Women's Basketball Treks to Kalamazoo Wednesday Night

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Dealing with a heavy heart following the loss of a teammate, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns to the court Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Western Michigan University. Game time for the Mid-American Conference tilt is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside University Arena.
   The Eagles have won three consecutive contests and enter the game with a 10-7 (3-3 MAC) record after a 75-61 victory at Toledo, Jan. 25. The MAC West Division co-leading Broncos are 12-6 overall (5-2 MAC) following a 78-55 win at Kent State, Jan. 24.
Veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM) beginning at 6:50 p.m. Live video and statistics of the game can also be found on WMUBroncos.com.

BACK TO BASICS: Following an 0-3 start to MAC play, the Eagles have turned the page to roll off three consecutive wins to even the league record at 3-3. During the streak, EMU is posting 65.0 points per contest while allowing opponents just 50.3. Another factor has been the ability to get better percentage shots, as the Eagles are shooting 42.5 percent (76-of-179) from the field.
   The ultra-athletic Eagles have also forced 21 turnovers a game while snagging 15.3 steals. The 63 turnovers by the opposition have led to 75 points-off-turnovers or 38.5 percent of the EMU's offense.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL!: EMU leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding offense at 44.2 caroms per contest while also ranking third in rebounding margin at +2.6. Eastern is second in the league with an average of 15.7 offensive rebounds a game to go along with ranking third in defensive boards at 28.5.

EMU PLAYING WITH A HEAVY HEART: EMU women's basketball student-athlete Shannise Heady and fellow EMU student Jordan Hopkins died in an automobile accident on Hewitt Road north of Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti Township. The accident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25.
   EMU grief counselors met with and continue to provide support for the team, students, faculty and staff. The University is prepared to offer counseling and support to anyone who requests it. Please contact University Health Services at 734.487.1118.
   Heady transferred to EMU from Seton Hall University prior to the 2013-14 season and played in 22 games after missing the first four due to NCAA transfer rules. This season Heady played in 17 games, starting 10, averaging 7.9 points and 23.2 minutes per game.
   "Obviously this is one of our toughest days as a program and for the entire Eagle Nation as we mourn the loss of Shannise," said EMU Head Women's Basketball Coach Tory Verdi. "No words can describe the feelings right now as we are truly devastated to learn of her passing. Shannise was not only an inspiration to all of us, but she brought energy and liveliness to our team. She was a true joy to coach and has left an everlasting impression not only on me but the rest of our team as well. She will be missed greatly."
   "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Shannise and have tremendous empathy for the families," Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke added. "Our prayers for peace are with them. Shannise lit up the room with her personality and smile and will be missed in our locker room and the department."
   "This is a tragic loss," said Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jordan's and Shannise's families and friends at this difficult time."
   The athletic department plans on having a moment of silence in honor of Heady prior to the men's game Tuesday, Jan. 27, versus Ohio at the Convocation Center. Additionally, the EMU basketball teams will wear a patch on their jerseys to honor their fallen teammate.

ALL-TIME VERSUS WMU: Wednesday's contest marks the 77th meeting between the Western Michigan Broncos and Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1976-77 season. EMU leads the all-time series, 44-32, and has won 16 of the last 20 meetings. Last season, the teams split a pair of contests with each side winning on its home court.
   In the first meeting at the Convocation Center, the Eagles fended off the Broncos with an 83-77 victory, Jan. 15, 2014. Five Eagles reached double figures, led by 20 points from Cha Sweeney.
   WMU returned the favor with an 81-72 win in Kalamazoo despite a career-high 33 point effort by Sweeney, Feb. 26. EMU shot just 36.3 percent from the floor, while the Broncos shot at a 47.5 percent clip to grab the victory. The Eagles forced 18 WMU turnovers and swiped 13 steals, while Western was able to force only seven EMU miscues and five steals.

SWEENEY'S BIG WEEK: Sophomore Cha Sweeney regained her 2014 MAC Freshman of the Year form in helping propel the Eagles to a 2-0 week with wins over Miami (56-38) and Toledo (75-61). Sweeney led the team in scoring in both contests with an average of 17.5 points per game while shooting 44.4 (12-of-27) from the floor. She also drilled seven treys, including tying her career high with five makes from long-range at UT.
   In 34 minutes versus Toledo, the Glass City native posted 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting while also grabbing three rebounds along with three assists and three steals. The win was just EMU's 10th all-time at Savage Arena and the first win against the Rockets since 2012.
   For her efforts, she was named the MAC West Division co-Player of the Week.

EMU'S DEFENSE CAUSES A FAILURE TO LAUNCH FOR TOLEDO: EMU limited Toledo's shooting to just 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, including 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from three-point land, and 19 turnovers in the 75-61 decision at Savage Arena, Jan. 24.
   EMU took full advantage of Toledo's miscues and translated them into a whopping 27 points to claim its second win in Lucas County since 2009. The Rockets entered the showdown averaging only 13.9 turnovers per game, the fourth-best total in the league. They were also hitting a league-high 38.5 percent from three-point range in conference games before clashing with the Eagles.
   UT had 36 possessions in the opening half, and scored on only 14 of them. Worse, the Rockets threw away 13 of those possessions — including four unforced turnovers — which led to 18 Eastern Michigan points.

GLASS CITY RETURNS: It is safe to say Cha Sweeney and teammate Sasha Dailey had memorable returns to their hometown in EMU's 14-point victory at Toledo, Jan. 24 . Sweeney scored 23 points and Dailey added 14 off the bench at Savage Arena, a little more than three miles away from their former high school.
SWEENEY COMING UP BIG IN THE SECOND HALF: Sophomore Cha Sweeney has been slow to start games for EMU, but has quickly found her rhythm in the second half of action. The Toledo, Ohio native has recorded 119 of her 244 total points in the second half so far this year and has reached double-digits in the final 20 minutes on six separate occasions. Sweeney poured in 18 second half points in the Green and White's victory over Cleveland State, Dec. 2.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its 10 victories this season, EMU is averaging 76.4 points while the opposition is posting just 57.0 points. In those games, opponents are shooting 34.2 percent from the field compared to 43.2 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 44.5 rebounds to just 39.0 for the opponents in the wins, while in setbacks the rebounding edge tracks in the opponents favor (EMU 43.9, OPP 45.4).

STOP THIEF!: Eastern Michigan has returned to its familiar form swiping the basketball in its last three contests. EMU racked up 17 steals as a team in the victory over the Falcons while adding 16 and 13 against the RedHawks and Rockets, respectively.

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.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 57 of the last 74 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 67.9 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 150-71 all-time mark.

BUFFALO ON THE HORIZON: Following the WMU contest, EMU returns home to host the University at Buffalo Saturday, Jan. 31. 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 Western Michigan University at 12 p.m. In addition, it will be a 'White Out' at the Convo with everyone encouraged to wear white with a free t-shirt distributed to the first 500 fans (400 men at men's game/100 women's game) through the turnstiles. King BMX Stunt Show riders will also preform at halftime, a bicycle act which features high-flying aerial stunts, such as back flip and tail whip combinations
   Saturday's contest marks the 21st meeting between the Bulls and Eagles, who first met during the 1993-94 season. EMU leads the series, 13-7, including winning 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools. The teams met only once during the 2013-14 regular season with UB claiming an 84-83 overtime decision at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

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Players Mentioned

Sasha Dailey

Shannise Heady

Cha Sweeney

Eastern Michigan Athletics