Women's Hoops Hosts Bowling Green Saturday on Mascot Day

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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team continues its three-game homestand Saturday, Jan. 17, hosting Bowling Green State University. Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The game is the second leg of a doubleheader with the EMU men's basketball team, which tangles with Northern Illinois University at 12 p.m. In addition, it will be 'Mascot Day' at the Convo. Various mascots from around the area will invade to arena for fans to interact with on the concourse and in the stands.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 7-7 (0-3 MAC) record after an 82-59 loss to Ohio University, Jan. 14. Meanwhile, the Falcons are 8-7 (1-3 MAC) following a 65-59 victory over the Huskies of NIU, Jan. 14.
   Veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM) beginning at 2:20 p.m. Live video and statistics of the game can also be found on EMUEagles.com.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: 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.

THREE-GAME HOMESTAND: EMU is in the midst of its longest homestand of the year with three-straight at the Convocation Center. Surprisingly, Saturday's game marks the first time the Eagles have played back-to-back regular season games at home.
EASTERN LOOKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK: Eastern Michigan's 0-3 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 15 players have seen court time in EMU's games this season. Ten of those 15 players are averaging 10 minutes or more. Sophomore Cha Sweeney leads the way with 29.9 minutes per outing.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL!: EMU leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding offense at 46.1 caroms per contest while ranking third in rebounding margin at +3.8. The Green and White are top in the league with an average of 29.6 defensive rebounds a contest to go along with 16.4 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 57.9 points, while giving up 70.7. 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 treks in the opponents favor (EMU 43.9, OPP 45.4).

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 27.4 (60-for-219) 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 30.5 percent (99-for-325) 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.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 55 of the last 72 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 67.6 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 148-71 all-time mark.

MIAMI ON THE HORIZON: Following the BGSU contest, EMU remains home to host Miami University Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Convocation Center. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
   Wednesday's contest marks the 54th meeting between the RedHawks and Eagles, who first met during the 1979-80 season. Miami has dominated the all-time series, 38-15, but the Eagles have won three of the last five meetings. A year ago, Miami snuck out a 71-65 win in Ypsilanti, Feb. 2, 2014.
   With the 18-game league schedule, this will be the first of two meetings with the RedHawks this season. EMU will head to Oxford on Feb. 7 for a 2 p.m. game at Millett Hall.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Sera Ozelci

Brianna Puni

Cha Sweeney

Eastern Michigan Athletics