Women's Hoops Returns Home Wednesday to Host Ohio

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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- After two-straight road games to open Mid-American Conference play, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns home to host Ohio University Wednesday, Jan. 14. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 7-6 (0-2 MAC) record, after a 65-48 loss at the University of Akron, Jan. 10. Meanwhile, the Bobcats are 11-3 (2-1 MAC) following a 65-58 victory over the University of Toledo, Jan. 10.
   With the EMU men's basketball team also in action that day, the game will not be broadcast on WEMU (89.1 FM). Instead, fans can catch the game for on Eagle All-Access (emueagles.com/watch) beginning at 6:50 p.m. with Greg Steiner on the call.

ALL-TIME VERSUS OHIO: Wednesday's contest marks the 55th meeting between the Ohio Bobcats and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. Ohio leads the series, 30-24, with EMU posting a 68-55 victory in the only meeting last season back in Athens, Ohio, Jan. 9, 2014.
   EMU is currently riding a program-best five-game winning streak in the series. In the Jan. 27, 2010, contest that began the streak, the Eagles had to rally back from a 10-point deficit to escape with a 56-53 victory in Athens.

THREE-GAME HOMESTAND: EMU opens its longest homestand of the year with three-straight contests at home. Surprisingly, the Eagles have yet to play back-to-back games at home this season.

TWICE VERSUS THE BOBCATS: Wednesday's game will be the first of two between EMU and Ohio during the regular season, as EMU will trek to Athens Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Eagles and Bobcats have not met twice in the same season since 2007-08 when the teams played at Ohio before reuniting in Cleveland at the MAC Tournament.
   The last time each side received a home game in the same year was the 1996-97 campaign with the 'Cats taking both meetings that season. Ohio won 83-49 at Bowen Field House, Jan. 15, before following it up with a 81-68 decision back in Athens, Ohio, Feb. 11.

EASTERN LOOKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK: Eastern Michigan's 0-2 start to the Mid-American Conference schedule marks the team's slowest start to a league schedule since the 2008-09 campaign. That season the Eagles started 0-9 en route to a 4-12 record in MAC play.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE: A total of 14 players have seen court time in EMU's games this season. Ten of those 14 players are averaging 10 minutes or more. Sophomore Cha Sweeney leads the way with 29.8 minutes per outing.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL!: EMU leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding offense at 46.9 caroms per contest while ranking second in rebounding margin at +4.9. The Green and White are top in the league with an average of 30.2 defensive rebounds a contest to go along with 16.7 offensive boards.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its seven victories this season, EMU is averaging 81.3 points while the opposition is posting just 59.9 points. In those games, opponents are shooting 34.3 percent from the field compared to 43.5 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles are only scoring 57.7 points, while giving up 68.8. Another factor in the Eagles' success has been the ability to control the glass. EMU is grabbing 48.3 rebounds to just 39.1 for the opponents in the wins, while in setbacks the rebounding margin is even at 45.3 caroms.

TRIFECTA, YOU BET YA: The three-point shot has been a key to the Eagles' offense this season. As a team, EMU is ranked ninth in the MAC with a shooting percentage of 27.0 (53-for-196) from beyond the arc. On the other side, the Eagles' defense has done a good job defending the long ball as Eastern Michigan has limited its opposition to just 28.9 percent (86-for-298) shooting from three-point land. EMU's perimeter defense was at its best versus Weber State, Nov. 29, when it limited the Wildcats to no three-pointers.

OZELCI MAKES A SPLASH AT AKRON: Junior Sera Ozelci had a career day on the hardwood with 11 points, including three treys off the bench, against Akron, Jan. 10. The 11 points nearly equaled her combined 17 points in her previous 11 contests. Additionally, the 19 minutes and the four field goals made were also career-highs.

ZIPPING IN AKRON: Senior Brianna Puni was the lone starter to notch double-digit scoring with 10 points in the setback at Akron, Jan. 10. Puni was also extremely active on the defensive end, swiping a career-best five steals to go along with five rebounds.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE: The Eastern Michigan defense has held three opponents to less than a 30.0 percent field goal percentage this season. The most recent occurrence came Jan. 3 in the MAC opener at Northern Illinois, when the Eagles limited the Huskies to a 26.2 percent clip in the overtime setback. EMU held Kent State-Tuscarawas to a season-low 22.8 percent in the season-opener while Weber State managed a 23.0 percent clip.
   Furthermore, seven of EMU's opponents have made less than four three-point field goals in a game this season.

BOWLING GREEN ON THE HORIZON: Following the Ohio contest, EMU remains home to host Bowling Green State University Saturday, Jan. 17, 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 Northern Illinois University at noon.
   Saturday's contest marks the 64th meeting between the Bowling Green Falcons and the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first met during the 1976-1977 season. BGSU has dominated the all-time series, 49-14, including winning the last 13 meetings between the two schools. Last season, the Falcons captured a 71-57 victory at the Stroh Center, Jan. 23, 2014, and added a 61-56 win at the Convocation Center, Feb. 15, 2014.
   EMU's last victory in the series occurred Feb. 19, 2005, when the Eagles notched a 57-52 win in Ypsilanti.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 55 of the last 71 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 67.8 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 148-70 all-time mark.

STARTER STABILITY: EMU is still looking for some continuity in its starting five, as the Eagles have rolled out seven different starting lineups. The lone constant in the rotation has been Cha Sweeney, who has started all 13 games.

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Players Mentioned

Sera Ozelci

Brianna Puni

Cha Sweeney

Eastern Michigan Athletics