Women's Basketball Set to Host Grace Christian Thursday Night

Women's Basketball vs. Grace Christian
Date	Thursday, Nov. 18 \| 7 p.m. ET
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Twitter	@EMU_WBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will be back in action Thursday, Nov. 18 when the Eagles welcome the Grace Christian University Tigers to town for a weeknight battle. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
   Both teams head into the contest coming off wins. EMU defeated Detroit Mercy, 76-66, Nov. 13, at home. GCU has not played since Nov. 6, when they took down Welch College, 91-87. The Tigers' previous three scheduled games have all been canceled.
   The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 where Ryan Wooley will have the play-by-play. Dannie Rogers will serve as the analyst. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

A DOUBLE-DIGIT DISPLAY: Four Eagles recorded double-digit efforts in a 76-66 victory against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13. Ce'Nara Skanes led the way with 19 points, followed by Areanna Combs (18), Danielle Rainey (16), and ZaNiya Nelson (12).
   The last time four Eagles recorded double-digit scoring efforts was against Ball State, Jan. 23, 2021. In the game, Combs scored 19, Skanes dropped 14, former Eagle Jenna Annecchiarico had 12, and Natalia Pineda put up 11.
   Additionally, the Detroit Mercy contest was the first time three members of the Green and White scored 15+ points since Combs recorded 23, former Eagle Corrione Cardwell dropped 20, and Skanes had 19 at Central Michigan, Jan. 20, 2021.

WELL DONE, NELSON: Freshman guard ZaNiya Nelson made the most of her time on the floor against Detroit Mercy, dropping 12 points as she drilled 4-of-7 (57.1%) shots from downtown in a 76-66 victory over the Titans, Nov. 13. The Oklahoma native also put in work on the defensive end, wrangling six rebounds and recording two steals in 32 minutes of action.
   In the Eagles' first two games, the Oklahoma native sits second on the team in three-point makes with three and first in three-point percentage (minimum of five attempts) at 57.1%. Additionally, Nelson's three-point percentage ranks eighth in the Mid-American Conference.

TALES FROM THE DEEP: The Eagles have been efficient from beyond-the-arc in their first two games, shooting 40.0 percent on 16-of-40 attempts.
   The Green and White recorded its best three-point performance this season with nine makes on 22 attempts for a 40.9 percent clip in EMU's 76-66 win over Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13. The 40.9% deep-ball percentage is the program's best since nailing 43.8% (7-of-16) on the road at Akron, Feb. 1, 2020. Nelson and redshirt senior Danielle Rainey both went 4-for-7 from deep against the Titans, marking the first time a pair of Eagles made four-or-more threes since Combs and junior Kyle O'Hara notched five and four triples, respectively, against Southeast Missouri State, Dec. 6, 2020.
   The hot start puts the Eagles at No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in three-point percentage at 40.0%, just ahead of Kent State's 37.8% efficiency. EMU is also fourth in the league in triples made per game at 8.0. Bowling Green leads the conference with 9.5 deep balls per outing through its first two games.

BLOCK PARTY: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes and freshman Treasure Thompson have been defiant so far this season, boasting five and four blocks, respectively. Most recently, Thompson paced all players with three blocks while Skanes added a pair in the team's 76-66 win over Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13. For Skanes, her five blocks this season give her the top spot in the category in the Mid-American Conference, while Thompson's four puts her at third.
   Freshman guard Lachelle Austin got in on the action as well, recording one block against the Titans. With six team blocks versus Detroit Mercy, the Eagles had five-or-more blocks in a game for the first time since they recorded seven against Ball State, Jan. 23, 2021.

BOARD GAMES: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes is no stranger to dominating the paint. The Oklahoma City native has hauled in 22 total rebounds in the team's first two games, including eight on the offensive end. Both of those numbers lead the team. Furthermore her 11.0 rebounds per game average is tied for 32nd in the nation. Brooke Flowers of Saint Louis owns the top spot with 15.5 boards per outing.

SHARING IS CARING: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs has been great at dishing the rock early this season. The guard has tallied 11 assists through EMU's first two games for an average of 5.5 assists per contest. Her assist total and assist per game average are tied for first in the Mid-American conference with Sophia Ward of Toledo. Seven of Combs' 11 assists came against Youngstown State, Nov. 9. The seven dimes against the Penguins tied her career-high, which she originally set at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 21, 2019.
   As a team, the Green and White have recorded 14 assists against both YSU, Nov. 9, and Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13. Eastern only achieved 14-or-more assists in a game twice last year; 18 at Southeast Missouri State, Dec. 6, 2020 and 15 versus Buffalo, Jan. 6, 2021.

CAREER-HIGH FOR SKANES: Areanna Combs is not the only player who has shown an increased awareness for passing the rock this year. Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes dished out a career-best three helpers against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 16.
   Through two games, Skanes is averaging 2.0 assists per game, more than double her 0.8 average from a season ago.

STRIPE LIFE: Areanna Combs has been tremendous from the charity-stripe through two contests this season, shooting a perfect 13-for-13 from the line. The redshirt senior's efficiency from the line is tied for first in the NCAA while her total makes is tied for 27th in the country.
   Though she is tied with 19 others in the MAC in terms of percentage, the Oklahoma native has the most makes. Additionally, the guard's 13-straight makes is the longest streak of her career and the longest active stretch on the team.
   Combs has now had two games in-a-row with at least five free-throw makes, the first time a member of the Green and White has done so this season.
   The only other Eagle perfect from the free-throw line thus far is redshirt junior RayJon Harris, who sunk 2-of-2 against Youngstown State, Nov. 9.

REMEMBER THE TITANS: With its 76-66 victory over Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13, Eastern has now won four-straight over the Titans. For EMU, the winning streak is the best stretch for either team in the series during the modern statistical era (1998-Pres.). Moreover, the Green and White's win evens the all-time series between the two institutions at 15 victories apiece.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Combs opened the 2021-22 slate with 19 against Youngstown State, Nov. 9. She followed that performance with 18 points against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13. Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 44 of her 46 career games with the Green and White (96%).

CLOSING IN ON WEBB: Senior Courtnie Lewis, a veteran for the Eagles and 1,000-point club member, produced three points off the bench for EMU in its 70-67 loss against Youngstown State University, Nov. 9. Lewis now boasts 1,069 career points, good for 20th in program history.
   She sits behind former Eagle Phillis Webb who produced 1,125 points between 2013-17. With just 57 points to move into the 19th slot, Lewis must average 2.07 ppg over the final 27regular-season games. Furthermore, the senior is 179 away from passing former Eagle Sasha Dailey (2014-18), who sits in 15th. EMU great Tavelyn James (2008-2012) owns the top spot in program history, having accumulated 2,470 career points.

CHASING 200: The Eastern Michigan women's basketball program has racked up 194 total wins inside the Convocation Center since it opened for play in the 1998-1999 season. EMU can get to 200 all-time with seven home wins this season. The Eagles have averaged just over six wins at home each season since 2016-17, but have twice hit nine home wins.

ALL-TIME AGAINST GRACE CHRISTIAN: Despite both institutions hailing from the Mitten State, Eastern Michigan will battle against Grace Christian University for the first time in program history, Nov. 18.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS: The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based school is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, competing in the NCAA Division II ranks. The team currently owns an overall record of 2-1, including 2-0 in conference play. The Tigers' sole loss came at the hands of Siena Heights University, falling on the road 87-43, Nov. 1.

ON THE HORIZON: After Thursday's matchup with Grace Christian, the Eagles will hit the road for three-straight games. First, Eastern Michigan will head to Miami, Fla. for the Florida International Tournament, hosted by Florida International University. EMU will tackle Delaware first on Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. Then the team will gear up for another match the following day, squaring off with host FIU, Nov. 27, at 2 p.m.

Women's Basketball Set to Host Grace Christian Thursday Night

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Areanna Combs

RayJon Harris

Courtnie Lewis

ZaNiya Nelson

Natalia Pineda

Danielle Rainey

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics