Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, January 10
Kalamazoo, Mich.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Women's Basketball Heads West for Sunday Showdown
1/10/2021 9:08:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EMU-WMU is set to tip off at 4 p.m.
| Women's Basketball at Western Michigan | |
| Date | Sunday, Jan. 10 |
| Venue | Kalamazoo, Mich. | University Arena |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Watch | ESPN3 |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is back in action Sunday, Jan. 10 as it will make the short trip west on I-94 to battle its Mid-American Conference and in-state rival, Western Michigan University, in the first matchup between the squads this season. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. inside University Arena.
Eastern (4-5, 1-3 MAC) is looking to get back on track in conference play as it has dropped three consecutive league contests to Bowling Green, Dec. 11, Kent State, Jan. 2, and Buffalo, Jan. 6. It will face a Western ( 1-5, 0-4 MAC) team that is equally as hungry for a win.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3. WEMU (89.1 FM) will not carry the game.
Fans are encouraged to continue to follow @EMUWBB on social media and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball.
LOOK AT THE LOSSES: While a 1-3 record in conference play is not something to tout, it should` be noted that the teams Eastern has lost to are all off to incredible starts. In fact, Bowling Green (8-1, 4-0), Buffalo (7-2, 4-0), and Kent State (4-2, 3-0), have a combined .791 overall winning percentage (19-of-24), and are all unblemished in the MAC. Additionally, EMU has been extremely competitive in each of those losses as all have been within seven points.
WELCOME BACK, CORRIONE: Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell has only been back with the team for four games, but she has wasted little time making an impact for the Green and White. Her most recent performance, against Buffalo, Jan. 6, was evidence of that. She finished the game with season-highs in points (9), field goals (4), rebounds (7), assists (4), and minutes (29).
Cardwell is another example of the deep bench that EMU features. In fact, she has played (93) and started (69) more games in her career than any other player on the Eastern roster.
SEEING THE FLOOR: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs is one of the best scorers in the MAC, but this season, she has demonstrated a significant improvement in her court vision. The Oklahoma City native is converting 2.9 assists per game, a half-assist improvement over her 2019-20 numbers. Additionally, she has recorded three games with five-plus assists, including EMU's last game, against Buffalo, Jan. 6. That stat, recorded just nine games into the season, has already surpassed that of her initial season at Eastern (two games with 5+ assists).
HELPING HANDS: EMU's Areanna Combs and Jenna Annecchiarico each dished out five helpers against Buffalo, Jan. 6. The effort was the first of the season in which two Eastern players have recorded five-or-more assists in a game. As a team, Eastern ranks tied for fourth in the MAC with 110 total assists this season, and eighth in assists per game (12.22).
BALDWIN BADDIE: Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico is again proving to be one of the best floor generals in the conference this season. In addition to her 10.7 ppg average, which ranks third on the team, she has been incredible at dishing the rock. The Baldwin, N.Y. native ranks second in the conference in assists (35), and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5). Annecchiarico has led the conference in the latter in each of the previous two seasons.
SKANES BRINGS THE PAIN: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes continues to shine for Eastern Michigan as it approaches its 10th game of the season. The Sooner State product paced the Eagles in both points (24) and rebounding (8) versus Buffalo, Jan. 6. The game was her n of the season with 10+ points, fourth of the year with 20+ points, her sixth contest leading the team on the boards, and her second as the team's scoring leader.
Through nine games, Skanes is first in the MAC in numerous categories, including double-doubles (4), rebounds (84), and rebounds per game (10.5). She is one of only two players in the league with a 10+ rebound per game average (Nila Blackford – Kent State – 10.0).
ELEVATING IN MAC PLAY: As good as Areanna Combs has been, she has been that much better in the games that matter most: conference games. Combs averaged an impressive 16.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 2.4 steals per game in Eastern's five non-conference affairs this season. In her three games against MAC opponents, those numbers have all improved. Against league foes, she has put up 22.8 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per contest, and has averaged 4.0 thefts per game. Those averages rank sixth, 12th, and first, respectively, among all MAC players in conference play this season.
PINEDA HITS A PAIR: Junior Natalia Pineda played an important role in Eastern's comeback attempt against Buffalo, Jan. 6, as she hit two triples to tie for the team lead in that category. The performance was her second-straight with multiple makes from beyond the arc, a pattern that will need to ensue if EMU hopes to contend for a title.
As a team, EMU has struggled from deep. Collectively, Eastern is just 41-of-161 (25.5%) from behind the arc, which ranks 12th in the conference.
TRIUMPHANT TRIO: EMU got 76 percent of its offensive production from the trio of Areanna Combs, Jenna Annecchiarico, and Corrione Cardwell against Buffalo, Jan. 6. The group provided 52 of Eastern's 68 points in the contest. In all, six of the eight players who saw game action notched points for the Green and White.
LINE OF IMPROVEMENT: Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Eagles this season has been their improvement at the charity stripe. The Eagles rank third in the league with a 75.6 percent clip from the line in conference play, and rank eighth overall in the conference with a 70.8 percent mark on the season. Those numbers are impressive given that EMU has finished last in the league in free thrown percentage each of the last two seasons, including a best mark of 61.2 percent in 2019-20.
Individually, the most outstanding jump has come courtesy of senior center Autumn Hudson. A sub 40-percent career free throw shooter entering the season, she has hit 75 percent (6-of-8) of her attempts this season. Hudson has improved at the line in each season with Eastern, starting her career with a 21.4 percent clip in 2017-18 before raising that number to 34.0 and 40.9 percent, respectively, in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
CAN'T LET THEM SCORE 70: Although many factors contribute to the end result of a game, one thing is for certain; 70 is kryptonite for Eastern Michigan. This season, the team is 0-3 when allowing 70 points in a game. Moreover, EMU is 8-31 when allowing 70+ points since the start of the 2016-17 season.
When Eastern scores 70, it is 1-0 this season and 13-7 since the 2016-17 campaign.
KEEP THEM UNDER 60: While a team scoring 70 typically favors EMU's opponent, the Eagles are dominant when holding their competition under 60 points in a game. This season, the team is 3-0 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 19-5 during the Fred Castro era (2016-Pres.) when keeping its competition below 60 points.
FIRST HALF FORTUNES: It is often said that games are won in the second half, but Eastern Michigan's stats disagree. EMU is 3-0 this season when leading at the break, and just 1-5 when attempting a second-half comeback. Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, the Eagles are 31-14 when holding an intermission lead, and just 15-66 when trailing at the half.
SHOOT WELL, AND YOU WILL WIN: The team that has shot the highest percentage from the floor has emerged victorious in eight of EMU's nine games this season (EMU 4, opponents 5). That trend holds consistent during the last five seasons; the Eagles are 40-14 when outshooting opponents in that stretch, and are just 10-65 when scoring at a lesser clip than its competition.
PLAY ALL DAY: Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico is one of the most relied upon players in all of Division I basketball. No player in the MAC has logged more minutes than Annecchiarico this season, who checks in at 341 through nine games. Her 37.9 minutes per game average is the best in the conference.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: EMU's defensive efforts have been strong through eight games this season. The Eagles are second-best in the conference in the scoring defense category, allowing just 63.6 points per game. Additionally, Eastern is second in the MAC in steals per game (9.4).
STEAL THE DEAL: Last season, the Eagles were fantastic at stealing the rock, finishing fourth in the Mid-American Conference with 8.57 steals per game. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs was first on the team and fourth in the MAC with a 2.2 SPG average in 2019-20.
The Eagles appear to be off to a great start on the defensive end of the floor once again in 2020-21. EMU racked up an incredible 11 steals en route to turning Southern Illinois over 18 times on Nov. 25, before nabbing 18 steals against UIC, Nov. 29, and 13 at Ball State, Dec. 2. The 18-steal game is just one behind EMU's top mark in the 2019-20 campaign (19 at UIC, Dec. 18). EMU is second in the MAC in both steals (85) and steals per game (9.4). Combs and junior Jenna Annecchiarico are first and sixth in the MAC with their respective 3.1 and 2.3 steals per game averages. Annecchiarico's eight steals against UIC, Nov. 29, was a career-high.
OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, and was the acting head coach for most of the 2006- 07 season when then-head coach Suzy Merchant was on maternity leave. While serving as the acting head coach at EMU for a majority of the 2006-07 season, he guided the Eagles to a 16-13 overall record and a 10-6 finish in the MAC, good for second place in the West Division. Individually, Sarah VanMetre became the first women's basketball player in program history to be named Academic All-American, Patrice McKinney was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Alyssa Pittman was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.
ALL-TIME AGAINST WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles and Broncos will meet for the 89th time Saturday, Jan. 9. A favorable series for the Green and White, EMU holds a 50-38 lead in the all-time count between the two schools.
LAST TIME IN KZOO: Despite facing a 10-point third quarter deficit, Eastern rallied on the road to defeat Western, 83-79, Feb. 8, 2020 inside University Arena. Down four, 72-68, with just over two minutes remaining in the game, EMU got back-to-back buckets from point guard Jenna Annecchiarico and Corrione Cardwell, which tied the game at 72-all. Although WMU hit a quick triple in its next possession, Annecchiarico answered, to tie the game at 75-apiece. After a defensive stop, it was Courtnie Lewis who hit the biggest bucket of the game, a contested two-point jumper that gave Eastern the lead for good, 77-75, with 47 seconds on the clock.
ON THE HORIZON: EMU will remain on the road as it travels to Oxford, Ohio for a midweek matchup with the Miami University RedHawks. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
Eastern (4-5, 1-3 MAC) is looking to get back on track in conference play as it has dropped three consecutive league contests to Bowling Green, Dec. 11, Kent State, Jan. 2, and Buffalo, Jan. 6. It will face a Western ( 1-5, 0-4 MAC) team that is equally as hungry for a win.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3. WEMU (89.1 FM) will not carry the game.
Fans are encouraged to continue to follow @EMUWBB on social media and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball.
LOOK AT THE LOSSES: While a 1-3 record in conference play is not something to tout, it should` be noted that the teams Eastern has lost to are all off to incredible starts. In fact, Bowling Green (8-1, 4-0), Buffalo (7-2, 4-0), and Kent State (4-2, 3-0), have a combined .791 overall winning percentage (19-of-24), and are all unblemished in the MAC. Additionally, EMU has been extremely competitive in each of those losses as all have been within seven points.
WELCOME BACK, CORRIONE: Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell has only been back with the team for four games, but she has wasted little time making an impact for the Green and White. Her most recent performance, against Buffalo, Jan. 6, was evidence of that. She finished the game with season-highs in points (9), field goals (4), rebounds (7), assists (4), and minutes (29).
Cardwell is another example of the deep bench that EMU features. In fact, she has played (93) and started (69) more games in her career than any other player on the Eastern roster.
SEEING THE FLOOR: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs is one of the best scorers in the MAC, but this season, she has demonstrated a significant improvement in her court vision. The Oklahoma City native is converting 2.9 assists per game, a half-assist improvement over her 2019-20 numbers. Additionally, she has recorded three games with five-plus assists, including EMU's last game, against Buffalo, Jan. 6. That stat, recorded just nine games into the season, has already surpassed that of her initial season at Eastern (two games with 5+ assists).
HELPING HANDS: EMU's Areanna Combs and Jenna Annecchiarico each dished out five helpers against Buffalo, Jan. 6. The effort was the first of the season in which two Eastern players have recorded five-or-more assists in a game. As a team, Eastern ranks tied for fourth in the MAC with 110 total assists this season, and eighth in assists per game (12.22).
BALDWIN BADDIE: Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico is again proving to be one of the best floor generals in the conference this season. In addition to her 10.7 ppg average, which ranks third on the team, she has been incredible at dishing the rock. The Baldwin, N.Y. native ranks second in the conference in assists (35), and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5). Annecchiarico has led the conference in the latter in each of the previous two seasons.
SKANES BRINGS THE PAIN: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes continues to shine for Eastern Michigan as it approaches its 10th game of the season. The Sooner State product paced the Eagles in both points (24) and rebounding (8) versus Buffalo, Jan. 6. The game was her n of the season with 10+ points, fourth of the year with 20+ points, her sixth contest leading the team on the boards, and her second as the team's scoring leader.
Through nine games, Skanes is first in the MAC in numerous categories, including double-doubles (4), rebounds (84), and rebounds per game (10.5). She is one of only two players in the league with a 10+ rebound per game average (Nila Blackford – Kent State – 10.0).
ELEVATING IN MAC PLAY: As good as Areanna Combs has been, she has been that much better in the games that matter most: conference games. Combs averaged an impressive 16.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 2.4 steals per game in Eastern's five non-conference affairs this season. In her three games against MAC opponents, those numbers have all improved. Against league foes, she has put up 22.8 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per contest, and has averaged 4.0 thefts per game. Those averages rank sixth, 12th, and first, respectively, among all MAC players in conference play this season.
PINEDA HITS A PAIR: Junior Natalia Pineda played an important role in Eastern's comeback attempt against Buffalo, Jan. 6, as she hit two triples to tie for the team lead in that category. The performance was her second-straight with multiple makes from beyond the arc, a pattern that will need to ensue if EMU hopes to contend for a title.
As a team, EMU has struggled from deep. Collectively, Eastern is just 41-of-161 (25.5%) from behind the arc, which ranks 12th in the conference.
TRIUMPHANT TRIO: EMU got 76 percent of its offensive production from the trio of Areanna Combs, Jenna Annecchiarico, and Corrione Cardwell against Buffalo, Jan. 6. The group provided 52 of Eastern's 68 points in the contest. In all, six of the eight players who saw game action notched points for the Green and White.
LINE OF IMPROVEMENT: Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Eagles this season has been their improvement at the charity stripe. The Eagles rank third in the league with a 75.6 percent clip from the line in conference play, and rank eighth overall in the conference with a 70.8 percent mark on the season. Those numbers are impressive given that EMU has finished last in the league in free thrown percentage each of the last two seasons, including a best mark of 61.2 percent in 2019-20.
Individually, the most outstanding jump has come courtesy of senior center Autumn Hudson. A sub 40-percent career free throw shooter entering the season, she has hit 75 percent (6-of-8) of her attempts this season. Hudson has improved at the line in each season with Eastern, starting her career with a 21.4 percent clip in 2017-18 before raising that number to 34.0 and 40.9 percent, respectively, in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
CAN'T LET THEM SCORE 70: Although many factors contribute to the end result of a game, one thing is for certain; 70 is kryptonite for Eastern Michigan. This season, the team is 0-3 when allowing 70 points in a game. Moreover, EMU is 8-31 when allowing 70+ points since the start of the 2016-17 season.
When Eastern scores 70, it is 1-0 this season and 13-7 since the 2016-17 campaign.
KEEP THEM UNDER 60: While a team scoring 70 typically favors EMU's opponent, the Eagles are dominant when holding their competition under 60 points in a game. This season, the team is 3-0 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 19-5 during the Fred Castro era (2016-Pres.) when keeping its competition below 60 points.
FIRST HALF FORTUNES: It is often said that games are won in the second half, but Eastern Michigan's stats disagree. EMU is 3-0 this season when leading at the break, and just 1-5 when attempting a second-half comeback. Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, the Eagles are 31-14 when holding an intermission lead, and just 15-66 when trailing at the half.
SHOOT WELL, AND YOU WILL WIN: The team that has shot the highest percentage from the floor has emerged victorious in eight of EMU's nine games this season (EMU 4, opponents 5). That trend holds consistent during the last five seasons; the Eagles are 40-14 when outshooting opponents in that stretch, and are just 10-65 when scoring at a lesser clip than its competition.
PLAY ALL DAY: Junior guard Jenna Annecchiarico is one of the most relied upon players in all of Division I basketball. No player in the MAC has logged more minutes than Annecchiarico this season, who checks in at 341 through nine games. Her 37.9 minutes per game average is the best in the conference.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: EMU's defensive efforts have been strong through eight games this season. The Eagles are second-best in the conference in the scoring defense category, allowing just 63.6 points per game. Additionally, Eastern is second in the MAC in steals per game (9.4).
STEAL THE DEAL: Last season, the Eagles were fantastic at stealing the rock, finishing fourth in the Mid-American Conference with 8.57 steals per game. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs was first on the team and fourth in the MAC with a 2.2 SPG average in 2019-20.
The Eagles appear to be off to a great start on the defensive end of the floor once again in 2020-21. EMU racked up an incredible 11 steals en route to turning Southern Illinois over 18 times on Nov. 25, before nabbing 18 steals against UIC, Nov. 29, and 13 at Ball State, Dec. 2. The 18-steal game is just one behind EMU's top mark in the 2019-20 campaign (19 at UIC, Dec. 18). EMU is second in the MAC in both steals (85) and steals per game (9.4). Combs and junior Jenna Annecchiarico are first and sixth in the MAC with their respective 3.1 and 2.3 steals per game averages. Annecchiarico's eight steals against UIC, Nov. 29, was a career-high.
OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, and was the acting head coach for most of the 2006- 07 season when then-head coach Suzy Merchant was on maternity leave. While serving as the acting head coach at EMU for a majority of the 2006-07 season, he guided the Eagles to a 16-13 overall record and a 10-6 finish in the MAC, good for second place in the West Division. Individually, Sarah VanMetre became the first women's basketball player in program history to be named Academic All-American, Patrice McKinney was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Alyssa Pittman was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.
ALL-TIME AGAINST WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles and Broncos will meet for the 89th time Saturday, Jan. 9. A favorable series for the Green and White, EMU holds a 50-38 lead in the all-time count between the two schools.
LAST TIME IN KZOO: Despite facing a 10-point third quarter deficit, Eastern rallied on the road to defeat Western, 83-79, Feb. 8, 2020 inside University Arena. Down four, 72-68, with just over two minutes remaining in the game, EMU got back-to-back buckets from point guard Jenna Annecchiarico and Corrione Cardwell, which tied the game at 72-all. Although WMU hit a quick triple in its next possession, Annecchiarico answered, to tie the game at 75-apiece. After a defensive stop, it was Courtnie Lewis who hit the biggest bucket of the game, a contested two-point jumper that gave Eastern the lead for good, 77-75, with 47 seconds on the clock.
ON THE HORIZON: EMU will remain on the road as it travels to Oxford, Ohio for a midweek matchup with the Miami University RedHawks. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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