Eagles Hope to See Plenty of Red Versus the Chippewas

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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team welcomes in-state rival Central Michigan University into the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 14, for a Valentine's Day clash with the Chippewas. The contest is part of a doubleheader with the EMU men's team taking on the University of Akron at 2:30 p.m.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with an 11-10 (4-6 MAC) record after a 72-62 home loss to Ball State University, Feb. 11. The Chippewas are 11-11 (6-5 MAC) on the season having dropped a 61-46 decision to the University of Toledo, Feb. 11.
   Veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM) beginning at noon. Live video and statistics of the game can also be found on EMUEagles.com.

THAT'S AMORE!: For just the 11th time in the program's history, the Eagles will take to the court on Valentine's Day. Eastern Michigan is 6-4 all-time on the date best associated with love. The last time EMU played on the Feb. 14 was in 2009 when the Green and White upended Miami University, 56-45, in Oxford, Ohio.
   In that contest, then-freshman Tavelyn James scored 25 points and Amber Land neared a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and eight steals. EMU used a 27-3 run to open the second half and never looked back en route to the victory.

MAGIC NUMBER: The Eagles are 8-1 this season when scoring 70-or-more points in a contest. In three years under Head Coach Tory Verdi, EMU is 22-10 when reaching the 70-point plateau.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE CHIPPEWAS: The contest marks the 75th meeting between the Chippewas and Eagles, who first met during the 1976-77 season. CMU leads the overall series, 41-33, but EMU has won 20 of the last 29 meetings dating back to the 2000-01 campaign. EMU split the season series last year.
   Eastern got the best of Central Michigan last year in overtime on Senior Day, March 8, 2014. CMU held the lead until the final three seconds of regulation time, when a layup from Desyree Thomas sent the contest into overtime at 77-77. The Eagles took the lead right out of the gates in the overtime period and never looked back, as the team went on to outscore the Chippewas 22-7 in OT.

DEFENSE LEADING TO EASY OFFENSE: Over the previous seven games, the ultra-athletic Eagles have forced 20.1 turnovers a game while snagging 12.3 steals. The 141 turnovers by the opposition led to 142 points-off-turnovers or 32.6 percent of the EMU's offense.

TOP OF THE MAC: Despite not leading any conference statistics, the Eagles rank in the top-five in eight different statistical categories, including being third in rebounding offense with 42.5 per game, second in steals with 10.3 per game, offensive rebounds with 15.8 per games, and turnover margin, coming in at +4.0.
   The Eagles' quick feet and zone has helped them work their way into the top of the league on the defensive side of the ball. The Green and White is in the top-five in scoring offense (3rd – 67.1 ppg) and defensive rebounds (5th – 26.7).

CARDINALS OUTSHOOT THE EAGLES: Although they connected on just 29.4 percent of their three-point shot attempts, the Cardinals shot at a blistering 47.4 percent clip from the field in the Eagles' 72-62 loss to Ball State, Feb. 11.
   The Green and White did have some sound shooting of its own, especially from downtown. The Eagles knocked down 11 three-pointers in the loss, which is the most this season and the highest amount of makes since Eastern knocked down 12 in their loss to Illinois-Chicago during the WBI Tournament, March 24, 2014.

SHARING THE SUGAR: Eastern put up just 62 points in its 72-62 setback to Ball State, Feb. 11, but the Eagles played very unselfish basketball in those 40 minutes. EMU dished out 16 assists, which is the third-most on the 2014-15 campaign. It was the first time the Eagles surpassed 14 assists versus an NCAA Division I team this season. Prior to the contest versus BSU, the Eagles had dished out 23 assists in the season opener against Kent State -Tuscarawas, Nov. 14, and 19 against Madonna, Dec. 9. Eastern had an assist on all but eight field goal makes against Ball State.

MORTON DIALS IN FROM LONG RANGE: Sophomore guard Janay Morton went to town from the three-point line in the Eagles' loss to Ball State, Feb. 11. The Brooklyn Park, Minn. native knocked down a season-best five three-pointers versus the Cardinals. That number is two shy of the second-year Eagle's career-high set versus Buffalo last season, Jan. 18, 2014, when she hit seven from beyond the arc.

COME 'CHEER YOUR HEART OUT" AT THE FEB. 14 DOUBLEHEADER: Do not be alarmed on Saturday, Feb. 14, if you see EMU student-athletes and staff departing from their green and white colors, in favor of red. It is the University's way of supporting heart disease prevention as part of American Heart Month.
   To help with the cause, the EMU Department of Athletics will be holding a "Cheer Your Heart Out" basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center. On Valentine's Day, the women's basketball team hosts Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan University at 12 p.m., followed by the men's game against the University of Akron at 2:30 p.m.
   All fans are encouraged to wear red when coming to the game to help cheer on the Eagles. EMU will donate 50 percent of the ticket sales to the American Heart Association, while the AHA will be on the concourse distributing information on heart health. Furthermore, "heart" themed music will be played throughout the games.
   Cardiovascular disease (CVD)—including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure—is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. It is a leading cause of disability, preventing Americans from working and enjoying family activities. CVD costs the United States over $300 billion each year, including the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

HOLDING ON TO THE ROCK: The Eagles tied a season-low with just eight turnovers in the contest against Kent State, Feb. 4. EMU has produced five games this season that it has turned the ball over less than 10 times.

MIDWEEK DOUBLE DIP ON THE HORIZON: Following the CMU contest, EMU will hit the road for a rare, pair of midweek contests Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 18. Eastern will square off with Miami on Tuesday at 6 p.m. after postponing the original Feb. 7 contest to allow the Eagles to attend fallen teammate Shannise Heady's funeral. The very next day, the Green and White will head to Athens, Ohio for a 7 p.m. contest with Ohio.
   EMU's contest with Miami marks the 55th meeting between the RedHawks and Eagles, who first met during the 1979-80 season. Miami has dominated the all-time series, 38-16, but the Eagles have won four of the last six meetings. Earlier this season, the Green and White knocked off MU, 56-38 at the Convocation Center. In the contest with Miami, the Eagles were led by Cha Sweeney with 12 points and two steals, while Janay Morton and Phillis Webb each added nine points to their effort.
   The Eagles contest with Ohio marks the 56th meeting between the Bobcats and Eagles, who first met during the 1980-81 season. Ohio leads the series, 31-24, with EMU dropping an 82-59 setback in the team's meeting earlier this year at the Convocation Center, Jan. 14. In the loss to Ohio, Jamaica Bucknor paced the Eagles with 13 points, while Morton chipped in with 12.

FREE-THROWS KEY IN KENT: The free-throw line was critical to EMU's 70-53 win over Kent State at the M.A.C. Center, Feb. 4. Despite not connecting on a field goal over the final 7:03 of the contest, EMU actually saw its lead expand thanks to some clutch free throws. The Eagles made 13-of-15 from the line in the final moments, including a 6-for-6 effort by senior Brianna Puni and a 7-for-9 performance by sophomore Cha Sweeney.

LUCK CHANGING AGAINST THE FLASHES: With the 70-53 victory over Kent State, Feb. 4, Eastern Michigan has now won eight consecutive games over the Golden Flashes dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. In total, EMU has come away victorious in 12 of the last 15 battles with KSU.
   Between 1992 and 2003, Kent State downed the Eagles in 19 consecutive meetings.

MORTON PASSING IT AROUND: Known mostly for her ability to score, sophomore Janay Morton continues to show she can dish it just as well. At Kent State, Feb. 4, Morton equalled her career-high with a team-best five assists in the 17-point victory. It marked the second-time in the past four games that the Brooklyn Park, Minn. native had passed out five helpers in a contest.

STARTER STABILITY: EMU is still looking for some continuity in its starting five, as the Eagles have rolled out 13 different starting lineups. EMU has not had a player start every game this season.

MAC TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK: With the 2015 MAC Basketball Tournament quickly approaching, it is time to gaze into the crystal ball to see where the Eagles could possibly end up to begin conference tournament play. If the regular season ended today, Eastern would be the No. 9 seed for the tournament, traveling to No. 8-seeded Northern Illinois for a first round contest set to take place March 9. For a complete MAC Tournament outlook, please check page 11 of these notes.

INTERESTING STATS ABOUT EMU: In its 11 victories this season, EMU is averaging 75.8 points while the opposition is posting just 56.6 points. In those games, opponents are shooting 34.8 percent from the field compared to 42.6 percent for the Eagles. In defeats, the Eagles are only scoring 57.1 points, while giving up 72.6. Another factor in the Eagles' success has been the ability to control the glass. EMU is grabbing 43.9 rebounds to just 38.8 for the opponents in the wins, while in setbacks the rebounding edge tracks in the opponents favor (EMU 41.8, OPP 45.6).

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 137 of her 290 total points in the second half so far this year and has reached double-digits in the final 20 minutes on seven separate occasions. Sweeney poured in 18 second half points in the Green and White's victory over Cleveland State, Dec. 2.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have won 57 of the last 76 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 150-73 all-time mark.

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Players Mentioned

Jamaica Bucknor

Shannise Heady

Janay Morton

Brianna Puni

Cha Sweeney

Desyree Thomas

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics