Eagles Trek West for the Air Force Classic

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Hot off a 77-69 win over Oral Roberts University at home, Dec. 1, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will kick off a five-game road trip with a stop in USAF Academy, Colo., Dec. 4-5. The Green and White will play two games in the Air Force Classic before jetting back to the east coast.
   EMU (3-1) will take on Air Force (0-6) and Abilene Christian (4-1). Eastern Michigan's bout with the tournament host takes place Friday, Dec. 4, at 4:30 p.m. (MT) while Saturday's tilt with ACU is set for 2 p.m. (MT).

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: This weekend's Air Force Tournament will pit the Eagles against the Air Force Academy and Abilene Christian for the first time in program history. While Eastern Michigan's 2014-15 schedule did not have any common opponents with Abilene Christian, the Eagles and Air Force Academy squared off against Weber State a year ago. The Falcons fell, 71-53, in their meeting with Weber State while the Eagles topped the Wildcats, 57-42.

EMU IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS: Dating back to the 2005-06 season, Eastern Michigan has played in a Rocky Mountain state seven times, owning a 3-4 mark. Under the direction of Head Coach Tory Verdi the Eagles boast a 2-1 mark. Verdi's 2012-13 squad fell to Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., while his team swept the Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. last season.

CATCHING THE EAGLES OUT WEST: Neither WEMU nor Eagle All-Access will be making the trip west to broadcast the games of the Air Force Classic, Dec. 4-5. Fans wanting to follow the Eagles can find live stats and links to the video broadcasts at GoAirForceFalcons.com.

AGAINST THE NATION'S MILITARY ACADEMIES: While Friday's meeting on the hardwood with Air Force will mark the first meeting with the Eagles, Eastern Michigan has battled a military school previously. During the 1995-96 campaign, the Green and White traveled to Annapolis, Md. for a tilt with the Naval Academy. The home team prevailed 79-69, sending the Eagles home with a loss.

VERDI VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST: During Head Coach Tory Verdi's tenure, the Eagles have met a Mountain West Conference opponent just once, ultimately finishing on the wrong side of a 73-50 decision. The lone meeting with an institution from the Colorado Springs, Colo. based conference came in Verdi's first season in charge of the Green and White when the Eagles fell to the University of Wyoming, Dec. 1, 2012.

EAGLES STAY PERFECT AT HOME: Fueled by junior Janay Morton and senior Chanise Baldwin the Eagles moved to 3-0 when playing inside the Convocation Center with a 77-69 win over Oral Roberts, Dec. 1. Morton scored a season-high 25 points in the game while adding four assists. Baldwin provided the Eagles with a strong presence in the paint, registering her first double-double of the season. The graduate transfer recorded a season-high 15 points to go along with a season-high 14 boards in the win.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Abilene Christian travels to the Air Force Tournament following a 71-65 midweek setback in Lubbock, Texas, to Texas Tech. The Wildcats' strong start to the 2015-16 campaign has been fueled by the balanced play of ACU's starting five. Like the Eagles, the Wildcats are one of 25 teams to return their starting lineup from a season ago.
   Alexis Mason leads the team in scoring, dropping 14.3 points per contest while Sydney Shelstead (13.0) and Whitney West (12.0) also average double figures scoring. West orchestrates the offense, while serving as a dangerous threat from deep alongside Mason. Together the duo has combined for 30 of ACU's 48 made three-pointers this season. Rounding out the starting five for the Wildcats are Lizzy and Suzzy Dimba. The Dimba sisters pace the Wildcats' defensive effort, as Lizzy Dimba leads the team in rebounds per game (8.5) while Suzzy Dimba has registered a team-highs in steals (21) and blocks (12).

FACING THE FALCONS: After an exhibition win over Adams State, Nov. 6, the Falcons have struggled to shoot the ball consistently, leaving them winless on the year. At 0-6, Air Force has not scored more than 48 points in a game this season, averaging just 38.3 points per contest. The Falcons scoring troubles have been compounded by 24.5 turnovers per game and a -7.7 turnover margin.    Cortney Porter has been a bright spot for the Falcons in the early goings, leading the team in several areas on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Porter is Air Force's leading scoring with 8.8 points per game to go along with a team-high 19 assists. On the defensive side, Porter leads the team with 11 steals.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST: In her last year of eligibility, senior Chanise Baldwin has saved her best play for her final season. She posted her best game as an Eagle against Oral Roberts, Dec. 1. The Pontiac, Mich. native registered her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Baldwin hit 6-of-7 shots from the field on her way to a season-high in points, while grabbing seven boards on each end of the floor. Using her 6-foot-3 frame inside, Baldwin helped the Eagles to a 34-8 scoring edge in the paint.

SWIPER KEEPS SWIPING: Through Eastern Michigan's first four contests, junior Janay Morton ranks ninth in the nation in steals per game, tallying 4.0 swipes per contest. The Brooklyn Park, Minn. product recorded a career-high seven steals against Texas Rio Grande Valley (Nov. 21) while adding three against Hillsdale (Nov. 17) and No. 11/12 Kentucky (Nov. 25). Morton trails the nation's leader, Eriel McKee (Morehead State) by just one.

A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan has positioned itself near the top of multiple statistical categories in the Mid-American Conference as of Dec. 1. Let's take a look...
   Player   Category   Rank   Number
   EMU   Turnovers Per Game   1st   11.0 (6th nationally)
   EMU   Turnover Margin    1st   +7.00 (18th nationally)
   EMU   Assist Turnover Ratio   1st   1.23 (29th nationally)
   EMU   Scoring Offense   2nd   79.0 (35th nationally)
   EMU   Steals Per Game   3rd   9.3 (106th nationally)
   EMU   Three-Point Field Goals Per Game    3rd   7.0 (71st nationally)
   Janay Morton   Assist Turnover Ratio   1st   +2.83 (37th nationally)
   Janay Morton   Steals Per Game   1st   4.00 (ninth nationally)
   Janay Morton   Points Per Game   3rd   20.3 (27th nationally)
   Janay Morton   Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage   1st   47.6 (38th nationally)
   Chanise Baldwin   Rebounds Per Game   3rd   8.3 (137th nationally)

IN THE ZONE: The 2-3 zone has became an Eastern Michigan staple under the direction of Head Coach Tory Verdi and for good reason. Through four games this season the Eagles' stout defensive effort has caused opponents fits, forcing them into 18.0 turnovers per game. Additionally, the Green and White swipe 9.3 steals per contest while holding a +7.0 turnover margin.

EMU AND THE IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT: The Eagles have fared extremely well in there last two in-season tournaments under Head Coach Tory Verdi. The Eagles are 4-0 in those contests with an average margin of victory of 10.8 points a contest.
   In 2013-14, EMU went 2-0 at the Seawolves Holiday Classic in Stony Brook, N.Y., Dec. 21-22. The Eagles edged out Wagner, 69-56, and Monmouth, 64-53. Last year, Eastern Michigan downed Cal State Fullerton, 78-74, and Weber State, 57-42, at the Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces, N.M., Nov. 28-29.

ON THE HORIZON: After wrapping up its business trip in Colorado, the Eagles will head to the East coast for games three and four of their five-game roadtrip. First on the docket for the Eagles is a meeting with Harvard, Dec. 8. Following the Green and White's battle with the Crimson, Eastern will trek to West Long Branch, N.J. for a bout with Assistant Coach Carly Thibault's alma mater, Monmouth, Dec. 10.

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Players Mentioned

Chanise Baldwin

Janay Morton

Eastern Michigan Athletics