Women's Basketball Hosts Education Day on Friday Morning

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team opens the 2014-15 campaign with a non-conference tilt Friday, Nov. 14, versus Kent State University-Tuscarawas. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside the Convocation Center.
   The game is the first leg of a doubleheader with the EMU men's basketball team, which tangles with Saint Francis University (Ill.) at 1:30 p.m. The game will not be broadcast on either All-Access or WEMU.

ALL-TIME IN SEASON LID LIFTERS: The Nov. 14 contest against Kent State-Tuscarawas marks the start of Eastern Michigan University's 39th year of women's basketball, which began in 1976-77. The Eagles' first-ever collegiate contest since the school began offering scholarships was a 63-53 setback to the University of Michigan, Jan. 11, 1977.
   All-time the Eagles are 25-13 in season lid lifters, including winning 12 of their last 13 openers dating back to an 82-67 victory over Cornell University, Nov. 16, 2001, at the Convocation Center.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Located in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Kent State-Tuscarawas is part of the Kent State University's eight campus system. This season the Golden Eagles are 1-3 under first-year Head Coach Amanda Marino. KSUT dropped its season opener to Shawnee State, 80-31, before falling to OSU Newark, 63-48, and UC Clermont, 65-57. Most recently, Tuscarawas rolled past Pittsburgh-Titusville, 95-53, in the consolation game of the Penn State Allegheny Tournament.

ALL-TIME VERSUS KENT STATE-TUSCARAWAS: EMU has never faced the Golden Eagles. The Eagles are 17-2 all-time against non-NCAA Division I foes.
   EMU's average margin of victory is 64 points in the team's eight games against non-Division I opponents since the 2007-08 campaign. The Eagles are averaging 102.6 points per game compared to 38.6 ppg for the opposition.

CLASS IS IN SESSION: EMU will welcome over 2,500 students for the annual Education Day Friday, Nov. 15, in conjunction with the Eagles' game against Kent State-Tuscarawas. The goal is to get area children excited about college at an early age and give children an engaging, positive atmosphere to reinforce the learning going on at their school.

A NEW LOOK IN 2014-15: After losing four players following the 2013-14 campaign Head Coach Tory Verdi looked to bring in some new talent for the 2014-15 season. The Green and White roster features six freshmen and two transfers, while transfers Crystal Fulton and Brianna Puni will make their EMU debuts in December after sitting out in 2013-14. Not only will fans see new faces on the court but the bench will also feature two new assistant coaches in Mike Groulx and Carly Thibault.

YOUTH TO SHINE AGAIN IN 2014-15: Eastern Michigan will again be a very youthful team during the 2014-15 campaign with just two seniors on its roster. The Eagles return 54.7 percent of its offense from a season ago, while the team will need to step up its rebounding prowess with just 36.8 percent back.

THE KIDS CAN PLAY: The average 2014-15 EMU women's basketball player stands 5-feet-10 tall and is a sophomore. The youngest Eagle is Brittany Stowe, who turned 18, Aug. 29. Jamaica Bucknor is the oldest Eagle having turned 22, Aug. 15.

EMU NEEDS DOUBLE-OVERTIME FOR EXHIBITION VICTORY: EMU earned a hard-fought 98-95 double overtime victory over NCAA Division II nationally-ranked Wayne State University in its lone exhibition contest Monday, Nov. 10.
    Senior Jamaica Bucknor and Phillis Webb each notched double-doubles for the Green and White with Bucknor contributing 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Webb had 10 points and 13 boards. Sophomore Janay Morton tied Bucknor's team-high 25 points, while Cha Sweeney posted 22 points and a game-best seven steals and six assists.
    Four Eagles made their debut in the Green and White uniform as Sasha Dailey, Rachel Kehoe, Sera Ozelci and Micah Robinson each contributed to the EMU scoring effort against Wayne State.
   As a team, the Eagles scored 20 fastbreak points and notched 18 second chance points, while 27 came off of Warrior miscues. The Green and White swiped 18 balls and blocked eight WSU shots. The Eagles also spent quite a bit of time at the charity stripe, sinking 30-of-42 shots from the foul line.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 50 of the last 66 home games dating back to the 2008-09 season. 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 66.3 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 144-70 all-time mark.

ALLOWING 50 OR LESS: Eastern Michigan is 98-1 all time when allowing 50 points-or-less. Since 2003-04, the Green and White has accomplished the feat 54 times with 29 of those coming against Mid-American Conference foes.

EAGLES TABBED FIFTH IN MAC WEST: The Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the West Division according to the 2014-15 Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by select members of the media. Along with the preseason poll, EMU sophomore Cha Sweeney was named to the MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team.

MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD: Sophomore Cha Sweeney is joined by two former Rogers High School teammates – freshman guard Sasha Dailey and freshman forward Tori Easley. The two freshmen bring the total number of Rogers alumni to four with junior forward KaBria Walker returning to Eastern this season.

SPARTANS ON THE HORIZON: Following the KSUT game, Eastern Michigan will hit the road for the first time, traveling to Michigan State University Sunday, Nov. 16. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
   The all-time series has been dominated by Michigan State, winning 14 of the 15 meetings dating back to a 66-46 victory at Bowen Field House, Feb. 1, 1977. The last time the teams met was Nov. 15, 2012, in Ypsilanti, Mich. when MSU escaped with a 60-49 victory.
   EMU's lone win over MSU came 14 years ago, Dec. 3, 2000, when the then-Suzy Merchant led Eagles defeated the Spartans, 66-59, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.

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Players Mentioned

Jamaica Bucknor

Sasha Dailey

Tori Easley

Crystal Fulton

Rachel Kehoe

Janay Morton

Sera Ozelci

Brianna Puni

Micah Robinson

Cha Sweeney

KaBria Walker

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics