Women's Basketball Remains on the Road Saturday at Akron

AKRON, Ohio -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team remains on the road Saturday, Jan. 10, for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional showdown against the University of Akron. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 7-5 (0-1 MAC) record, after a 54-48 overtime setback at Northern Illinois University, Jan. 3. The Zips, who started the year with 10 consecutive wins, are 11-2 (1-1 MAC) following a 67-59 victory over Bowling Green State University, Jan. 7.
   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 free on Eagle All-Access (emueagles.com/watch) beginning at 1:50 p.m. with Greg Steiner and Adam Kuffner on the call.

ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: The Jan. 10 contest against the University of Akron marks the 33rd meeting between the Zips and Eagles, who first met during the 1981-82 season. UA leads the all-time series, 18-14. The teams met only once during the 2013-14 regular season with the Zips cruising to a 101-79 decision at the EMU Convocation Center, Jan. 26.
   Rachel Tecca broke the Convocation Center record for a single-game point total with 43 on the day, which was the most points scored by any women's basketball player in Ypsilanti since Tavelyn James netted 40 points, Feb. 11, 2012. Tecca also holds the Convocation Center record for rebounds as she pulled down 22.

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.

REBOUND THAT BASKETBALL!: EMU leads the Mid-American Conference in rebounding offense at 47.3 caroms per contest while ranking second in rebounding margin at +4.5. The Green and White are top in the league with an average of 30.9 defensive rebounds a contest to go along with 16.4 offensive boards.

BACK-TO-BACK OVERTIME GAMES A RARITY: For just the third time in the past 35 years, EMU played in back-to-back overtime contests. EMU outlasted Detroit, 75-71, Dec. 30, and then dropped a 54-48 decision at Northern Illinois, Jan. 3.
   The last time the oddity occurred was during the 2011-12 season when the Eagles fell at Michigan State, 60-59, Dec. 3, and then lost 70-68 to a UMKC, Dec. 9, in the Convocation Center. The only other occurrence was in 1980 as the Eagles defeated both Pittsburgh and Northern Michigan in back-to-back overtime games.

OFFENSIVE WOES IN DEKALB: The rims of Northern Illinois's Convocation Center were not kind to the Eagles in the 54-48 overtime setback to the Huskies, Jan. 3. EMU shot just 25.0 percent (17-of-68) for the game as the Eagles dished out just one assist in the setback.
   The home-standing Huskies were not much more proficient offensively, as they shot just 26.2 percent, including going 1-for-17 from beyond the three-point line. However, NIU made 21-of-25 tries from the free throw stripe, including going a perfect 8-of-8 in the extra frame.

STILL LOOKING FOR THE FIRST ROAD WIN: Eastern Michigan is still looking for its first true road win of the season, having dropped tight contests at Michigan State, Nov. 16, Texas Pan American, Nov. 22, Oral Roberts, Dec. 6, and Northern Illinois, Jan. 3. The Eagles have posted two wins away from Ypsilanti, knocking off Cal State Fullerton and Weber State as part of the Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces, N.M., Nov. 28-29.

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 89 of her 183 total points in the second half so far this year and has reached double-digits in the final 20 minutes on four separate occasions. Sweeney poured in 18 second half points in the Green and White's victory over Cleveland State, Dec. 2.

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 12 games.

OHIO ON THE HORIZON: After two-straight road games to open Mid-American Conference play, the Eagles return home to host Ohio University Wednesday, Jan. 14. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. 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 team's 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.

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Players Mentioned

Cha Sweeney

Eastern Michigan Athletics