Women's Hoops Welcomes Miami to the Convocation Center

Women's Basketball vs. Miami
Date	Wednesday, Jan. 15 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN +
Twitter	@EMUW BB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After a two-game road swing, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns home for a Mid-American Conference showdown with Miami University, Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside EMU's Convocation Center.
Eastern (7-7; 2-1 MAC) looks to get back in the win column after suffering its first conference loss at Ball State, Jan. 11. Prior to the setback, EMU had won five straight games. Meanwhile, Miami (8-7; 1-2 MAC) looks to avenge a six-point, 76-70, loss at the hands of Central Michigan, Jan. 11.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley and Tom Helmer on the call. WEMU (89.1 FM) will also carry the action with Chad Bush behind the mic. Fans can also follow live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats, or get live updates from the team's Twitter, @EMUWBB.

EIGHT-FOR-EIGHT: Redshirt junior guard Areanna Combs has been outstanding for the Eagles in the eight games she has played this season. The Oklahoma City native has scored in double-figures in each contest, dropping a career-best 32 points against BGSU, Jan. 4. In all, Combs is averaging a team-best 19.6 points per game, an average that only two players in the MAC have outpaced this season.

ARE(ANNA) YOU SERIOUS?: Already averaging 19.6 points per game, redshirt junior Areanna Combs has been even more impressive through EMU's three conference games. The Oklahoma City native is averaging a team-leading 21.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in those games. Additionally, she registered her first double-double at EMU with a 18-point, 11-board performance at Ball State, Jan. 11.

GETTING IT DONE ON D: Eastern Michigan's high intensity defense has caused opponents fits this season as the Eagles have forced the opposition into 15+ turnovers 11 times, while picking their pockets 10+ times in four of their 13 games, including each of their last four. EMU's 18.9 forced turnovers per game are the third-most in the MAC.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Eastern's ability to protect the ball has certainly contributed to its recent success. EMU has forced 129 turnovers while only relinquishing possession on 102 occasions during its last six games, in which it boasts a 5-1 record.

CRASHING THE BOARDS: Fred Castro's squad has often shown that players of any stature can still crash the boards. Five players recorded five-plus rebound performances against Ball State, Jan. 11, including redshirt junior Areanna Combs, who led the squad with 11. Junior Autumn Hudson and sophomore Kiara Johnson followed with seven and six, respectively, while junior Courtnie Lewis and redshirt sophomore RayJon Harris each added five.

STIFLING DEFENSE TO START: EMU dominated the first quarter of play against BSU, Jan. 11, holding the Cardinals without a field goal for the first 7:58 of the game. The performance came on the heels of holding Kent State without a field goal for the opening 7:31 of the game between the Eagles and Golden Flashes, Jan. 8.

HELPING HAND: Sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico has embraced the role of floor general to the tune of 3.7 assists per game, the 10th-best mark in the MAC. Her 1.4 assist to turnover ratio is also good for 10th in the league.

NINE DOWN, TWO TO GO: With his win over Kent State, Jan. 8, EMU head man Fred Castro has beaten nine of the 11 Mid-American Conference opponents. He and the Eagles will have a chance to cross Buffalo off that list Saturday, Jan. 18. They'll get first crack at the Chippewas of Central Michigan Wednesday, Jan. 22.

STILL STANDING TALL: Despite suffering a conference loss at Ball State, Jan. 11, EMU still sits in a tie for the second-best league record against all MAC schools. Ball State and Central Michigan, both of the MAC West, are 3-0 respectively, while Eastern, Toledo, Western Michigan, and Ohio all boast 2-1 records in conference play.

ALL-TIME AGAINST MIAMI: The Eagles and RedHawks will meet for the 62nd time on Wednesday. A lopsided affair, Miami holds a 42-19 lead in the all-time series, and has won each of the last two matchups. EMU's last win over the Oxford, Ohio-based opponent came in 2018, when the Green and White dominated Miami, 74-59, in the Buckeye State, Jan. 13.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE REDHAWKS: Free throws by then-freshman Natalia Pineda and a transition layup by then-redshirt sophomore Corrione Cardwell gave the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team a 56-54 lead with 4:05 to go, but Miami University used a slew of free throws down the stretch to top EMU, 63-56.
Then-sophomore Courtnie Lewis led the way for the Eagles with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including a pair of triples, while Cardwell added 17 points. Cardwell was efficient, finishing 8-for-11 from the floor, while also adding five rebounds and three steals. Then-sophomore Autumn Hudson flirted with a double-double for the second straight game, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with six points and two blocks.

FIVE STRAIGHT: Eastern's win over Kent State, Jan. 8, gave the team five consecutive wins for the first time during the 2019-20 campaign. The Eagles dominated Purdue Fort Wayne, 64-40, Dec. 10, before taking care of UIC, 68-59, Dec. 18, Detroit Mercy, 84-70, Dec. 21, and BGSU, 78-61, Jan. 4. The Eagles picked up the fifth win with a 74-69 handling of the Golden Flashes in Kent, Ohio, Wednesday, Jan. 8.

BEST IN A DECADE: With its win at Kent State, Jan. 8, Eastern became 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign, when the Eagles opened MAC play with wins over Northern Illinois, and Ball State, respectively.

BACK IN #MACtion: The Green and White's 2019-20 campaign marks the 39th 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, EMU has compiled a 268-360 record against conference opponents all-time.

RING CHASING: Eastern enters league play in search of its first conference championship since 2012. That year, the Eagles captured both the MAC West and MAC Tournament titles. Overall, EMU has claimed four division crowns (2004, 2006, 2008, 2012) and two tournament championships (2004, 2012).

COUNT ON COURTNIE: Although she has seen her role change this season, often coming off the bench instead of starting, junior Courtnie Lewis has remained outstanding for the Green and White. The Belton, Mo. native notched 13 points against Kent State, Jan. 4, just two points behind scoring leaders Areanna Combs and Jenna Annecchiarico, who each had 15. Lewis is fourth on the team with a 7.5 points per game average this season.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern is back on the road for a Mid-American Conference matchup against Buffalo Saturday, Jan. 18. Tipoff from upstate New York is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Annecchiarico

Corrione Cardwell

Areanna Combs

RayJon Harris

Autumn Hudson

Kiara Johnson

Courtnie Lewis

Natalia Pineda

Eastern Michigan Athletics