Women's Basketball Set to Welcome Wolverines to Ypsilanti

Women's Basketball vs. Michigan
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 27 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMUW BB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team continues its three-game homestand at the Convocation Center Wednesday, Nov. 27, when it welcomes Washtenaw County-rival the University of Michigan, to Ypsilanti. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
   Eastern has claimed victory in four of the last seven meetings, including in the last matchup between the squads, when the Eagles bested UM, 64-63, at the Convocation Center, Dec. 23, 2015.
   The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Tom Helmer providing the play-by-play and Greg Steiner offering analysis. Fans can also follow live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats, or get live updates from the team's Twitter, @EMUWBB.

TIPPING THE NEEDLE AT HOME: A win over the Wolverines on Tuesday would give fourth-year head coach Fred Castro a winning record inside the Convocation Center. Currently, he is 21-21 in the venue. After going 4-10, and 6-6, respectively, in Castro's first two seasons, EMU went 9-5 on its home floor in 2018-19.
   This year, the team is 2-1 at home, earning wins over Olivet, Nov. 8, and Southeast Missouri, Nov. 19.

POINTS ALL AROUND: Through five games this season, the Eagles have recorded points from at least eight players in each contest. A team-high 11 made the box score against Olivet, Nov. 8, while nine notched points against Michigan State, Nov. 5. Eight players made baskets against Youngstown State, Nov. 16, Southeast Missouri, Nov. 19, and Southern Illinois, Nov. 23.

BLOCK PARTY: Sophomore Kiara Johnson is one of just nine players across the MAC to average one-or-more blocks per game. Her 1.0 average is tied for sixth in the conference.

PASS-FIRST MINDSET: Sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico and redshirt junior Corrione Cardwell have no trouble sharing the ball. Their 4.0 assist per game average ranks fifth in the MAC. Additionally, Cardwell's 1.7 assist/turnover ratio (20-to-12) is good for fourth in the league, while Annecchiarico's ratio of 1.4 (20-to-14) ranks sixth.

STANLEY SETTING STANDARDS: Freshman Aaliyah Stanley's 24-point performance during Eastern's 69-64 win over Southeast Missouri, Nov. 19, ranks second in the conference in single-game points scored by a freshman. Dyaisha Fair's (Buffalo) 31 leads the MAC. In addition, the 24 points rank tied for 16th in single-game points scored across the conference.

FINDING HER STROKE: After beginning the season 1-of-11 (9.1%) clip from deep, freshman guard Aaliyah Stanley has found her stroke in the last three games. The Boynton Beach, Fla. native drained 4-of-7 (57.1%) shots from downtown, and recorded her first-ever game as the team's three-point leader, Nov. 16 at Youngstown State. Stanley followed up that performance with a team-leading 24-point performance to guide the Eagles against Southeast Missouri, Nov. 19. The freshman shot 5-of-9 from behind the three point line and 9-of-15 overall.
   In the Eagles most recent contest, against Southern Illinois, Nov. 23, she tallied 15 points and led the team with three triples.
   Her 12 three-point makes in the past two games aided in quadrupling her season three-point percentage, which now sits at 37 percent, good for second on the team.

TAKING THE ROCK AWAY: After forcing 16.7 turnovers per game a season ago, Eastern looks poised to be pesky on the defensive end of the court yet again in 2019-20. EMU has forced 91 turnovers, including 39 swipes this season. EMU stole a season-best 13 passes against Youngstown State, Nov. 16.

UTILIZING DEPTH: Depth is a term Fred Castro has consistently used to describe his 2019-20 squad. The depth of his bench has been on display thus far, as at-least nine players have seen action in every game this season. All-11 players that have been active for the game have found court time in three of five contests thus far. Every player scored against Olivet, Nov. 8.

ALL-TIME VS. MICHIGAN: EMU and Michigan will meet for the 25th time on Wednesday. A competitive series, the Wolverines hold a 15-9 all-time edge over the Green and White. Eastern has claimed victory in four of the last seven meetings, including in the last matchup between the squads, when the Eagles bested UM, 64-63, at the Convocation Center, Dec. 23, 2015.
   The Eagles trailed for 39 minutes before regaining the lead with one minute to play, upending Michigan by a final score of 64-63. The Green and White out-shot the Maize and Blue in the contest 45 percent to 40 percent, while also converting 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Eastern also out-rebounded Michigan by a 37-35 margin, and forced 18 turnovers, which they turned into 20 points.

LAST TIME AGAINST U-M: Eastern's last win over a Power Seven opponent came in the Convocation Center as Phillis Webb's near-double-double led EMU past Michigan, 64-63, Dec. 23, 2015. Webb led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS: University of Michigan women's basketball athletic communications contact Sarah VanMetre is familiar with the EMU program, having donned the Green and White as a basketball student-athlete from 2003-07. A rebounding specialist, VanMetre is tied-for fourth all-time in boards, with 770. She is also the only academic All-American in program history.

AGAINST THE BIG TEN: Eastern Michigan is just 13-46 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 still trails in the series, 15-9. 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, 1-16, and OSU, 1-2. Meanwhile, EMU is winless against Illinois (0-4), Indiana (0-2), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), and Purdue (0-3).

EMU AGAINST THE POWER SEVEN: Eastern Michigan holds a combined record of 19-76 against the Power Seven conferences - ACC, American, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC. EMU has faced Big Ten Conference opponents most often, compiling a 13-46 record versus the Rosemont, Ill.-based league, while Eastern is 7-8 versus the American and 4-8 against the Big East. EMU has three wins against both the Atlantic Coast Conference (3-13) and Southeastern Conference (3-5). Meanwhile, EMU is winless against the Big 12 (0-6) and Pac-12 (0-5).

BIG MOMENT, BIG STAGE: Since 1998-99 the Eagles have posted 11 victories over Power Seven Conference opponents, most recently a 64-63 come-from-behind triumph over Michigan, Dec. 23, 2015. Overall, EMU has played 49 contests against high-majors during that span, posting an 11-38 record.

ALL THE LEAGUES EMU WILL FACE: The Eagles will play teams hailing from eight different Division I conferences this season. In addition to its 18-game Mid-American Conference slate, EMU will face three Horizon League members, two teams from the Big Ten Conference, as well as one opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, America East Conference, American Athletic Conference, and Summit League.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern hits the highway for two games away from home. The Eagles travel to Vestal, N.Y. for a matchup with Binghamton, Dec. 1, before taking on Wichita State, Dec. 7, in Wichita, Kan.

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Annecchiarico

Corrione Cardwell

Kiara Johnson

Aaliyah Stanley

Eastern Michigan Athletics