Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 16
Convocation Center
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-5,4-3MAC
64
vs
46
Akron
4-5,1-5MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Akron
15
11
14
6
46
Eastern Mich.
21
17
14
12
64
Women's Basketball Soars Over Akron, 64-46
1/16/2021 2:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Two Eagles record double-doubles
Postgame Press Conference Audio. | Postgame Recap Video.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team defeated the University of Akron in a Mid-American Conference matchup, 64-46, and picked up its first home win of the season today, Saturday, Jan. 16, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (7-5, 4-3 MAC) got revenge on Akron (4-5, 1-5 MAC) that was nearly a year in the making, as the Zips twice took down the Green and White during the 2019-20 season. Through its first 12 games, EMU has captured one more win (7) than it had through the same duration a season ago (6).
"I feel like we (the team) are an eight-cylinder engine, but we are only using about five of them right now," said fifth-year Head Coach Fred Castro during his postgame press conference.
If Castro is right, EMU could be a serious MAC title contender, especially considering that their margin of victory has been 19 points in its last two victories including today (def. Miami, 61-41, Jan. 13).
Junior Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) led Eastern with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists to register a double-double. The Baldwin, N.Y. product's performance is her first double-double of the season, and second of her career. Annechiarico's 10 boards was a season-high and ties her career-high. Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) also recorded a double-double as she dominated in the paint with 21 points, 10 boards, and tied her career-high in blocks (2). Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) led all players in scoring, as she dropped 19 points to go along with nine rebounds. The Oklahoma City native also paced the Eagles with four steals and three assists.
The Eagles came out slow offensively, unable to convert a field goal in the first three minutes of the contest. However, the defense forced early turnovers to contain the Zips' lead to four. With 6:57 on the clock, Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) drained a three to ignite the offense, starting an eight-point run and establishing the Eagles' first lead of the day, 8-4. Both teams traded runs of seven-plus points over the next stretch of minutes to bring the score to a 21-15 Eagles' advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter. Annecchiarico proved to be unstoppable from beyond the arc as she converted three-of-five for nine points. As a unit, EMU's offense developed momentum, ending the first quarter shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from deep, compared to Akron who shot 35.3 and 20.0 percent respectively.
The Eagles found themselves in the midst of a five-minute scoring drought as the second quarter began. With 6:27 on the clock, Combs muscled her way through the paint to produce a layup and cease the Zips' scoring stretch. This maintained a four-point separation between the two teams, setting the score at 23-19, Eastern. From there, the Green and White took flight, going five-for-six over the next few minutes to establish their first double-digit lead of the contest, 34-23, with three minutes remaining in the half. With under 60 seconds to go, Combs converted on a skillful fade-away jumper to exceed ten points on the day. This set the score at 38-26 Eagles after the first 20 minutes of play. EMU displayed dominance on the boards, outworking Akron 29-19, including seven rebounds from Annerchiarico just 14 minutes into the match.
The Eagles and Zips went back and forth in the early moments of second-half action. Skanes notched her 10th point of the day with 7:26 on the clock, which enlarged the Green and White's edge to 11, 41-30. Akron's offense then capitalized and cut the deficit to six with 2:26 left on the clock. EMU then scored five points in under 20 seconds, to tally the score at 49-38. The third quarter concluded in a stalemate, with both teams scoring 14 points, leaving the score at 52-40, with the Eagles up by a dozen heading into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter proved to be an offensive struggle for both teams, as the scoreboard read 56-42 Eagles with just over five minutes remaining. At the 2:53 mark, Annecchiarico caressed her tenth rebound of the game to produce her first double-double of the season. Skanes scored six points in the final minutes as the Eagles ran away with the contest, closing the game with a 64-46 victory.
EMU was more efficient from the field, shooting 24-of-66 (.364) from the floor and 6-for-19 from deep (.316) compared to Akron's 19-of-68 (.279) and 3-for 20 (.150). The Green and White also held the advantage in points in the paint (32-20), second-chance points (9-4), and fast-break points (14-11). Akron had a slight edge in forced turnovers (13-12) and bench points (7-4).
Eastern will head north to Mount Pleasant on Wednesday, Jan. 20 to face MAC-rival Central Michigan University. The Green and White came up short in their last meeting with the Chippewas, 76-69, Mar. 7, 2020. Tipoff from McGuirk Arena is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team defeated the University of Akron in a Mid-American Conference matchup, 64-46, and picked up its first home win of the season today, Saturday, Jan. 16, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (7-5, 4-3 MAC) got revenge on Akron (4-5, 1-5 MAC) that was nearly a year in the making, as the Zips twice took down the Green and White during the 2019-20 season. Through its first 12 games, EMU has captured one more win (7) than it had through the same duration a season ago (6).
"I feel like we (the team) are an eight-cylinder engine, but we are only using about five of them right now," said fifth-year Head Coach Fred Castro during his postgame press conference.
If Castro is right, EMU could be a serious MAC title contender, especially considering that their margin of victory has been 19 points in its last two victories including today (def. Miami, 61-41, Jan. 13).
Junior Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) led Eastern with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists to register a double-double. The Baldwin, N.Y. product's performance is her first double-double of the season, and second of her career. Annechiarico's 10 boards was a season-high and ties her career-high. Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) also recorded a double-double as she dominated in the paint with 21 points, 10 boards, and tied her career-high in blocks (2). Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) led all players in scoring, as she dropped 19 points to go along with nine rebounds. The Oklahoma City native also paced the Eagles with four steals and three assists.
The Eagles came out slow offensively, unable to convert a field goal in the first three minutes of the contest. However, the defense forced early turnovers to contain the Zips' lead to four. With 6:57 on the clock, Corrione Cardwell (Cleveland, Ohio-New Tech East) drained a three to ignite the offense, starting an eight-point run and establishing the Eagles' first lead of the day, 8-4. Both teams traded runs of seven-plus points over the next stretch of minutes to bring the score to a 21-15 Eagles' advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter. Annecchiarico proved to be unstoppable from beyond the arc as she converted three-of-five for nine points. As a unit, EMU's offense developed momentum, ending the first quarter shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from deep, compared to Akron who shot 35.3 and 20.0 percent respectively.
The Eagles found themselves in the midst of a five-minute scoring drought as the second quarter began. With 6:27 on the clock, Combs muscled her way through the paint to produce a layup and cease the Zips' scoring stretch. This maintained a four-point separation between the two teams, setting the score at 23-19, Eastern. From there, the Green and White took flight, going five-for-six over the next few minutes to establish their first double-digit lead of the contest, 34-23, with three minutes remaining in the half. With under 60 seconds to go, Combs converted on a skillful fade-away jumper to exceed ten points on the day. This set the score at 38-26 Eagles after the first 20 minutes of play. EMU displayed dominance on the boards, outworking Akron 29-19, including seven rebounds from Annerchiarico just 14 minutes into the match.
The Eagles and Zips went back and forth in the early moments of second-half action. Skanes notched her 10th point of the day with 7:26 on the clock, which enlarged the Green and White's edge to 11, 41-30. Akron's offense then capitalized and cut the deficit to six with 2:26 left on the clock. EMU then scored five points in under 20 seconds, to tally the score at 49-38. The third quarter concluded in a stalemate, with both teams scoring 14 points, leaving the score at 52-40, with the Eagles up by a dozen heading into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter proved to be an offensive struggle for both teams, as the scoreboard read 56-42 Eagles with just over five minutes remaining. At the 2:53 mark, Annecchiarico caressed her tenth rebound of the game to produce her first double-double of the season. Skanes scored six points in the final minutes as the Eagles ran away with the contest, closing the game with a 64-46 victory.
EMU was more efficient from the field, shooting 24-of-66 (.364) from the floor and 6-for-19 from deep (.316) compared to Akron's 19-of-68 (.279) and 3-for 20 (.150). The Green and White also held the advantage in points in the paint (32-20), second-chance points (9-4), and fast-break points (14-11). Akron had a slight edge in forced turnovers (13-12) and bench points (7-4).
Eastern will head north to Mount Pleasant on Wednesday, Jan. 20 to face MAC-rival Central Michigan University. The Green and White came up short in their last meeting with the Chippewas, 76-69, Mar. 7, 2020. Tipoff from McGuirk Arena is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UA
EMU
FG%
.279
.364
3FG%
.150
.316
FT%
.714
.667
RB
38
57
TO
15
17
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
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