Women's Hoops Squares Off Versus Kent State Saturday at Noon

Women's Basketball vs. Kent State
Date	Saturday, Jan. 7 \| 12 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU 89.1 FM
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.2282 \| Clear Bag Policy

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team remains at home this weekend in Mid-American Conference cross-divisional action Saturday, Jan. 7, when the Eagles host Kent State University. The game is scheduled for noon inside the Convocation Center and is the first leg of a doubleheader with the EMU men's basketball team.
   Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 5-9 (0-2 MAC) record and in search of its first conference win of the season after suffering a 66-49 setback at the hands of the University of Toledo, Jan. 4. Meanwhile, KSU travels to Ypsilanti with a 6-8 record (0-2 MAC) after a 24-point loss to Ball State University, Jan. 4, in Muncie, Ind.
       Veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM). The game will also be shown on ESPN3 as part of the campus connection initiative, where Ryan Wooley will have the play-by-play and Sean Hostetter will provide the analysis.

BEER TASTING DAY: For only $15, receive a game ticket, a customized EMU pint glass, and three sample beers at the women's & men's doubleheader Saturday, Jan. 7. The tasting begins at halftime of the Women's game (noon tip-off) and runs through halftime of the Men's game (2:30 p.m. tip-off). Call 734.487.2282 to reserve your package.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Saturday's showdown between the Eagles and Golden Flashes marks the 62nd time the two teams will battle on the hardwood since the series began during the 1980-81 campaign. Kent State holds the edge in the all-time series, 34-27, but Eastern Michigan has had KSU's number as of late. Winners of the last 11 meetings, the Eagles will look to make it an even dozen with a win on Saturday. Kent State's last win over EMU came Jan. 31, 2009 in Kent, Ohio. In that game, KSU used a 58.8 to 33.3 edge in field goal percentage to down EMU, 84-52.
   Last season, Eastern topped Kent State, 72-51, at the Convo, Jan. 16, before knocking the Golden Flashes out of the MAC Tournament in the first round, March 7, by a final tally of 73-60.

IN SEARCH OF AN EVEN DOZEN: Despite trailing in the all-time series against Kent State, Eastern Michigan has dominated the rivalry as of late. In fact, the Green and White have won 11 consecutive contests against its MAC East foe, dating back to the 2008-09 season. The current win streak ranks as EMU's best against a conference opponent, with Eastern having won no more than three consecutive meetings versus any other MAC rival.

PROGRAM CHANGERS: There is a moment in every program that changes the course of history, and for Kent and Eastern you can maybe circle the date of March 10, 2006. On that date, the Eagles were ousted from the 2006 MAC Tournament by the Golden Flashes, 70-56, at Quicken Loans Arena. KSU outscored the Eagles 49-19 in the second half after trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half. Kent State's Lindsay Shearer, the MAC's Player of the Year, keyed the comeback with a game-high 24 points and 19 rebounds.
   Eastern Michigan has dominated Kent State since that game, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings, including 11 straight. A larger picture view though is even more impressive with EMU posting a 187-148 record (.558) and KSU going 119-194 (.380) during the same span.

SECOND QUARTER SPIRAL: Since turning its focus to Mid-American Conference play, the second quarter has been a thorn in the side of Eastern Michigan. Through its first two league games, EMU is connecting on just 14.3 percent (4-of-28) of its field goal attempts in the period, including just 2-of-13 from three-point range. The Eagles offensive struggles have been compounded by their opponents' 48.6 field goal percentage in the frame, as the opposition has connected on 17-of-35 attempts. EMU's shooting woes combined with opponent's strong offensive performances in the quarter have resulted in the Green and White being outscored 42-17.

DEFENSE LEADING TO EASY OFFENSE: Over the team's 14 games, the ultra-athletic Eagles have forced 15.7 turnovers a game while snagging 7.9 steals. The 220 turnovers by the opposition has led to 243 points-off-turnovers, or 27.4 percent of EMU's offense.

BECOMING ROUTINE FOR ROBINSON: Rewriting her personal-bests is something that junior Micah Robinson continues to do on a nightly basis. Entering her third season playing in the MAC, the Ann Arbor, Mich. native had tallied eight points, six rebounds, and 11 assists in 24 all-time contests. In the 2016-17 league opener, Robinson racked up 16 points, five rebounds and five assists at Northern Illinois, Dec. 31. She followed that performance up with a 12-point performance against Toledo, Jan. 4, in 40 minutes of action. Playing the entire game, Robinson surpassed her career total for minutes played in conference games.

RUSS PICKS UP HER GAME: In the last three games, freshman Jayla Russ has made her presence felt with a total of nine points and four rebounds in 36 minutes of work. She is 4-for-7 from the floor during the three games. In the 11 games prior, Russ totaled just 27 minutes without scoring.

36TH YEAR IN MAC: The 2016-17 season marks the 36th season Eastern Michigan will compete as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Having been a member of the Cleveland, Ohio based league since the 1981-82 campaign, the Green and White have compiled a 266-320 record against conference opponents all-time.

SUCCESS STEMS FROM WINNING THE 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 five wins, the Eagles have out-rebounded opponents by 5.8 boards per game. In fact, EMU averages 46.2 rebounds per game compared to opponents' 40.4 boards per contest average in its five wins. Conversely, in its nine losses the Eagles average nearly 6.6 rebounds less per game (39.6), while the opposition's per game average jumps to 45.7, making the Eagles -6.1 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 68.6 points per game when winning the rebound battle, compared to 60.6 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 520 minutes through 14 games, the most of any player in the conference and the 29th-most in the country. Additionally, Robinson's 37.1 minutes per game average ranks 13th nationally.

STRETCHING THE FLOOR: While EMU's efficiency from deep has not had much of an impact on the Eagles success, their ability to knock down more three-pointers than opponents has. The Green and White is 4-1 when making more triples than opponents, while opponents convert an average of 6.3 three-pointers in EMU's losses this season. Eastern averages 4.1 three-point makes in losses, but knocks down 6.4 per game in wins.

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 75 of the last 102 home games dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Green and White have won 67.6 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 169-81 all-time mark.

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 323 points, 140 rebounds, 62 assists, and 39 steals. Their 323 points makes up 57.0 percent of the Eagles' offensive production over the past eight games. Additionally, the trio has posted career-bests in multiple statistical categories over the span.

CASHING IN ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES: The Eagles have totaled 587 rebounds, including 187 boards that came on the offensive end of the floor. EMU has made the most of its second chance opportunities, cashing them in for 163 points.

MOVING UP THE LIST: Phillis Webb's 30 point – 14 rebound effort at NIU, Dec. 31, marked her fourth double-double of the season, and ninth of her career. Currently, Webb ranks 10th all-time in EMU laurels in the category, trailing Shani Charles and Paige Redditt for ninth-place by four. 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 118 boards, moving her into 15th-place with 628 caroms. Nikki Knapp holds the program record with 802 career rebounds, while Webb is 14 boards behind Emily Steinmetz for 14th-place on the all-time list.

RUNNIN' THE FLOOR: Through 14 games, the Eagles have showcased their ability to get out in transition, as EMU has outscored opponents 103-59 in fastbreak points this season.

WEBB WORKING TOWARDS 1,000 POINT MARK: Senior Phillis Webb stands 161 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 168 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.

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 36.9 minutes per game, Robinson has scored 172 points, 128 more than her career point total coming into the season.

SWIPING RIGHT MORE THAN TINDER: In EMU's loss to Monmouth, Dec. 12, the Green and White registered a season-high 14 steals with junior Sasha Dailey leading the way with a season-high six thefts. For the season, Dailey has posted 35, a mark that ranks first in the conference and 47th nationally. Dailey is slotted second in the MAC and 60th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.50 swipes per contest.

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 Jan. 5. Let's take a look...
   Player   Category   Rank   Number
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played per game   1st   37.1 (13th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals attempted   2nd   233 (19th nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played   1st   520:00 (29th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Points per game   4th   18.6 (40th nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Free throws made   2nd   62 (41st nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals made   1st   95 (44th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Steals   1st   35 (47th nationally)
   EMU    Turnovers per game   3rd   14.4 (61st nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds per game   4th   41.9 (62nd nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds   2nd   587 (63rd nationally)
   Phillis Webb   Rebounds   4th   118 (75th nationally)
   EMU   Free throw attempts   5th   264 (88th nationally)

EARLY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS: Through 14 games, several things served as indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Eagles are 4-1 this season when holding a lead at halftime, compared to 1-7 when trailing or tied. EMU was also just 2-6 when shooting less than 70 percent from the free throw line. Conversely, the Green and White were 3-2 when shooting above 70 percent, and converted 75.7 percent (81-of-107) of its shots from the charity stripe in those five games, compared to 58.0 percent (80-of-138) of its attempts in its other eight contests. Additionally, Eastern Michigan is winless, 0-7, when allowing 60-or-more points.

LEAVING HER MARK: In Eastern's pummeling of Air Force, Webb was dominating. The Brooklyn Park, Minn. product finished the afternoon with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 17 rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Webb's 17 rebounds rank tied for the sixth-most in Convocation Center history, while also tying the second-most by an Eagle on their home court.

WEBB TURNS IN A CAREER DAY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE: If 2017 is anything like the way Phillis Webb closed out 2016, then Eastern Michigan is in for a treat. The Brooklyn Park, Minn. product turned in a career-day for the Eagles in the league opener at Northern Illinois, Dec. 31, picking up her ninth career double-double in the contest. Webb finished the day with a career-high 30 points, becoming just the second Eagle to score 30-or-more points in a game this season. She was also EMU's top rebounder, grabbing 14 boards to secure the double-double.
   Webb was 11-of-19 from the field, including going 7-for-7 at the free throw line, in a personal-high 39 minutes of work. Her previous best in points was 24 set earlier this year versus Georgia State, Nov. 12. She also added a block and two steals in the road contest.

OFFENSE PICKS UP IN DEKALB: For just the third time this season, Eastern Michigan eclipsed the 70-point plateau in the tilt at Northern Illinois, Dec. 31. EMU is 2-1 in those contests.
   Against the nation's second-best offense in the Huskies (91.5 ppg), the EMU defense also held its own keeping the Huskies below their average in point per game. In fact, Eastern mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter to pull within single digits with less than a minute to go.

DEFENSE LOCKS IN, CLIPS THE FALCONS: In EMU's win over Air Force in its non-conference finale, the Eagles held the Falcons offense at bay. Air Force connected on just 23.0 percent (14-of-61) of its field goal attempts, the ninth-lowest field goal percentage in Convocation Center history. Additionally, the Falcons' 23.0 percent clip is the third-worst by an NCAA Division I team and lowest since the Eagles held Northern Illinois to just 20.0 percent from the field, Feb. 19, 2011.

ALLOWING 50 OR LESS: Eastern Michigan moved to 105-1 all time when allowing 50 points-or-less with a 65-44 win over Air Force, Dec. 21. Since 2003-04, the Green and White has accomplished the feat 61 times with 33 of those coming against Mid-American Conference foes.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan returns to the road as it continues Mid-American Conference play next week, Wednesday, Jan. 11. The Green and White make the trip to Oxford, Ohio for a midweek MAC cross-divisional contest against Miami. Tipoff between the Eagles and RedHawks is set for 7 p.m.

Women's Hoops Squares Off Versus Kent State Saturday at Noon

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Players Mentioned

Sasha Dailey

Tori Easley

Micah Robinson

Jayla Russ

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics