Women's Basketball Readies for Battle With Wichita State

Women's Basketball at Wichita State
Date	Saturday, Dec. 1 \| 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT)
Venue	Wichita, Kan. \| Charles Koch Arena
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Twitter	@EMUW BB \| @EMUAthletics

WICHITA, Kan. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will complete the second leg of its two-game road swing when it takes on Wichita State University, Saturday, Dec. 1. Tipoff from Charles Koch Arena is set for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT).
   Eastern (2-5) has dropped three consecutive contests, falling to Southern Illinois, 85-54, Nov. 23, Michigan, 57-38, Nov. 27, and Binghamton, 78-67, Dec. 1. Meanwhile, WSU (4-3) is looking to improve to 4-1 at home on the young season, including an 88-83 win over Oklahoma, Nov. 30.
   The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Fans can also follow live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats, or get live updates from the team's Twitter, @EMUWBB.

COMBS COMES IN HOT: After more than a year of waiting, redshirt junior Areanna Combs made her EMU debut against Binghamton, Dec. 1. The Oklahoma State transfer led all Eagles with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting, and hit 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. Those numbers are all single-game highs by any Eagle this season. She also paced the team with seven boards.

YOU CAN COUNT ON COURTNIE: Redshirt junior Courtnie Lewis has displayed her veteran poise through the season, especially against Binghamton, Dec. 1, where she turned in her best performance of the 2019 campaign thus far. The Belton, Mo. native notched a season-best 17 points, including a team-leading three triples. Lewis has led EMU in single-game three point shooting twice this season, and 27 times her career.

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 good for seventh-best in the league.

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 118 turnovers, including 49 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. Eleven players that have been active for the game have found court time in four contests thus far. Every player to dress scored against Olivet, Nov. 8.

BACK TO BELTON (KIND OF): Redshirt junior Courtnie Lewis will make a (near) homecoming trip when the Eagles visit Wichita State, Dec. 7. Lewis hails from nearby Belton, Mo., located just 200 miles from Wichita. Although she will not step foot in her hometown, it will feel like a reunion for Lewis, as numerous family members and friends are expected to make the trip, many to see her play for the first time as an Eagle.

ALL-TIME VS. WICHITA STATE: The Eagles and Shockers will meet for the first time Saturday. A member of the American Conference, WSU is off to a 4-3 start this season. The Wichita, Kan.-based squad last played Dec. 4, where it fell to No. 22/18 Missouri State, 68-55.

AGAINST THE AMERICAN: While Eastern has never faced Wichita State, the Eagles do have 15 games of experience against the American Athletic Conference, compiling a 7-8 record against the league. EMU most favors South Florida, as the Eagles hold a 3-0 record against the Bulls.

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 returns home for a midweek game against Purdue Fort Wayne, before heading into a short break for finals. The game is slated for 2 p.m., inside the Convocation Center.

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Players Mentioned

Areanna Combs

Kiara Johnson

Courtnie Lewis

Eastern Michigan Athletics