EMU Wraps Up Final Exams, Set for Saturday Matchup at Purdue

Women's Basketball at Purdue
Date	Saturday, Dec. 17 \| 4 p.m.
Venue	West Lafayette, Ind. \| Mackey Arena (14,264)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	BTN+
Listen	Boilermaker Sports Network
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.2282 \| Clear Bag Policy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in the month of December when it travels to Mackey Arena for a Saturday, Dec. 17, tilt against Purdue University. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.
   The Eagles (4-6, 0-0 MAC) make the trek to West Lafayette after their comeback effort fell short in a 75-68 loss to Monmouth, Dec. 12. Meanwhile, Purdue (8-4, 0-0 B1G) enters the matchup after winning its fifth consecutive game, Dec. 11, with a dominating 61-27 victory over North Carolina Central.
   Neither WEMU or Eagle All-Access will not be making the trip to Purdue, however, the contest will be shown on a subscription basis on BTN Plus at BTN2Go.com.

EMU INSIDE MACKEY ARENA: EMU is 0-3 all-time inside Mackey Arena, falling to Purdue in the 2000 Preseason WNIT and again in the 2010 Postseason WNIT. The last time Eastern Michigan was in the venue came during the 2012 NCAA Tournament, when the Eagles dropped a first round decision versus No. 12 South Carolina, 80-48, March 17.

BATTLING THE B1G: Eastern Michigan is just 13-42 against Big Ten Conference members all-time, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. EMU has been most successful against Michigan, posting eight wins against its Washtenaw County foe, but trails in the series, 8-15. Eastern has also registered wins against Michigan State, Northwestern, and Ohio State, and while the Eagles are level with NU all-time, they trail in the series with MSU, 1-15, and OSU, 1-2. Meanwhile, EMU is winless against Illinois (0-4), Indiana (0-2), Maryland (0-1), and Purdue (0-2).

JUNIOR IMPACT: EMU Head Coach Fred Castro's tweak to the starting lineup to include the junior trio of Micah Robinson, Sasha Dailey, and Tori Easley prior to the Northern Colorado contest, Nov. 27, has paid dividends for the Eagles. In fact, the threesome has posted some of the best games of their respective careers since taking the floor together in the squad's final game of the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic. Since Easley and Dailey have joined Robinson in the starting five, the trio has amassed 198 points, 86 rebounds, 35 assists, and 22 steals. Their 198 points makes up 60 percent of the Eagles' offensive production over the past five games. Additionally, the trio has posted career-bests in multiple statistical categories over the span.

SWIPING RIGHT MORE THAN TINDER: In EMU's loss to Monmouth, Dec. 12, the Green and White registered a season-high 14 steals. Junior Sasha Dailey led the way with a season-high six thefts, pushing her season total to 24, a mark that ranks second in the conference and 58th nationally. Dailey is slotted fifth in the MAC and 78th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.4 swipes per contest.

BATTLING THE BOILERMAKERS: Saturday afternoon's trip to West Lafayette, Ind. will be just the third time since the 1976-77 season that Eastern Michigan and Purdue will square off on the hardwood. EMU trails, 2-0, in the all-time series and will face off against PU for the first time since the 2010 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
   Meeting the Boilermakers in the opening round of the 2010 WNIT, the Eagles left West Lafayette with a season-ending 56-50 setback. EMU led, 23-19, at the half but a 28-point effort from Tavelyn James was not enough as the Green and White fell short. Purdue shot just over 42 percent (16-of-38) from the field to overcome 19 turnovers, while Eastern shot at a 26 percent (15-for-57) clip and posted 11 steals. With the loss, the Eagles finished the season with a 22-9 overall record.

EMU'S LAST CLASH WITH A B1G FOE: While EMU trails in the all-time series against opponents hailing from the Big Ten Conference at a 13-42 tally, the Eagles came away victorious in its last meeting with a B1G foe. The Green and White knocked off Michigan, 64-63, Dec. 23, 2015, at the Convocation Center on a Phillis Webb jumper with 15 seconds to play. This marked EMU's first victory over a Big Ten opponent since the Eagles took down Michigan, 77-64, during the 2011-12 season.     Against Purdue this Saturday, the Green and White will look to post wins against B1G members in back-to-back seasons for the first time since topping Michigan in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.

EARLY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS: Through the first 10 games of the season, several things have become indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Eagles are 3-1 this season when holding a lead at halftime, compared to 1-5 when trailing or tied. EMU is also just 1-4 when shooting less than 70 percent from the free throw line. Conversely, the Green and White is 3-2 when shooting above 70 percent, and has converted 75.7 percent (81-of-107) of its shots from the charity stripe in those five games, compared to 62.7 percent (47-of-75) of its attempts in its other five contests. Additionally, Eastern Michigan is winless, 0-5, when allowing 60-or-more points.

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. 14. Let's take a look...
   Player   Category   Rank   Number
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals attempted   1st   167 (16th nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played per game   1st   36.8 (22nd nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Points per game   2nd   20.1 (21st nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals made   1st   72 (22nd nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Free throws made   2nd   44 (31st nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds   2nd   427 (41st nationally)
   EMU    Turnovers per game   3rd   14.1 (51st nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds per game   4th   42.7 (55th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Steals   2nd   24 (60th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   3-Point FG Percentage   4th   42.3 (63rd nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Free throws made   3rd   35 (95th nationally)
   Phillis Webb   Free throw percentage   5th   83.3 (104th nationally)

RUNNIN' THE FLOOR: Through nine games, the Eagles have showcased their ability to get out in transition and take advantage of numbers, as EMU has outscored opponents 87-34 in fastbreak points this season.

CASHING IN ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES: The Eagles have totaled 427 rebounds, including 128 boards that came on the offensive end of the floor. EMU has made the most of its second chance opportunities, cashing them in for 115 points.

WEBB WORKS HER WAY UP THE LIST: With 10 points and 12 rebounds in EMU's loss to Detroit Mercy, Dec. 6, senior Phillis Webb notched her second double-double of the season, and seventh of her career, moving her into sole possession of 10th all-time in EMU laurels. Sarah VanMetre and Olivia Fouty are tied atop the list, holding the program standard of 17 career double-doubles.

ROBINSON EMBRACING HER NEW ROLE: After spending her first two seasons serving as the Eagles' back-up point guard and amassing just 376 minutes of playing time, Micah Robison has embraced her new role in her junior season. Taking on the responsibilities of the Green and White's primary ball handler, Robinson has thrived for Eastern this season. Averaging a team-high 36.7 minutes per game, Robinson has scored 102 points, 59 more than her career point total coming into the season. Additionally, the Ann Arbor product has posted career-highs in free throws made (36), field goals (31), and rebounds (53).

CLIMBING THE RANKS: Senior Phillis Webb came into her final season ranked 21st in Eastern Michigan history with 509 rebounds. This season, Webb has grabbed 77 boards, moving her into 16th-place with 587 caroms. Nikki Knapp holds the program record with 802 career rebounds, while Webb is 12 boards behind Abby Wiseman for 15th-place on the all-time list.

WEBB WORKING TOWARDS 1,000 POINT MARK: Senior Phillis Webb stands 224 points short of the 1,000-point mark in her final season donning the Green and White. Webb amassed 677 points for her career through her first three seasons, and has scored 105 points so far this year. If Webb eclipses four-digits, she will become the 21st player in program history to score at least 1,000 points during their career.

LAST TIME OUT: Eastern came back from a 15-point deficit to reclaim the lead, 57-56, over Monmouth with 5:26 remaining. The one-point edge was EMU's first lead since the 8:58 mark of the second quarter. Despite the late charge that saw the Eagles claw back into the contest, Monmouth held off the Green and White, eventually handing Eastern a 75-68 setback.
   Junior Sasha Dailey led the way with 19 points, including two threes, in addition to six steals, four rebounds, and three assists. Fellow junior Micah Robinson and senior Sheyna Deans also reached double figures, adding 18 and 10 points, respectively.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan wraps up the non-conference portion of the schedule at home following this weekend's trip to West Lafayette, against the Air Force Academy, Dec. 21. After an afternoon clash with the Falcons, the Eagles open Mid-American Conference play in DeKalb, Ill., Dec. 31, against Northern Illinois.

EMU Wraps Up Final Exams, Set for Saturday Matchup at Purdue

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Players Mentioned

Sasha Dailey

Sheyna Deans

Tori Easley

Micah Robinson

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics