Eastern Michigan Athletics

Women's Basketball Returns Home to Host Ohio
2/3/2020 1:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., Feb. 5, at the Convocation Center
Women's Basketball vs. Ohio | |
Date | Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 7 p.m. |
Venue | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Convocation Center |
Preview Info | EMU Notes |
Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
Watch | Listen | ESPN+ | WEMU 89.1 FM |
@EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After two games on the road, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is back home for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional matchup with Ohio University, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Tipoff from EMU's Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m.
Eastern (10-10; 5-4 MAC) looks to recover after a heartbreaking overtime loss at Akron, Feb. 1. Ohio (13-7; 6-3 MAC) is also looking to avenge an OT setback, as the Bobcats were downed by Central Michigan, 92-90, in extra time, Feb. 1
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley calling the play-by-play and Tom Helmer offering analysis. WEMU 89.1 FM will also carry the game, as Chad Bush will commentate the airwaves. Fans can also follow live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats, or get live updates from the team's Twitter, @EMUWBB.
14-FOR-14: Redshirt junior guard Areanna Combs has been outstanding for the Eagles in the 14 games she has played this season. The Oklahoma City native has scored in double-figures in each contest. In all, Combs is averaging a team-best 18.1 points per game, an average that only two players in the MAC have outpaced this season.
Combs scored a team-best 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting Jan. 29, at Toledo, before putting up 12 points in just 21 minutes at Akron, Feb. 1
THE CURSE OF THE 80s: Although it has a winning record when scoring 80 points, EMU's kryptonite has been allowing 80-or-more points in games. This season, Eastern is 0-4 when opponents hit that number. In the Fred Castro era, the team is 0-24 when an opponent scores 80-or-better. EMU lost, 88-81, in OT at Akron, Feb. 1.
OH NO, OT: Overtime has not treated Eastern well as of late. The Eagles have played in seven overtime games since Jan. 2018, and hold an 0-7 record in those contests. EMU fell most recently in OT to Akron, 88-81, Feb. 1, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
JUAN-DERFUL PERFORMANCE: Redshirt sophomore guard Juanita Agosto was outstanding against Akron, Feb. 1. The Seattle native set new career-highs in points (21), field goals (8), three-pointers made (2), blocks (1), and minutes played (44).
Most impressive was her clutch end-of-regulation heroics. Down one to the Zips, 76-75, with 0.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Agosto was able to draw a foul and get to the free throw line with a chance to tie or win the game. Although she missed the initial freebie, she drained the second, which gave her team a chance to extend the game to overtime. Although the Eagles fell, 88-81, in the extra period, Agosto's performance was incredible.
FIVE IN DOUBLE-DIGITS: While redshirt sophomore Juanita Agosto's 21-point performance paced the Eagles against Akron, Feb. 1, four other Eagles reached double-figure point totals as well. Redshirt junior Corrione Cardwell had a season-best 16 points, while fellow upperclassman Courtnie Lewis added 15 herself. Redshirt junior Areanna Combs and sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico rounded out the group with 12, and 11 points, respectively. The game is the third this season in which Eastern has had five double-digit performances.
THANKS FOR ASSISTING: Sophomore guard Jenna Annecchiarico is one of the best in the MAC at dishing the rock. She tallied a team-leading five helpers against NIU, Jan. 25, which marked the second time this season that she racked up five-plus assists in a game. She added four assists against Toledo, Jan. 29, and three against Akron, Feb. 1, both team-bests. Her 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio is second-best in the league, while her 3.5 assists per game ranks 11th. The Baldwin, N.Y. native leads EMU in both categories.
LEWIS KEEPS FIRING: Junior guard Courtnie Lewis has been good from beyond the arc in EMU's last three games (NIU, Jan. 25; Toledo, Jan. 29;. Akron, Feb. 1). The Belton, Mo. native has hit two threes in each contest, which has tied for a team-best in each game, respectively. Lewis has now led EMU in single-game three-point makes eight times this season, and 33 times during her career.
GETTING IT DONE ON D: Eastern Michigan's high intensity defense has caused opponents fits this season. The Eagles have forced the opposition into 15+ turnovers 16 times, while picking their pockets 10+ times in seven of their 18 games. EMU's 19.3 forced turnovers per game are the second-most in the MAC.
13 STRAIGHT WITH A STEAL: Sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico has been nearly automatic when it comes to swiping the ball. The Baldwin, N.Y. native has recorded at least one steal in each of the Eagles' last 13 contests, dating back to Dec. 7, at Wichita State. She recorded five steals against Akron, Feb. 1, which is a season-best and ties her single-game career-high (5, vs. UNCG, Dec. 12, 2018). She is first on the team with 41 steals, and her 2.1 SPG average is tied-for sixth in the conference.
TOP-FIVE DEFENSE: The EMU defense has been stout all season long, giving up just 66.0 points per contest. That number is good for fourth in the Mid-American Conference, just 2.3 points behind league-leader Ball State (63.7 points allowed per game).
CRASH THE BOARDS: EMU front man Fred Castro preaches the importance of rebounding, and for good reason. The Eagles have out-rebounded opponents seven times during the 2019-20 season. Their record in those games: 6-1. When the opponent out-rebounds EMU, it is just 4-9 on the season, and 10-50 since the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
LINE OR DIE: Free throws are a crucial ingredient for winning basketball games. When Eastern has more free throw attempts than its opponents, it is a perfect 8-0 on the season. When it has less attempts, the Eagles are just 2-10.
FACING THE BOBCATS: The Eagles and Bobcats will meet for the 63rd time Wednesday. A competitive series throughout its history, Ohio is ahead in the all-time win count, 36-26, and has emerged victorious in five of the last six matchups between the two squads, dating back to March 2015.
LAST TIME AGAINST OHIO: Early shooting struggles were too much for Eastern to overcome as Ohio used a 20-0 run in the first half and 14 three-pointers to hand EMU an 85-44 setback inside OU's Convocation Center, Jan. 19, 2019. Former Eagle Danielle Minott led Eastern with 17 points, while then-sophomore Courtnie Lewis chipped in 10. On the glass, then-freshman Kiara Johnson and then-sophomores Autumn Hudson and Lewis led Eastern's rebounding effort. Johnson tied a career-high with nine rebounds, while Hudson and Lewis added six apiece.
LAST WIN OVER OU: Eastern got back in the win column with a gritty come-from-behind, 73-58, victory against Ohio, Feb. 14, 2018, inside EMU's Convocation Center. The Eagles snapped a five-game skid and ended a streak of 11 consecutive defeats in the month of February after earning a vital 15-point win over the Bobcats. Eagle great Danielle Minott eclipsed the 20-point plateau, leading all scorers with 24 points while adding nine rebounds and a team-high five assists. Former Eagle Sasha Dailey recorded 19 points, four boards, three helpers, and a team-best three steals in 40 minutes of action. Then-freshman Courtnie Lewis tallied 14 points and 11 boards for her second double-double of the 2017-18 campaign.
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).
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern heads west on I-94 for a battle with in-state foe Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 8. Tipoff from Kalamazoo is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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