Eastern Michigan Athletics
All Eyes on Women's Hoops: Previewing the 2021-22 Roster
10/30/2021 1:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The 47th team in EMU history begins play Monday, Nov. 1 with an exhibition against Concordia
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Nearly eight months after its 2020-21 season came to an end in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will be back in action Monday, Nov. 1 when the team hosts Concordia University (Ann Arbor) inside the Convocation Center.
An exhibition game, the contest will not count towards the team's 2021-22 record, but will serve as the team's final tune-up ahead of regular season play, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 9, against Youngstown State.
Fred Castro begins his sixth season at the helm of the EMU women's basketball program in 2021-22. Castro has spent the past 19 years climbing the ranks from student manager to now the eighth head coach in EMU program history. During his career, he has worked tirelessly to learn and has held nearly every position within a women's basketball program including serving as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, video coordinator, and travel coordinator.
Last season, Castro led the program through the unprecedented challenges that came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite numerous cancellations and season-altering factors outside the team's control, the Eagles were still able to produce a 10-10 record, including a 7-7 mark in conference play, which qualified the team for play in the annual MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. Season highlights included Eastern's upset road win over Central Michigan, Jan. 20, as well as 69-66 triumph over East Division-foe Ohio University. As a unit, The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which was the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
Elsewhere on staff, assistant coaches Katie Hempen and Carlos Adamson return for the 2021-22 season. Hempen and Adamson helped Castro to build the EMU offense into one of the most consistent scoring units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%). Those numbers helped EMU to establish a winning identity on the road, where it put up an impressive 6-2 record. On the defensive end, the staff again established impressive defensive planning. EMU held its opponents to under 60 points eight times in 2020-21. The team won seven of those eight games, and has now emerged victorious in 34 of the 41 games in which it has held team's under 60 points during the Castro era (2016-Pres.).
Joining the staff for his first season is veteran coach Kevin Mondro. Very familiar with EMU, Mondro finished his 10th year as a member of the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program and his fourth as the as the Associate Head Coach in 2020-21. He has over 20 years of Division I experience, including seven postseason appearances. A post specialist, The 46-year-old Mondro is a 1997 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy where he earned three basketball letters while playing for the Titans.
This year's team features a mix of returning talent, true freshman, and impressive transfers from around the country. A position-by-position breakdown of this year's team is included below:
GUARDS
EMU will feature some of the best back court players in the MAC this season. Highlighting the efforts will be returning All-MAC and MAC All-Defensive Team honoree Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who opted to forgo her professional opportunities to return to EMU for one final season. Combs started in all 20 games while averaging 34.9 minutes per game for EMU last season. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her career, finishing the season with 1,029 points to her name between Oklahoma State and Eastern Michigan. Her 17.8 points per game average was good for a top-10 mark in the league.
Returning for her senior season after sustaining injury a season ago is fifth-year Eagle Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Lewis, the program's 23rd 1,000-point scorer, will add leadership and needed three-point ability back into the lineup this season.
Another deep threat will come from newcomer Danielle Rainey (Cedar Park, Texas-Vista Ridge (Florida)). A graduate transfer from the University of Florida, Rainey saw action in 46 games during her time in the Blue and Orange, 14 of which were starts. She averaged 6.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, respectively, while with the Gators.
The depth of the guard position with a variety of returning players. Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) made 16 starts for the Green and White in 2020-21, while averaging nearly 28 minutes per game, and leading the team in three-point percentage (31%). Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) will aim to again provide strong defense. The Seattle, Wash. native averaged 22 minutes per contest last season. Second-year player Terrysha Banner (Surprise, Ariz.-Vista Valley (Tennessee State)) looks to build off a strong debut season with Eastern, where she shot 32.6 percent (15-for-46) from the field. After battling back from injury, Toyosi Abiola (London, England-City of London Academy (Iona)) will also be ready to make her EMU playing debut, while Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (Detroit, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), in her second year on the team, will look to earn playing time for the first time as an Eagle in 2021-22 after redshirting last year. Fellow 2020-21 redshirt Zaniya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) will also be available for Eastern.
Other newcomers at the guard position include true freshmen Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), Peyton Pinkney (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Woodland Hills), and Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Each enter the EMU program with impressive high school resumes and have the chance to contribute immediately to the lineup.
Austin, from Redford, Mich. was a two-time captain as a member of the Wayne Memorial High School lineup. She helped lead WMHS to a Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship and first place district finish in her time with the team, and averaged 12.6 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 3.3 steals per game during her high school career.
Pinkney, a Pittsburgh native, helped lead her prep team to its first undefeated season and section title in school history, while earning individual all-state accolades twice. She was named second-team all-state in Pennsylvania's Class 5A following the 2019-20 season after averaging 13.7 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.
Lewis, the younger sister of Courtnie Lewis, was a four-time letterwinner and two-time team captain as a prep player. Additionally, she was a First Team All-District and All-Kansas City Metro Conference athlete in 2019-20. She led Belton High School (Mo.) to consecutive district runner-up finishes. Last season, she averaged 17.2 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, and scored 447 points on the season.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Working alongside the guards will be the EMU forwards and centers, a group with plenty of veteran presence.
Back for her third year is 2020-21 Third Team All-MAC selection Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who is poised to be one of the league's top players this season. Skanes moved to 11th all-time in program history with 12 double-double performances during her first year on court with EMU. In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (1.1 BPG) and second-best double-double candidate (12), she was top-five in numerous other areas in the regular season, including field goal percentage (49.1 – ranked 4th), rebounds (208 - ranked 2nd), and rebounds per game (10.9 - ranked 2nd). She notched a team-best 19 games with 10+ points and eclipsed the 20-point mark on six different occasions, while she has hauled in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests. Skanes led the Eagles' scoring efforts six times, and recorded EMU's single-game team-highs in points (30 vs. UIC, Nov. 29), field goals (14 vs. UIC, Nov. 29), free throws (14 vs. Gonzaga, Dec. 20), and rebounds (23 vs. Tarleton State, Dec. 21) in 2020-21.
Joining Skanes will be returning forwards RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) and Kylee O'Hara (Ajax, Ontario-Henry Street (Florida International)). Harris, a true post presence, shot a career-best .486 (17-of-35) from the field, and set a new career-best free throw mark, 71.4 percent, a season ago. A hybrid player, O'Hara is dangerous from deep. She produced a season-best 12 points on four three-pointers at Southeast Missouri, Dec. 6.
Ready for her first year of action after sitting out as a transfer in 2020-21, Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy (Robert Morris)) will add a major post presence to this year's roster. She led Robert Morris in rebounding and field goal percentage (.557), and ranked second in scoring (9.3) and blocks (0.5) in her most recent season of action (2019-20).
Joining the front court by way of transfer is Treasure Thomspon (Joliet, Ill.-Bolingbrook (Louisiana State)). Thomspon, a standout high school player, spent her freshman year with the Louisiana State women's basketball program. She saw action in six games as a Tiger. An Illinois native, she was an All-State honoree and ranked as the No. 81 recruit in the nation coming out of high school.
Rounding out the forwards and centers group is true freshman Madisyn Tillman (Kentwood, Mich.-East Kentwood). Tillman, the sister of former Michigan State star and current Memphis Grizzlies player Xavier Tillman, joins the team after a high school career that saw her earn all-conference honors. She averaged a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) as a member of the East Kentwood program. She was rated as Michigan's seventh-best high school prospect by MaxPreps.com.
EMU's exhibition game against Concordia will be open to the public. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. There will be no audio or video coverage of the game. Live social media updates will be provided via the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB.
The team's regular season is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Ypsilanti, as Eastern welcomes Youngstown State to town. The game will begin at 12 p.m. EMU will play two more games, Saturday Nov. 13, against Detroit Mercy, and Thursday, Nov. 18, versus Grace Christian, to round out its three-game, season-opening home slate.
KEY NOTES FOLLOWING THE 2020-21 SEASON
ALL-MAC WINNERS: Two Eastern Michigan University women's basketball players earned All Mid-American Conference honors, the league office announced March 9, 2021. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes were voted as two of the conference's best players for their efforts during the 2020-21 campaign.
Combs collected Second Team All-MAC honors, and was also named to the MAC All-Defensive Team. 2020-21 marks consecutive seasons that Combs has been recognized on those teams, as she was named to both respective lists following the 2019-20 season. Last season, she became the first EMU women's player to earn either honor since the 2015-16 campaign when Cha Sweeney and Janay Morton were honored in the two categories, respectively. Combs is just the second Eagle in program history to earn all-defensive honors, and brings home the school's 18th nod on the Second Team All-MAC list in 2020-21.
Skanes, playing for the first time this season after transferring to EMU at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, collected Third Team All-MAC honors for her outstanding play this season. She is the eighth player in program history to collect the recognition, and first since Danielle Minott did it in 2017-18.
BEST OF THE BUNCH: The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which was the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
KEEP THEM UNDER 60: While a team scoring 70 typically favors EMU's opponent, the Eagles were dominant when holding their competition under 60 points in a game in 2020-21. Last season, the team was 7-1 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 34-7 during the Castro era (2016-Pres.) when keeping its competition below 60 points.
CRAZY CONSISTENT: Consistency was the name of the game for EMU's offense this season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%).
ONE AWAY FROM TOP-10: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes put up a 17-point, 11-rebound performance at Toledo Saturday, March 6. The double-double effort was her 12th of the season, which puts her just one away from cracking into EMU's top-10 list in the modern statistical era (1998-present). Academic All-American Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) sits atop the list with her 17-career double-doubles.
An exhibition game, the contest will not count towards the team's 2021-22 record, but will serve as the team's final tune-up ahead of regular season play, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 9, against Youngstown State.
Fred Castro begins his sixth season at the helm of the EMU women's basketball program in 2021-22. Castro has spent the past 19 years climbing the ranks from student manager to now the eighth head coach in EMU program history. During his career, he has worked tirelessly to learn and has held nearly every position within a women's basketball program including serving as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, video coordinator, and travel coordinator.
Last season, Castro led the program through the unprecedented challenges that came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite numerous cancellations and season-altering factors outside the team's control, the Eagles were still able to produce a 10-10 record, including a 7-7 mark in conference play, which qualified the team for play in the annual MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. Season highlights included Eastern's upset road win over Central Michigan, Jan. 20, as well as 69-66 triumph over East Division-foe Ohio University. As a unit, The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which was the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
Elsewhere on staff, assistant coaches Katie Hempen and Carlos Adamson return for the 2021-22 season. Hempen and Adamson helped Castro to build the EMU offense into one of the most consistent scoring units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%). Those numbers helped EMU to establish a winning identity on the road, where it put up an impressive 6-2 record. On the defensive end, the staff again established impressive defensive planning. EMU held its opponents to under 60 points eight times in 2020-21. The team won seven of those eight games, and has now emerged victorious in 34 of the 41 games in which it has held team's under 60 points during the Castro era (2016-Pres.).
Joining the staff for his first season is veteran coach Kevin Mondro. Very familiar with EMU, Mondro finished his 10th year as a member of the Eastern Michigan men's basketball program and his fourth as the as the Associate Head Coach in 2020-21. He has over 20 years of Division I experience, including seven postseason appearances. A post specialist, The 46-year-old Mondro is a 1997 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy where he earned three basketball letters while playing for the Titans.
This year's team features a mix of returning talent, true freshman, and impressive transfers from around the country. A position-by-position breakdown of this year's team is included below:
GUARDS
EMU will feature some of the best back court players in the MAC this season. Highlighting the efforts will be returning All-MAC and MAC All-Defensive Team honoree Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who opted to forgo her professional opportunities to return to EMU for one final season. Combs started in all 20 games while averaging 34.9 minutes per game for EMU last season. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her career, finishing the season with 1,029 points to her name between Oklahoma State and Eastern Michigan. Her 17.8 points per game average was good for a top-10 mark in the league.
Returning for her senior season after sustaining injury a season ago is fifth-year Eagle Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Lewis, the program's 23rd 1,000-point scorer, will add leadership and needed three-point ability back into the lineup this season.
Another deep threat will come from newcomer Danielle Rainey (Cedar Park, Texas-Vista Ridge (Florida)). A graduate transfer from the University of Florida, Rainey saw action in 46 games during her time in the Blue and Orange, 14 of which were starts. She averaged 6.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, respectively, while with the Gators.
The depth of the guard position with a variety of returning players. Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) made 16 starts for the Green and White in 2020-21, while averaging nearly 28 minutes per game, and leading the team in three-point percentage (31%). Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) will aim to again provide strong defense. The Seattle, Wash. native averaged 22 minutes per contest last season. Second-year player Terrysha Banner (Surprise, Ariz.-Vista Valley (Tennessee State)) looks to build off a strong debut season with Eastern, where she shot 32.6 percent (15-for-46) from the field. After battling back from injury, Toyosi Abiola (London, England-City of London Academy (Iona)) will also be ready to make her EMU playing debut, while Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (Detroit, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), in her second year on the team, will look to earn playing time for the first time as an Eagle in 2021-22 after redshirting last year. Fellow 2020-21 redshirt Zaniya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) will also be available for Eastern.
Other newcomers at the guard position include true freshmen Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial), Peyton Pinkney (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Woodland Hills), and Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Each enter the EMU program with impressive high school resumes and have the chance to contribute immediately to the lineup.
Austin, from Redford, Mich. was a two-time captain as a member of the Wayne Memorial High School lineup. She helped lead WMHS to a Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship and first place district finish in her time with the team, and averaged 12.6 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 3.3 steals per game during her high school career.
Pinkney, a Pittsburgh native, helped lead her prep team to its first undefeated season and section title in school history, while earning individual all-state accolades twice. She was named second-team all-state in Pennsylvania's Class 5A following the 2019-20 season after averaging 13.7 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.
Lewis, the younger sister of Courtnie Lewis, was a four-time letterwinner and two-time team captain as a prep player. Additionally, she was a First Team All-District and All-Kansas City Metro Conference athlete in 2019-20. She led Belton High School (Mo.) to consecutive district runner-up finishes. Last season, she averaged 17.2 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, and scored 447 points on the season.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Working alongside the guards will be the EMU forwards and centers, a group with plenty of veteran presence.
Back for her third year is 2020-21 Third Team All-MAC selection Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who is poised to be one of the league's top players this season. Skanes moved to 11th all-time in program history with 12 double-double performances during her first year on court with EMU. In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (1.1 BPG) and second-best double-double candidate (12), she was top-five in numerous other areas in the regular season, including field goal percentage (49.1 – ranked 4th), rebounds (208 - ranked 2nd), and rebounds per game (10.9 - ranked 2nd). She notched a team-best 19 games with 10+ points and eclipsed the 20-point mark on six different occasions, while she has hauled in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests. Skanes led the Eagles' scoring efforts six times, and recorded EMU's single-game team-highs in points (30 vs. UIC, Nov. 29), field goals (14 vs. UIC, Nov. 29), free throws (14 vs. Gonzaga, Dec. 20), and rebounds (23 vs. Tarleton State, Dec. 21) in 2020-21.
Joining Skanes will be returning forwards RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) and Kylee O'Hara (Ajax, Ontario-Henry Street (Florida International)). Harris, a true post presence, shot a career-best .486 (17-of-35) from the field, and set a new career-best free throw mark, 71.4 percent, a season ago. A hybrid player, O'Hara is dangerous from deep. She produced a season-best 12 points on four three-pointers at Southeast Missouri, Dec. 6.
Ready for her first year of action after sitting out as a transfer in 2020-21, Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy (Robert Morris)) will add a major post presence to this year's roster. She led Robert Morris in rebounding and field goal percentage (.557), and ranked second in scoring (9.3) and blocks (0.5) in her most recent season of action (2019-20).
Joining the front court by way of transfer is Treasure Thomspon (Joliet, Ill.-Bolingbrook (Louisiana State)). Thomspon, a standout high school player, spent her freshman year with the Louisiana State women's basketball program. She saw action in six games as a Tiger. An Illinois native, she was an All-State honoree and ranked as the No. 81 recruit in the nation coming out of high school.
Rounding out the forwards and centers group is true freshman Madisyn Tillman (Kentwood, Mich.-East Kentwood). Tillman, the sister of former Michigan State star and current Memphis Grizzlies player Xavier Tillman, joins the team after a high school career that saw her earn all-conference honors. She averaged a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) as a member of the East Kentwood program. She was rated as Michigan's seventh-best high school prospect by MaxPreps.com.
EMU's exhibition game against Concordia will be open to the public. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. There will be no audio or video coverage of the game. Live social media updates will be provided via the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB.
The team's regular season is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Ypsilanti, as Eastern welcomes Youngstown State to town. The game will begin at 12 p.m. EMU will play two more games, Saturday Nov. 13, against Detroit Mercy, and Thursday, Nov. 18, versus Grace Christian, to round out its three-game, season-opening home slate.
KEY NOTES FOLLOWING THE 2020-21 SEASON
ALL-MAC WINNERS: Two Eastern Michigan University women's basketball players earned All Mid-American Conference honors, the league office announced March 9, 2021. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes were voted as two of the conference's best players for their efforts during the 2020-21 campaign.
Combs collected Second Team All-MAC honors, and was also named to the MAC All-Defensive Team. 2020-21 marks consecutive seasons that Combs has been recognized on those teams, as she was named to both respective lists following the 2019-20 season. Last season, she became the first EMU women's player to earn either honor since the 2015-16 campaign when Cha Sweeney and Janay Morton were honored in the two categories, respectively. Combs is just the second Eagle in program history to earn all-defensive honors, and brings home the school's 18th nod on the Second Team All-MAC list in 2020-21.
Skanes, playing for the first time this season after transferring to EMU at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, collected Third Team All-MAC honors for her outstanding play this season. She is the eighth player in program history to collect the recognition, and first since Danielle Minott did it in 2017-18.
BEST OF THE BUNCH: The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which was the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
KEEP THEM UNDER 60: While a team scoring 70 typically favors EMU's opponent, the Eagles were dominant when holding their competition under 60 points in a game in 2020-21. Last season, the team was 7-1 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 34-7 during the Castro era (2016-Pres.) when keeping its competition below 60 points.
CRAZY CONSISTENT: Consistency was the name of the game for EMU's offense this season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%).
ONE AWAY FROM TOP-10: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes put up a 17-point, 11-rebound performance at Toledo Saturday, March 6. The double-double effort was her 12th of the season, which puts her just one away from cracking into EMU's top-10 list in the modern statistical era (1998-present). Academic All-American Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) sits atop the list with her 17-career double-doubles.
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