Eastern Michigan Athletics
One Week to Go: Women's Basketball Season Preview
11/18/2020 11:48:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EMU opens its 25-game 2020-21 campaign at Southern Illinois, Nov. 25
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set to return to action for the first time since the 2020 Mid-American Conference tournament was abruptly halted on March 12, as a result of the then-adolescent COVID-19 pandemic, when it travels to Southern Illinois for a non-conference battle with the Salukis Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Although it is beginning slightly later than originally scheduled, the Eagles are set to play a 25-game slate in 2020-21.
Patrolling the bench for the Green and White is fifth-year head coach Fred Castro. Last season, Castro led EMU to a 16-15 overall record, including nine conference wins, both career-highs as a head coach for the Oklahoma native. Castro is no stranger to hot starts, as he has guided the Eagles to season-opening wins in three of his four attempts as the EMU bench boss.
Assistant coach Carlos Adamson is back alongside Castro for his third season as a member of the EMU coaching staff in 2020-21. In his second season with the Green and White, EMU's defense, led by Adamson, established itself as one of the very best in the league. The unit allowed just 65.4 points per game, which ranked second in the MAC. Additionally, the Eagles forced the opposition into 15+ turnovers 22 times, while picking their pockets 10+ times in nine of their 29 games.
Back for her second-year as a full-time staff member, and first season as an assistant coach, is Katie Hempen. In her new role, Hempen is set to aid in the day-to-day development of EMU's post players, an experienced group led by senior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)). Additionally, she will use her play-development skills to enhance Eastern's specialty plays and situational offense. Hempen previously served as a graduate assistant before being promoted to Director of Basketball Operations in 2019.
The newest member of the EMU coaching staff is Malikah Willis. She brings nearly two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Ypsilanti, with stints at a number of high-level institutions including Norfolk State (2007-09), West Virginia (2009-13), Georgia Tech (2013-17), the College of Charleston (2017-19), and Texas Tech (2019-20). A highly-touted recruiter, Willis has helped compile seven top-25 recruiting classes, including four while at West Virginia and three at Georgia Tech. She has signed two McDonald's All-Americans and coached 14 student-athletes to all-conference honors during her time in the Big East, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference. In addition, Willis has coached five WNBA draft picks.
With a wealth of returning talent and exciting new first-year players, Castro expects to see positive improvements from the Eagles this season.
"I think this team has its own identity, its own inspiration, and its own motivation to be successful this year," said Castro. "You can tell who the juniors and seniors are, and their awareness of their strengths and weaknesses."
A position-by-position look at the EMU roster can be found below.
GUARD
The most abundant position on the team, Eastern's roster features 10 guards in 2020-21, including seven returners.
Back for her third season, Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) returns to the court after being crowned the MAC's assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) champion for the second consecutive season in 2019-20. The definition of a floor general, Annecchiarico dished out 3.3 assists per game last season, which was good for 11th-best in the conference. Seventy-three assists in 2020-21 would put her on EMU's top-10 all-time list in that category.
Joining Annecchiarico is redshirt junior Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield). Agosto brings a wealth of playing experience to the team after competing in all 31 games for the Green and White a season ago. She logged 769 minutes on court, and averaged 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds.
The Eagles' best point-scorer from last season, redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) is also back in 2020-21. The Oklahoma City native was outstanding in each of the 24 games she participated in a season ago as she scored in double-figures in each contest. In all, Combs averaged a team-leading 19.4 points per game, and she was one of just two players in the league to score 10+ points in each game she played in.
One of just 23 1,000-point scorers in EMU women's basketball history, senior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) returns to the team as one of the most dangerous three-point threats in the entire Mid-American Conference. After scoring 283 points last season, Lewis is on-pace to crack the top-15 all-time scoring list at EMU.
Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland Ohio-New Tech East) and junior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) round out the returners who saw consistent time for the Eagles last season. Cardwell is a fifth-year student-athlete that has made 69 starts in her career. A force on both ends of the court, she has scored nearly 800 career points and has racked up 148 steals. Pineda appeared in 29 games and made seven starts in 2019-20, both career-bests. She has scored better than 100 points in each of her first two seasons in Ypsilanti.
Guards that EMU fans will see for the first time this year include freshmen Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (Detroit, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), and ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West), along with junior Terrysha Banner (Surprise, Ariz. - Valley Vista (Tennessee State)). Redshirt sophomore guard Toyosi Abiola (London, England-City of London Academy (Iona)) is a returning member of the team, but has yet to see action after suffering an injury a season ago. Griggs-Zeigler, a Detroit native and top-100 recruit out of the State of Michigan, and Nelson, a star player at Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City, Okla. will be eligible to play immediately. Banner and O'Hara, both transfers from other Division I institutions, will sit out this season.
FORWARD
The forward position on this year's team is occupied by three returning members from the 2019-20 campaign.
A proven rebounding talent and aggressive defensive player, redshirt junior RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) will look to increase her roll after playing in 21 games for the Green and White last season. The Euclid, Ohio native set career-highs in minutes played (163), points (68), rebounds (42), and free throws (18) in 2019-20. Joining Harris is fellow redshirt junior JaBria Knight (Canton, Ohio-East Canton). A former team manager turned scholarship player for the Eagles, Knight saw action in nine contests last season.
Back for her second season with the team, but suiting up for her first as an eligible player, is Ce'Nara Skanes. A transfer from Florida International University, she is poised to make an immediate impact on both ends of the court for Eastern during its 2020-21 season. In her lone season at FIU, Skanes played in all 29 games, making 16 starts. She averaged a near double-double with 8.6 points per game and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game. For her efforts, she was awarded All-Conference USA Freshman Team honors.
Newcomer Kylee O'Hara (Ajax, Ontario-Henry Street (Florida International)) will also add depth to the position.
CENTER
Rounding out the 2020-21 roster is a pair of high-impact centers.
Ready for season four at Eastern is Autumn Hudson. A dominating post presence, Hudson played in 29 games and made a career-high 27 starts in 2019-20. She tallied career-best numbers in rebounds (199), assists (6), and minutes (581), and scored better than 100 points (136) for the second consecutive season. Hudson enters the season with 14 double-digit rebounding performances in her career, and three double-doubles. She has paced EMU in rebounding 19 times during her tenure in Ypsilanti, including 11 times last season.
Completing the roster for this year's squad is Hudson's counterpart at the center position, senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-Southward (Robert Morris)), a transfer from Robert Morris University. An outstanding player for the Colonials, Ozzy-Momodu averaged 16.1 minutes per game for RMU in 2019-20, ranked third in the Northeast Conference in rebounding (8.7 rpg), and earned Second Team All-NEC honors. Ozzy-Momodu will have to sit out this year due to transfer restrictions.
Castro and company are set to open their condensed 25-game schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 25, with a trip to Southern Illinois University. Tipoff time and broadcast information is yet to be announced. EMU has fared well historically in season openers, having compiled a 30-14 all-time record in that category.
For the most up-to-date information on all-things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media, at @EMUWBB.
Although it is beginning slightly later than originally scheduled, the Eagles are set to play a 25-game slate in 2020-21.
Patrolling the bench for the Green and White is fifth-year head coach Fred Castro. Last season, Castro led EMU to a 16-15 overall record, including nine conference wins, both career-highs as a head coach for the Oklahoma native. Castro is no stranger to hot starts, as he has guided the Eagles to season-opening wins in three of his four attempts as the EMU bench boss.
Assistant coach Carlos Adamson is back alongside Castro for his third season as a member of the EMU coaching staff in 2020-21. In his second season with the Green and White, EMU's defense, led by Adamson, established itself as one of the very best in the league. The unit allowed just 65.4 points per game, which ranked second in the MAC. Additionally, the Eagles forced the opposition into 15+ turnovers 22 times, while picking their pockets 10+ times in nine of their 29 games.
Back for her second-year as a full-time staff member, and first season as an assistant coach, is Katie Hempen. In her new role, Hempen is set to aid in the day-to-day development of EMU's post players, an experienced group led by senior Autumn Hudson (Richwood, Ohio-North Union) and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)). Additionally, she will use her play-development skills to enhance Eastern's specialty plays and situational offense. Hempen previously served as a graduate assistant before being promoted to Director of Basketball Operations in 2019.
The newest member of the EMU coaching staff is Malikah Willis. She brings nearly two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Ypsilanti, with stints at a number of high-level institutions including Norfolk State (2007-09), West Virginia (2009-13), Georgia Tech (2013-17), the College of Charleston (2017-19), and Texas Tech (2019-20). A highly-touted recruiter, Willis has helped compile seven top-25 recruiting classes, including four while at West Virginia and three at Georgia Tech. She has signed two McDonald's All-Americans and coached 14 student-athletes to all-conference honors during her time in the Big East, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference. In addition, Willis has coached five WNBA draft picks.
With a wealth of returning talent and exciting new first-year players, Castro expects to see positive improvements from the Eagles this season.
"I think this team has its own identity, its own inspiration, and its own motivation to be successful this year," said Castro. "You can tell who the juniors and seniors are, and their awareness of their strengths and weaknesses."
