EMU Returns to Divisional Action Wednesday Versus Ball State

Live Stats: Fan. Media.

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team hosts Ball State University Wednesday, Feb. 11, in a Mid-American Conference West Division tilt inside the Convocation Center. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with an 11-9 (4-5 MAC) record after a 70-53 road victory over Kent State University, Feb. 4. The Cardinals are 11-10 (7-3 MAC) on the season having last downed the University of Toledo, 69-61 , Feb. 7 .
   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.

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 CARDINALS: The contest marks the 68th meeting between the Ball State Cardinals and the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who first played during the 1979-80 season. Eastern Michigan leads the series, 37-31, but BSU has gotten the better of the Eagles three of the last four times.
   Last year, the Cardinals won 70-66 in Ypsilanti, Jan. 9, before the Eagles returned the favor with a 62-60 victory at Worthen Arena, Feb. 23. In that game, EMU rallied from seven points down in the second half to claim the team's first in Muncie, Ind. since Feb. 16, 2011. Cha Sweeney led all scorers with 20 points while Natachia Watkins dominated on the glass with a team-best 12 rebounds.

DEFENSE LEADING TO EASY OFFENSE: Over the previous six games, the ultra-athletic Eagles have forced 21.2 turnovers a game while snagging 12.8 steals. The 127 turnovers by the opposition led to 133 points-off-turnovers or 35.6 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 second in rebounding offense with 43.0 per game, steals with 10.5 per game, offensive rebounds with 16.0 per games, and turnover margin, coming in at +4.3.
   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 also are in the top-five in scoring offense (3rd – 67.4 ppg), defensive rebounds (4th – 27.0) and scoring margin (5th - +3.6).

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.

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.

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 Toledo 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).

MIAMI GAME POSTPONED UNTIL FEB. 17: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball game at Miami University scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, was postponed until Tuesday, Feb. 17. The contest will be played at 6 p.m. inside Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.        The postponement allowed the EMU squad to attend junior Shannise Heady's funeral which was held Feb. 7. Heady and fellow EMU student Jordan Hopkins passed away in an automobile accident, Jan. 25,
   Following the MU contest, EMU will make the 170 mile trip east to play the next night , Feb. 18, against the MAC East Division leaded Bobcats of Ohio University. Both contests will be broadcast on Eagle All-Access.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN ON THE HORIZON: Following the BSU contest, EMU stays home inside the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 14, to host Central Michigan University. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.
   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.
       Last year, the Chippewas won 82-67 in Mount Pleasant, Jan. 30, 2014, before the Eagles returned the favor with a 99-84 overtime victory at the Convocation Center, March 8, 2014. In that game, EMU put on a performance that sent its seniors out in fashion, taking an electrifying come-from-behind victory. Central Michigan 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 the five extra minutes.
   The victory marked the first time since the 2011-12 season that an Eastern Michigan squad has topped a team with an RPI in the top-35.

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.

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 134 of her 264 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 75 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 150-72 all-time mark.

EMU Returns to Divisional Action Wednesday Versus Ball State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shannise Heady

Janay Morton

Brianna Puni

Cha Sweeney

Desyree Thomas

Natachia Watkins

Eastern Michigan Athletics