Eastern Looks to Get Back on Track Against Western

EASTERN LOOKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK VERSUS WESTERN: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team hosts Western Michigan University Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Convocation Center. Tip off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The game is the second part of a doubleheader at the Convo with the EMU men's team hosting Missouri State University as part of the 2013 Ramada WorldWide BracketBusters event.
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a mark of 6-19 (4-8 MAC) after a 56-34 road loss to Ball State University, Feb. 20. Meanwhile, Western Michigan is 9-16 (5-7 MAC) following a 77-53 home defeat of Central Michigan University, Feb. 20.

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BRONCOS: 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.

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 eight games, the Waterford, Mich. native has totaled 78 points (9.8 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).

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 had until Feb. 21, to purchase tickets to win the GMC Terrain. Finalists were contacted Friday, Feb. 22 and are encouraged to attend the game on Feb. 23 (but are not required to be in attendance).

OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, and was the acting head coach for most of the 2006-07 season when then-Head Coach Suzy Merchant was on maternity leave.
While serving as the acting head coach at EMU for a majority of the 2006-07 season, he guided the Eagles to a 16-13 overall record and a 10-6 finish in the MAC, good for second place in the West Division. Individually, senior Sarah VanMetre became the first women's basketball player in program history to be named Academic All-American, senior Patrice McKinney was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and freshman Alyssa Pittman was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.

CAGE AMONG THE MAC's BEST FRESHMAN SCORERS: Freshman Bianca Cage has found Mid-American Conference play to her liking. Through 12 games the Memphis, Tenn. native is averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game and a 40.5 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 (14.2), Buffalo's Mackenzie Loesing (13.3), Western Michigan's Marquisha Harris (12.1) and Ohio's Kiyanna Black (9.5).

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 25 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 23 times, while Natachia Wakins (23), Sara Stone (12), Miranda Tate (10), Amber Bogard (8), Olivia Fouty (6), Denaya Brazzle (5), Bianca Cage (5), Taylor Bird (5), Iesha Collins (3) and Chelsea Hite (2) have also started for the Green and White.

STRUGGLES IN MUNCIE: EMU managed just 34 points and shot 27.6 percent (16-of-58) for the contest as Ball State notched a 56-34 victory, Feb. 20. The Eagles' 34 point output was the lowest in the program's 37-year history, surpassing the previous mark of 40 set earlier this season against Toledo, Jan. 13.
Thankfully, the EMU defense was up for the challenge as BSU shot 27.7 percent (18-65) to go along with18 turnovers.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO CLEVELAND: With four 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.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON THE HORIZON: The Feb. 28 contest marks the 39th meeting between the Northern Illinois Huskies and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1981-82 season. Eastern leads the overall series, 29-9, and has won 24 of the last 27 games over the Cardinal and Black. The Huskies' last victory in the series occurred Jan. 17, 2009, when NIU notched a 69-62 overtime victory in DeKalb.
In the first meeting earlier this season in Ypsilanti, Mich., Eastern Michigan held off a feisty Northern Illinois squad, 67-62, inside the Convocation Center, Jan. 31. The Eagles surrendered a substantial second-half advantage, but posted several critical defensive stops in the waning moments to hold on for the win.
EMU took a nine-point lead into halftime and increased that advantage to 18, but the Huskies used a 24-5 second-half run to erase that deficit and take a 57-56 lead with six minutes to play. NIU's comeback would not last, however, as deadly outside shooting from Bianca Cage and steady teamwork denied the visiting squad its first conference win of the season.
The win was a true team effort, as Desyree Thomas collected a game-high 11 assists to go along with eight points and five steals. Sara Stone turned in nine rebounds to tie her career high and Natachia Watkins gathered nine caroms as well.

AGAINST IN-STATE SCHOOLS: Eastern Michigan has had great success against other collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past 10 seasons. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Eagles are 44-18 (70.1 winning percentage) against in-state rivals.

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

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