A position-by-position look at the EMU roster can be found below.
GUARD
The most abundant position on the team, Eastern's roster features 10 guards in 2020-21, including seven returners.
Back for her third season, Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) returns to the court after being crowned the MAC's assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) champion for the second consecutive season in 2019-20. The definition of a floor general, Annecchiarico dished out 3.3 assists per game last season, which was good for 11th-best in the conference. Seventy-three assists in 2020-21 would put her on EMU's top-10 all-time list in that category.
Joining Annecchiarico is redshirt junior Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield). Agosto brings a wealth of playing experience to the team after competing in all 31 games for the Green and White a season ago. She logged 769 minutes on court, and averaged 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds.
The Eagles' best point-scorer from last season, redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) is also back in 2020-21. The Oklahoma City native was outstanding in each of the 24 games she participated in a season ago as she scored in double-figures in each contest. In all, Combs averaged a team-leading 19.4 points per game, and she was one of just two players in the league to score 10+ points in each game she played in.
One of just 23 1,000-point scorers in EMU women's basketball history, senior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) returns to the team as one of the most dangerous three-point threats in the entire Mid-American Conference. After scoring 283 points last season, Lewis is on-pace to crack the top-15 all-time scoring list at EMU.
Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland Ohio-New Tech East) and junior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) round out the returners who saw consistent time for the Eagles last season. Cardwell is a fifth-year student-athlete that has made 69 starts in her career. A force on both ends of the court, she has scored nearly 800 career points and has racked up 148 steals. Pineda appeared in 29 games and made seven starts in 2019-20, both career-bests. She has scored better than 100 points in each of her first two seasons in Ypsilanti.
Guards that EMU fans will see for the first time this year include freshmen Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (Detroit, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), and ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West), along with junior Terrysha Banner (Surprise, Ariz. - Valley Vista (Tennessee State)). Redshirt sophomore guard Toyosi Abiola (London, England-City of London Academy (Iona)) is a returning member of the team, but has yet to see action after suffering an injury a season ago. Griggs-Zeigler, a Detroit native and top-100 recruit out of the State of Michigan, and Nelson, a star player at Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City, Okla. will be eligible to play immediately. Banner and O'Hara, both transfers from other Division I institutions, will sit out this season.
FORWARD
The forward position on this year's team is occupied by three returning members from the 2019-20 campaign.
A proven rebounding talent and aggressive defensive player, redshirt junior RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) will look to increase her roll after playing in 21 games for the Green and White last season. The Euclid, Ohio native set career-highs in minutes played (163), points (68), rebounds (42), and free throws (18) in 2019-20. Joining Harris is fellow redshirt junior JaBria Knight (Canton, Ohio-East Canton). A former team manager turned scholarship player for the Eagles, Knight saw action in nine contests last season.
Back for her second season with the team, but suiting up for her first as an eligible player, is Ce'Nara Skanes. A transfer from Florida International University, she is poised to make an immediate impact on both ends of the court for Eastern during its 2020-21 season. In her lone season at FIU, Skanes played in all 29 games, making 16 starts. She averaged a near double-double with 8.6 points per game and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game. For her efforts, she was awarded All-Conference USA Freshman Team honors.
Newcomer Kylee O'Hara (Ajax, Ontario-Henry Street (Florida International)) will also add depth to the position.
CENTER
Rounding out the 2020-21 roster is a pair of high-impact centers.
Ready for season four at Eastern is Autumn Hudson. A dominating post presence, Hudson played in 29 games and made a career-high 27 starts in 2019-20. She tallied career-best numbers in rebounds (199), assists (6), and minutes (581), and scored better than 100 points (136) for the second consecutive season. Hudson enters the season with 14 double-digit rebounding performances in her career, and three double-doubles. She has paced EMU in rebounding 19 times during her tenure in Ypsilanti, including 11 times last season.
Completing the roster for this year's squad is Hudson's counterpart at the center position, senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-Southward (Robert Morris)), a transfer from Robert Morris University. An outstanding player for the Colonials, Ozzy-Momodu averaged 16.1 minutes per game for RMU in 2019-20, ranked third in the Northeast Conference in rebounding (8.7 rpg), and earned Second Team All-NEC honors. Ozzy-Momodu will have to sit out this year due to transfer restrictions.
Castro and company are set to open their condensed 25-game schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 25, with a trip to Southern Illinois University. Tipoff time and broadcast information is yet to be announced. EMU has fared well historically in season openers, having compiled a 30-14 all-time record in that category.
For the most up-to-date information on all-things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media, at @EMUWBB.
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