AN OFFENSIVE THREAT: Mostly known for her defensive and passing ability, junior Desyree Thomas has become more a part of the Eagles' offensive arsenal. Over the past seven games, the Waterford, Mich. native has totaled 74 points (10.6 points per game), including a career-best 14 point output at Akron, Feb. 6.
In the team's first 17 contests, Thomas totaled just 59 points (3.5 ppg).

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL: The Eagles have been hitting the glass hard over the past three contests, out-rebounding opponents by 10 caroms a contest (40.0 to 30.0). At Akron, Feb. 6, EMU was +17 in the rebounding category (41 to 24) while hauling down 16 more boards than Buffalo (47 to 31), Feb. 16.

STILL SEARCHING FOR THAT RIGHT COMBO: Head Coach Tory Verdi has had to tinker with the starting lineup this season to try and get the Eagles back on track. Through 24 games, the Eagles have utilized 10 different starting combinations. Senior India Hairston has been the common denominator in all the games, as the only EMU student-athlete to start every contest. Desyree Thomas has started 22 times, while Natachia Wakins (22), Sara Stone (11), Miranda Tate (10), Amber Bogard (8), Olivia Fouty (6), Denaya Brazzle (5), Bianca Cage (5), Taylor Bird (4), Iesha Collins (3) and Chelsea Hite (2) have also started for the Green and White.

CAGE HEATING UP: Freshman Bianca Cage has found Mid-American Conference play to her liking. Through 11 games the Memphis, Tenn. native is averaging a team-best 12.6 points per game and a 41.7 percent shooting clip. She is one of only five freshmen to average double figure points in MAC-only contests, joining Ball State's Nathalie Fontaine (14.0), Buffalo's Mackenzie Loesing (13.5), Western Michigan's Marquisha Harris (12.8) and Ohio's Kiyanna Black (10.2).

TIME CHANGE FOR SATURDAY VERSUS WMU: The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics has announced a change to the game times for the Saturday, Feb. 23, basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center. The men's team will tipoff the doubleheader at noon against Missouri State University followed by the women's team playing Western Michigan University at 2:30 p.m.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO CLEVELAND: With five games remaining in the regular season, the Eagles would currently be the ninth-seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament, March 9-16. For a complete look at the tournament picture, turn to page 13 of these notes.

EMU ATHLETICS AND LAFONTAINE PREPARE TO GIVE AWAY CAR: On Feb. 23, one lucky fan will win a GMC Terrain compliments of Eastern Michigan University, LaFontaine Buick GMC of Ann Arbor and Pakmode Media + Marketing. The promotion, “Win This Car” kicked off during football season when fans were given the chance to purchase discounted $5 tickets online at EMUTix.com by using promo code: WINCAR. On top of getting half off tickets, fans are automatically entered to win the Terrain by using the promo code. There is no maximum on the number of tickets each fan can purchase. The winner will win the Terrain with approximately 11,000 miles on it without the current promotional green car wrap on it.
Fans will have until Feb. 21, to purchase tickets to win the GMC Terrain. Finalists will be contacted Friday, Feb. 22 and will be encouraged to attend the game on Feb. 23 (but are not required to be in attendance).

WESTERN MICHIGAN ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 23 contest marks the 73rd meeting between the Western Michigan Broncos and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1976-77 season. EMU leads the all-time series, 42-30, and has won 14 of the last 16 meetings. Eastern has won the last four meetings at the Convocation Center dating back to the 2008-09 campaign.
In the first meeting earlier this season in Kalamazoo, Mich., Eastern Michigan notched a 56-52 victory over Western Michigan at University Arena, Jan. 10. Bianca Cage scored a career-high 25 points, all coming in the second half, to lead the Eagles. The freshman guard scored 25 of the team's final 33 points in the win. Cage finished 10-of-16 shooting from the floor including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its six victories this season, EMU has scored 62.5 points while the opposition has posted 55.3 points. In those games, opponents shot 39.0 percent from the field compared to 41.5 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles have only posted 54.8 points, while giving up 66.1. Another factor in the Eagles' success was the ability to control the glass. EMU has grabbed 36.2 rebounds in the wins, while in setbacks EMU has been out-rebounded by its opponents (37.8 to 37.8).

A LOOK INSIDE THE SPECIALTY STATS: The Eagles are averaging 29.6 points per game in the paint, 16.2 points off the bench, 16.4 points per game off turnovers, 11.9 second-chance points and 6.2 fast break points per game.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 39 of the last 55 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 68.6 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 133-61 all-time mark.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos