WNIT Sweet 16 Battle Set for Wednesday at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- With back-to-back postseason road victories under its belt, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team remains on the road for the "Sweet 16" round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Wednesday, March 25, against the University of Southern Mississippi. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Miss.
   Coming off a 69-59 victory over the University of Tulsa in the second round of the WNIT, March 22, the Eagles enter the Southern Miss game with a mark of 24-12 (11-7 Mid-American Conference). Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles sports a 24-10 (13-5 Conference USA) mark after knocking out TCU with a 77-73 overtime victory, March 22.
   The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the quarterfinal round to face either Missouri or Michigan. The game would be played sometime between March 28-30.
   Fans can catch the game on WEMU (89.1 FM) beginning 10 minutes prior to tipoff with Chad Bush and Greg Steiner on the radio call.

SECOND TRIP TO THE SWEET 16: EMU returns to the WNIT "Sweet 16" for the second time in school history, as the 2010-11 club also advanced to the third round. EMU could not withstand a late push at Syracuse, as the Eagles bowed out with 72-63 decision at the Carrier Dome.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles are the only team so far in the 2015 Postseason WNIT to have won twice on the road. In fact, Eastern Michigan is the first team since 2012 to have accomplished the feat to open WNIT play.
   That season, VCU and Appalachian State advanced to the "Sweet 16" by winning two road tilts. The Rams continued to play away from home with a third round contest at Toledo, while the Mountaineers got the luxury to come home to host Virginia. Unfortunately, neither squad was able to advance to the next round.

PLANES AND BUSES: The Eagles continue their barnstorming tour of the midwest as a part of the WNIT schedule. In a trip that began Thursday, March 19, EMU has already logged more than 1,634 miles and stops in eight different states (Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi).

TIED FOR THE MOST WINS IN SCHOOL HISTORY: With the win at Tulsa, the Eagles improved to 24-12 and have tied the school record for the most wins in a season. The 2010-11 club set the initial standard with 24 triumphs as it advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the WNIT with postseason wins over Michigan and UNC Wilmington.

FIRST BACK-TO-BACK POSTSEASON ROAD VICTORIES: With the 80-70 victory over Drake in the first round of the WNIT, March 20, and the 69-59 win at Tulsa, March 22, it marked the first time in program history that the Eagles have won back-to-back postseason road games.

THE ROAD IS TREATING US RATHER WELL: Playing away for home for most teams is a challenge, but for Eastern Michigan it has actually been a blessing. The Green and White has won seven consecutive road contests dating back to Feb. 4 at Kent State. The Eagles' seven straight road wins are the most in program history, bettering a six-game mark set by the 2010-11 squad. During EMU's current winning streak, this year's team has actually posted more road wins than it did in 24 separate seasons.
   EMU's road winning steak is the 11th longest active streak in the NCAA with Princeton holding the top spot at 15.

EIGHTH POSTSEASON TRIP FOR EMU: Playing in late March has become a regular tradition for Eastern Michigan, as the Eagles participate in the postseason for the eighth time in the past 12 years. Prior to the 2003-04 campaign, EMU had never participated in the postseason. However, all that changed when EMU won the 2004 MAC Tournament and earned the automatic bid to the program's first NCAA Tournament. The Green and White has since followed it up with appearances in the 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011 WNIT. EMU again returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2012 after winning the MAC Tournament and last season hosted two rounds of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).

EMU IN THE POSTSEASON: The Eagles are 5-7 all-time in the postseason including a pair of victories over Michigan and UNC Wilmington during their 2011 run to the WNIT "Sweet 16." In 2014, EMU knocked off Evansville in the opening round of the WBI before falling in the final moments to Illinois-Chicago. The Eagles 10-point win at Drake in the 2015 WNIT marked the first time the school posted victories in back-to-back years in postseason play.

ABOUT THE EAGLES: The Eagles have posted a memorable run to close out the season, winning 12 of its last 15 games and earning the first 20-win season since the 2011-12 campaign. Eastern also tied the third-longest winning streak in EMU women's basketball history with eight-straight wins, while the team was the first No. 6 seed to make the tournament finals and the fourth team to win four games at the conference tournament. A Second Team All-MAC selection, sophomore guard Cha Sweeney is the team's top scorer at 17.3 points per contest. Sophomore guard Janay Morton also ranks in the MAC's top 15 in steals (2nd - 2.2), free throw percentage (6th - 78.9), three-pointers made (11th - 1.6) and scoring (13th - 12.5).

PUNI FINALLY MAKES THE MAC RANKINGS: With her late start to the season, Brianna Puni finally reached the Mid-American Conference's minimum of 75 percent of the teams games with her appearance at Tulsa, March 23. The Illinois State transfer ranks 10th in rebounding (7.2), free throw percentage (.771) and blocks (0.8).

NOW THIS IS MARCH MADNESS: The Green and White has posted a 37-27 record during the month of March over the last 17 years, including an 8-1 mark this season. This year marks the second consecutive year that both the men's and women's basketball teams earned a postseason berth. The EMU men fell to Louisiana-Monroe in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
   This year's team has already set the new EMU standard for wins in the month of March bettering the 6-2 record in 2010-11.

SWEENEY CONTINUES EMU SCORING SURGE: Cha Sweeney first set a single-season record for most points by an EMU freshman last season by totaling 556 points. This year, Sweeney has already recorded the second-most points in a single season by an EMU sophomore by totaling 624. Former Eagle Tavelyn James set that record by grabbing 641 points during the 2009-10 campaign.

EMU ALL-TIME AGAINST CONFERENCE USA: Eastern has a limited history with Conference USA, having posted a 10-9 all-time against the league's members. The Eagles most common opponent has been Marshall as the Thundering Herd was a member of the Mid-American Conference from 1997-2005.
   EMU is 8-2 against Marshall, 2-1 versus Florida International, 0-2 with Florida Atlantic, and against Louisiana Tech, Rice, UAB and UTEP.
   Eastern Michigan and Southern Mississippi are meeting for the first time on the hardwood.

COMMON BONDS: Surprisingly, Southern Miss and Eastern Michigan have not played any common opponents in 2014-15.

MAC IN THE WNIT: Eastern is one of six Mid-American Conference schools participating in the 2015 Postseason WNIT. Including this season, 40 MAC teams have been selected to compete in the Postseason WNIT posting a 33-36 record since 1998. Toledo leads the way capturing the 2011 WNIT Championship by knocking off Southern California at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.

WINNING ON THE ROAD IN THE WNIT: The first round of the WNIT featured just 11 road teams posting victories out of the 32 opening matchups. Furthermore, the Eagles' second round contest at Tulsa Sunday, March 22, will be one of just three contests that feature both teams having won on the road to open the postseason. The two other games to boast this accomplishment are Eastern Washington at Sacraemento State and Richmond at Duquesne.

PUNI STANDS TALL AT DRAKE: Senior Briann Puni's return to the Missouri Valley was a memorable one as she grabbed 20 rebounds in the 80-70 victory at Drake, March 20. A transfer from Illinois State University, her total is tied for the second-most in EMU laurels and is the best rebounding performance since the record of 21 was set by Kristin Staples on Jan. 2, 1991. The other player to reach the 20 carom plateau in school history is Denise Allen, who also pulled down 20 back on Jan. 20, 1979.

PLENTY TO LIKE IN DES MOINES: Eastern Michigan University's women's basketball team won on the road in the postseason for just the second time in program history, advancing to the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) with an 80-70 victory over Drake University, March 20, at the Knapp Center.
   Drake entered the contest touted as the best rebounding team in the Missouri Valley Conference, but the Eagles came away with a 53-49 edge on the glass paced by a career day by Brianna Puni. The Green and White's senior class truly shone in the postseason, as Jamaica Bucknor also notched double-digit rebounds with 10 boards and swatted two shots to match her career high. Offensively, Cha Sweeney posted 28 points to go with five assists, while Janay Morton added 15 points and Phillis Webb posted 10 points.
   The Bulldogs, ranked 23rd nationally in field-goal percentage at 44.2, were held 13.4 percentage points below their average for the second-worst ratio of the season.

RPI FUN!: With the late season surge, Eastern Michigan checks in at No. 94 in the most recent RPI rankings from the NCAA as of March 14. Ohio is the only Mid-American Conference team to better the Eagles, checking in at No. 53. Eastern Michigan's next opponent, Southern Miss, is listed at 80th.

EASTERN VERSUS 2015 POSTSEASON TEAMS: When examining the brackets for the 2015 NCAA, WNIT and WBI tournaments, EMU recognizes nine teams that it met during the 2014-15 regular season. Out of the NCAA bracket, the Eagles played just Ohio. Out of the WNIT, Eastern played Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Cleveland State, Michigan, Toledo and Western Michigan, while also meeting Oral Roberts and Texas Pan-American, which are participating in the WBI. The Eagles' recorded an 8-10 record against those teams.

EMU NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE 'TOGETHER WE R" AWARD: The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is one of three finalists for the fourth annual Russell Athletic "Together We R" Team Award, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced, March 16.
   In its fourth year, the "Together We R" Team Award honors programs that have strived to succeed in the face of adversity, overcoming extraordinary circumstances such as an unforeseen team crisis, barrier or unfortunate situations that caused extra stress. The team must exemplify strong commitment to core values of togetherness, courage, unparalleled work ethic and heart, and must personify the "Together We R" belief that teams are stronger than individuals. Women's basketball teams from California University of Pennsylvania and the University of Richmond are the other finalists.
   The award will be given out at the Final Four.

SELECT POSTSEASON COMPANY: Eastern Michigan University is one of just 69 NCAA Division I universities nationwide to send both its men's and women's basketball teams to postseason play. EMU, Western Michigan University and the University at Buffalo were the only Mid-American Conference schools to accomplish the feat. In total, 343 schools were eligible for the postseason in the NCAA Division I ranks this season. This is the second consecutive year Eastern Michigan has turned in the feat and makes the school one of 28 nationwide to be able to boast the accomplishment. Additionally, this year marks the first time both the men's and the women's program have both notched 20 wins in the same season.

SUPER SOPHOMORES: The sophomore trio of Janay Morton, Cha Sweeney and Phillis Webb has been a large part of the team's success in 2014-15. The trifecta has combined for 49.9 percent of EMU's points (1,239), 29.9 percent of its rebounds (450) and 66.3 percent of the assists (262).
   Surprisingly, it is nearly the same pace as their freshman campaign, when the three players combined for a season total of 1,078 points, 312 rebounds and 164 assists.

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Players Mentioned

Jamaica Bucknor

Janay Morton

Brianna Puni

Cha Sweeney

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics