Women's Basketball Closes Out Non-Conference Play Against Air Force

Women's Basketball vs. Air Force
Date	Wednesday, Dec. 21 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	N/A
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.2282 \| Clear Bag Policy

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Following a loss on the road, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns home Wednesday, Dec. 21, to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule against the Air Force Academy. The game is slated for 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
   The Eagles (4-7, 0-0 MAC) return to the Convo after falling, 77-50, at Purdue University inside Mackey Arena, Dec. 17. The Falcons (2-7, 0-0 MWC) make the trek east for their first game since Dec. 10 when they dropped a 71-44 decision to Northern Colorado in Colorado Springs, Co. Air Force was originally scheduled to host Eastern Washington, Dec. 18, but inclement weather forced the contest to be cancelled.
   The contest will be shown on ESPN3, where Ryan Wooley will call the action on the court and Sean Hostetter will provide analysis.

SUCCESS STEMS FROM WINNING REBOUNDING BATTLE: Winning the rebounding battle has proven to be a true-tale sign of Eastern Michigan's ability to win this season. In their four wins, the Eagles have out-rebounded opponents by 6.2 boards per game. In fact, EMU averages 45.0 rebounds per game compared to opponents' 38.8 board per contest average in its four wins. Conversely, in its seven losses the Eagles average five rebounds less per game (40.0), while the opposition's per game average jumps to 45.0, making the Eagles -5.0 on the glass in losses.
   EMU's ability to rebound and control the glass has had an impact on the squad's ability to score this season. Eastern Michigan averages 67.4 points per game when winning the rebound battle, compared to 57.2 points per contest when it is out-rebounded.

EMU WORKHORSE: Coming into the season junior Micah Robinson had played a total of 378 minutes over 50 games in the first two seasons of her collegiate career, averaging just 7.5 minutes per contest. This season, Robinson has been one of the most utilized players in the country. The Ann Arbor product has played 408 minutes through the Eagles' first 11 games, the most of any player in the conference and the 10th-most in the country. Additionally, Robinson's 37.1 minutes per game average ranks 17th nationally.

MATCHING UP WITH THE MOUNTAIN WEST: Over the past four decades, the Eagles have taken on Mountain West Conference opponents just six times. EMU holds a 2-4 record against the Colorado Springs, Co.-based league and has played four of its 11 member institutions. The Green and White are winless against Colorado State (0-2) and Nevada (0-1), but are even at 1-1 all-time against Wyoming. This week's opponent, Air Force, is the only MWC squad Eastern holds the series edge in as it currently sits at 1-0 in favor of the Eagles.

FACING THE FALCONS ALL-TIME: Wednesday afternoon's tilt between Eastern Michigan and Air Force represents just the second time the two squads will meet on the hardwood all-time as well as the final game in a home-and-home agreement that began last season. EMU holds the upperhand in the series, 1-0, having topped the Falcons, 72-59, in the Air Force Classic last season, Dec. 4, at Clune Arena. Four players finished in double figures, including Phill Webb (15) and Sasha Dailey (12), while Chanise Baldwin added a double-double (11 pts.-10 rebs.).

AGAINST THE NATION'S MILITARY ACADEMIES: EMU's record against the nation's military academies sits at 1-1 ahead of Wednesday's matinee match up with Air Force. Eastern first tangled with Navy during the 1995-96 campaign. The Green and White traveled to Annapolis, Md. for a tilt with the Naval Academy, where they fell short, 79-69, Nov. 26, 1995. More recently, the Eagles bested the Falcons, 72-59, in Colorado Springs, Co. Wednesday's contest will be the first time Eastern Michigan will host one of the nation's military academies.

STRETCHING THE FLOOR: In EMU's loss to Purdue, Dec. 17, at Mackey Arena, the Eagles were held below 30.0 percent from three-point range for the sixth time this season and were held to three-or-fewer triples for the fifth time this year. While EMU's efficiency from deep has not had much of an impact on the Eagles success, their ability to knock down more threes than opponents has. The Green and White is 3-1 when making more triples than opponents, while opponents convert an average of 6.9 three-pointers in EMU's losses this season. Eastern averages 4.1 three-point makes in losses, but knocks down 7.3 per game in wins.

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 229 points, 99 rebounds, 40 assists, and 25 steals. Their 229 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 26, a mark that ranks first in the conference and 53rd nationally. Dailey is slotted fifth in the MAC and 87th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.36 swipes per contest.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have racked up a solid home-court advantage inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center since the doors opened during the 1998-99 campaign. Eastern Michigan has won 74 of the last 100 home games dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Green and White have won 68.0 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 168-80 all-time mark.

EARLY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS: Through the first 11 games of the season, several things have served as indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Eagles are 3-1 this season when holding a lead at halftime, compared to 1-6 when trailing or tied. EMU is also just 1-5 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 59.8 percent (58-of-97) of its attempts in its other six contests. Additionally, Eastern Michigan is winless, 0-6, when allowing 60-or-more points.

RUNNIN' THE FLOOR: Through 11 games, the Eagles have showcased their ability to get out in transition, as EMU has outscored opponents 89-38 in fastbreak points this season.

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. 17. Let's take a look...
   Player   Category   Rank   Number
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played   1st   408:00 (10th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals attempted   1st   180 (13th nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played per game   1st   37.1 (17th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals made   1st   75 (21st nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Free throws made   2nd   50 (23rd nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds   1st   460 (33rd nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Points per game   3rd   19.1 (35th nationally)
   EMU    Turnovers per game   3rd   14.1 (51st nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Steals   1st   26 (53rd nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds per game   4th   41.8 (76th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   3-Point FG Percentage   4th   41.5 (76th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Free throws made   4th   35 (92nd nationally)
   Phillis Webb   Rebounds   4th   83 (92nd nationally)

CASHING IN ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES: The Eagles have totaled 460 rebounds, including 147 boards that came on the offensive end of the floor. EMU has made the most of its second chance opportunities, cashing them in for 120 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.

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 83 boards, moving her into 16th-place with 593 caroms. Nikki Knapp holds the program record with 802 career rebounds, while Webb is six boards behind Abby Wiseman for 15th-place on the all-time list.

WEBB WORKING TOWARDS 1,000 POINT MARK: Senior Phillis Webb stands 216 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 113 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: Despite staying within striking distance for a majority of the first half, Eastern Michigan came up on the wrong side of a 77-50 decision in West Lafayette, Ind., Dec. 17. Purdue led by as many as 30 and capitalized on EMU's 14 turnovers to send the Eagles home with their second consecutive loss. Junior Micah Robinson was the Eagles' leading scorer against the Boilermakers, netting a game-high 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting, while also tying for the team-lead with six rebounds.

ON THE HORIZON: The pre-holiday clash with Air Force is the final non-conference game on the schedule for the Eagles. EMU returns to the floor Saturday, Dec. 31, for a New Year's Eve battle against Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill. to begin the Mid-American Conference portion of the slate.

Women's Basketball Closes Out Non-Conference Play Against Air Force

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Players Mentioned

Chanise Baldwin

Sasha Dailey

Tori Easley

Micah Robinson

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics