Eagles Head to Oxford, Ohio for a Crossover Tilt with the RedHawks

Women's Basketball at Miami
Date	Wednesday, Jan. 11 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Oxford, Ohio \| Millett Hall (9,200)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 FM)
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.2282 \| Clear Bag Policy

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- Still in search of its first Mid-American Conference win of the season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team hits the road Wednesday, Jan. 11, for a cross-divisional showdown at Miami University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Millett Hall.
    Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 5-10 (0-3 MAC) record after falling at home to Kent State University, 86-67, Jan. 7. The RedHawks are 6-10 (0-3 MAC) and have dropped four of their last five contests, including a 64-50 road setback at the University of Toledo, Jan. 7.
   Chad Bush 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 Steve Baker will have the play-by-play.

SLOW START TO CONFERENCE PLAY: Wednesday's tilt pits a pair of teams still looking for their first conference wins of the year. Eastern Michigan's defense has been giving up an average of 79.0 points per game, while the offense is managing just 63.0 points a contest. One of the team's biggest challenges has been a the free throw line, as the Eagles are shooting just 56.1 percent (32-of-57) in MAC play. Meanwhile, Miami has struggled to score in league play, averaging just 51.7 points a game while shooting only 29.9 percent (52-for-174).

MILLETT NOT KIND TO EMU: Miami University's Millett Hall has traditionally been a building that has caused EMU coaches to have nightmares. The Eagles have posted an all-time record of 9-16 in the venerable building. However, things have started to change of late, as the Eagles have posted victories in five of their last six trips to Oxford, Ohio.

SCORING TICKING NORTH IN MAC PLAY: Four Eagles are averaging double figures in points three games into Mid-American Conference play. Phillis Webb leads the way for Eastern Michigan at 17.7 ppg, followed by Sasha Dailey (16.3), Micah Robinson (13.0), and Sheyna Deans (10.5).
   EMU is one of three teams in the MAC to feature at least four players that are averaging double-digits in league-only games. Northern Illinois has five players posting 10-or-more points while Central Michigan is tied with EMU with four players accomplishing the feat.

NIU - WOODS, Courtney (16.3) / LEHMAN, Ally (14.0) / GLENN, Cassidy (13.7) / SMITH, Kelly (13.3) / VOIGT, Mikayla (12.0)
EMU - WEBB, Phillis (17.7) / DAILEY, Sasha (16.3) / ROBINSON, Micah (13.0) / DEANS, Sheyna (10.5)
CMU - HUDSON, Presley (30.7) / MOORE, Tinara (23.7) / BREEN, Cassie (11.7)/ COTTON, Jewel (10.0)

ALL-TIME VERSUS MIAMI: Wednesday's contest with Miami marks the 57th meeting between the RedHawks and Eagles, who first met during the 1979-80 season. Miami has dominated the all-time series, 38-18, but the Eagles have won six of the last eight meetings.
   Last year, EMU cruised past Miami, 70-46, at Millett Hall, Feb. 23. Eastern put on a defensive clinic in the win, forcing Miami to commit 29 turnovers, the highest total the Green and White forced a Division I team into during the year. Cha Sweeney led the way for the Eagles, scoring a game-high 24 on 10-of-20 shooting, including four three-pointers.
   The two schools will square off again Saturday, Feb. 11, in Ypsilanti. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and is the second leg of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team.

DAILEY POSTS A SOLID WEEK: Junior Sasha Dailey led the Eagles in the first full week of Mid-American Conference play, averaging 19.0 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 3.0 rebounds per game. Against Toledo, Jan. 4, the dynamic guard poured in 20 points, while grabbing four rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 37 minutes of action against her hometown team. Then, in EMU's clash with Kent State, Dailey paced the Eagles with 18 points. She also added a season-high-tying five assists, three steals, two rebounds, and a block.
   Dailey has now hit double figures in scoring in 13-of-15 games this season, including the last four. Additionally, her offensive production has been matched on the defensive side of the court where she has posted multiple steals in eight consecutive contests, dating back to Dec. 6.

NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN'S IN SPORTS DAY ON TAP FOR SATURDAY: The EMU women's basketball team, along with the Eastern Michigan University of Department of Athletics, has announced a series of events to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day in conjunction with the Eagles' home game against Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 14. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m., but the fan fair in the atrium of the Convocation Center begins as 1 p.m.
   Children can participate in activities led by the EMU women's sports teams. There, they will be able to learn the importance of being active in sports, as well as receive autographs from the student-athletes in attendance. In addition, the EMU Cheer team will host a free clinic from 12 to 1 p.m.. Participants will learn a routine and have the ability to perform at halftime of the game.     To RSVP for the clinic, e-mail emu_cheer@emich.edu or call 734.487.0016.
   Also, at halftime will be a baby crawl race with the winner receiving a $100 Gift Card to Meijer. Babies must not be able to walk to participate and must RVSP to taliota@emich.edu or 734.487.0742.

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 three league games, EMU is connecting on just 23.2 percent (10-of-43) of its field goal attempts in the period, including just 2-of-15 from three-point range. The Eagles' offensive struggles have been compounded by their opponents' 53.1 field goal percentage in the frame, as the opposition has connected on 26-of-49 attempts. EMU's shooting woes, combined with opponent's strong offensive performances in the quarter, have resulted in the Green and White being outscored 65-29.

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 10 losses, the Eagles average nearly seven rebounds less per game (38.6), while the opposition's per game average jumps to 46.2, making the Eagles -7.6 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 61.2 points per contest when it is out-rebounded.

DEFENSE LEADING TO EASY OFFENSE: Over the team's 15 games, the ultra-athletic Eagles have forced 13.5 turnovers a game while snagging 7.7 steals. The 233 turnovers by the opposition has led to 251 points-off-turnovers, or 25.2 percent of EMU's offense.

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 558 minutes, the most of any player in the conference and the 43rd-most in the country. Additionally, Robinson's 37.2 minutes per game average ranks 11th 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.

Eagles Head to Oxford, Ohio for a Crossover Tilt with the RedHawks

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Players Mentioned

Sasha Dailey

Sheyna Deans

Micah Robinson

Cha Sweeney

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics