Home Sweet Home: Women's Hoops Set to Welcome Binghamton Friday, Dec. 10

Women's Basketball vs. Binghamton
Date	Friday, Dec. 10 \| 4 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,745)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
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 Friday, Dec. 10 when it welcomes Binghamton University to town for a weekend clash. Tipoff from inside the Convocation Center is set for 4 p.m.
   EMU is looking to get back on track after dropping a road bout with Oklahoma University, Dec. 7. Meanwhile, the Bearcats are coming off a 62-51 win over Pitt-Johnstown on the same night.
   The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

THE HOT HAND: EMU is off to a great start from the field in 2021-22. The Eagles lead the Mid-American Conference and rank 26th nationally with a 46.2 percent clip from the floor. The percentage is on pace to be the best mark for the team in the Fred Castro era (2016-Pres.). EMU's best mark under Castro came in the 2017-18 campaign, when the Green and White shot 40.1 percent from the floor for the season.

BIG TIME BUCKETS: Eastern Michigan is averaging 77.7 points per game through its first six contests. That number is good for third in the MAC and 37th nationally.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED: Eastern has been one of the most disciplined teams in the country in the early portion of the 2021-22 season. The Eagles are eighth in the MAC and 57th in the country in fewest turnovers (105). Additionally, EMU ranks sixth in the league and 56th nationally in fewest team fouls (109).

DOMINANT FROM DEEP: Eastern Michigan has improved tremendously from three-point land this year compared to last season's numbers. Six games into the 2021-22 season, EMU boasts a 3PT percentage of 39.3 on 46-of-118 attempts. In the same stretch last year, the Eagles were hitting just 27.0 percent (31-for-115).
The 39.8% mark from beyond-the-arc ranks second in the Mid-American Conference and 13th in the nation. Meanwhile, the team is sixth in the league in three-pointers made per contest at 7.7, which ranks 64th in all of Division I.
There were only two games last season where the Green and White shot 35 percent-or-better from deep (at Southeast Missouri State, 40.0%, Dec. 6, 2020; vs. Toledo, 39.3%, Feb. 21). So far this season, Eastern has sunk 35 percent-or better in the category in four of six games.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: EMU has put an emphasis on the three-ball this year, and no one member of the Green and White has been better than redshirt senior Danielle Rainey. Through six games, the guard has hit 20-of-36 (55.6%) from downtown and has hit at least three from beyond-the-arc in the last five contests.
The Washington, D.C. native's 3PT percentage (55.6%) is the best in the MAC and sixth in the nation. Additionally, her 20 makes from three-point land is second in the Mid-American Conference and 58th in the country. Lastly, Rainey is also the current runner-up in the league in treys made per game (3.33), good for twelfth in all of Division I.

SHARING IS CARING: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs has been great at dishing the rock early this season. The guard has tallied 26 assists through EMU's first six games for an average of 4.3 assists per contest. Her assists per game average is fifth in the MAC and 96th in the nation. 11 of Combs' 26 assists came against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18. The 11 dimes against the Tigers top her previous best, which she set two games prior against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 9 when she set up seven teammates.
As a team, the Green and White have recorded 14-or-more assists in three games this season. 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. Furthermore, EMU is eighth in the league in assists per game at 13.00 and ninth in total dimes with 78.

CLOSING IN ON WEBB: Senior Courtnie Lewis, a veteran for the Eagles and 1,000-point club member, is moving up the all-time point list at EMU. Lewis boasts 1,087 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 39 points to move into the 19th slot, Lewis must average 1.7 ppg over the final 24 regular-season games. Furthermore, the senior is 161 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.

SKANES ON THE MOVE: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes continues to climb EMU's all-time double-double ladder. After a 10-point, 10-rebound effort at Oklahoma, Dec. 7, the center now boasts five double-double outings this season and 16th as a member of the Eagles. The 16 double-doubles is now tied for third in program history, one shy of tying for the most alongside former Eagles Sarah VanMetre and Oliva Fouty.

BLOCK PART(E): Eastern Michigan has been defiant in the paint this season, with six players all recording at least one block to total 27 rejections in five games. EMU is first in the Mid-American Conference in total blocks (27) and blocks per game (4.5). Additionally, the blocked shots per game mark is good for 49th in the country. In the first six games of the 2020-21 season, the Eagles mustered just 14 rejections.
Freshman Treasure Thompson has led the way so far with 10 swats, followed by redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (8), and redshirt junior RayJon Harris (4). Thompson and Skanes hold top-five spots in the Mid-American Conference in total blocks, ranking second and third, respectively. Moreover, Thompson paces the league in blocks per game (1.7 bpg), while Skanes is currently fourth in the category (1.3 bpg). Harris, the Euclid, Ohio native tied her career-high in blocks with two against both Delaware, Nov. 26, and Florida International, Nov. 27.
Through six games this season, the Eagles have recorded at least five blocks in three contests, rejecting six shots against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13, Grace Christian, Nov. 18, and FIU, Nov. 27. In the 2020-21 campaign, Eastern only recorded five-or-more blocks in a game three times: Seven, at Western Michigan, Jan. 20, 2021; Six versus Ball State, Jan. 23, 2021; Five at Southern Illinois, Nov. 25, 2020.

COOKIES: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs has been great at stealing the rock so far this season. After six games, the guard ranks second in the MAC in total steals (21) and third in steals per game (3.5). The Oklahoma City native's 46 total swipes sit at 46th in Division 1, while her 3.5 steals per game is good for ninth in the country. Combs set a career-high last month with 10 against Grace Christian to help her achieve her first career triple-double (12 points, 11 assists, 10 steals), Nov. 18.
As a team, Eastern is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in steals per game (10.2 spg), and fifth in total steals (61). EMU's 10-plus steals per game is good for 60th in the nation.

RAY ON THE RISE: Redshirt junior RayJon Harris has been a crucial part of the EMU lineup this season. Coming into the season, she averaged just 6.9 minutes per contest in her first three years at Eastern. This season, she is averaging a career-high 18.8 minutes per game. Additionally, she hit a career-best 28 minutes in EMU's game vs. Delaware, Nov. 26.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE WEEKEND: The Eagles saw two players record double-doubles in redshirt senior Areanna Combs and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes at the FIU Thanksgiving Classic, Nov. 26 and 27, respectively. Combs achieved season-bests in points (26) and rebounds (11) while teammate Skanes scored 11 points and grabbed 10 boards in the 87-72 loss to Delaware, Nov. 26.
   The following day, Eastern took on host FIU, where Skanes once again put on an admirable display. The center tied for second on the team in point production (15) and paced the Green and White with 11 rebounds. Furthermore, Skanes now owns three double-doubles on the young season.
   Through five games this season, Combs has produced two double-doubles, including a triple-double against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18. Only nine other individuals in all of Division I have recorded a triple-double, with no one achieving the feat more than once.

STRIPE LIFE: Areanna Combs has been tremendous from the charity-stripe through six contests this season, shooting 34-of-40 (85.0%) from the line. The redshirt senior's 34 makes is third-best in the MAC and 51st nationally. Additionally, the guard's 85.0 percent clip is good for sixth in the league and 80th in the country.
   In her most recent game, Combs went 10-of-14 (72.4%) from the free-throw line against Oklahoma, Dec. 7. Her 14 attempts from the charity stripe was the first time she shot 10-plus free throws since attempting 15 at Ball State, Jan. 23, 2021.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Including her five performances of the nature this season, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 48 of her 50 career games with the Green and White (96%). Against the Sooners, the redshirt senior dropped 14 points, Dec. 7. The Oklahoma City native's 17.3 ppg put her eighth in the MAC and 73rd nationally.

ALL-TIME AGAINST BINGHAMTON: The Eagles are 0-1 against the Bearcats in the all-time series. The first and only time the two teams faced off against one another, Binghamton came out on top for the home victory, 78-67, Dec. 1, 2019.
   Areanna Combs dropped 29 points in the affair, knocking down 10-of-21 shots from the floor and 9-of-12 from the line. Courtnie Lewis chipped in with 17 points, including sinking 3-of-7 attempts from deep. On the defensive end, Combs paced the team with seven boards while three Eagles recorded a steal.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE AMERICAN EAST: Eastern has squared off against American East foes just four times in program history. The Green and White are 1-0 versus Hartford and UMBC, and 0-1 against Binghamton and Vermont. Additionally, the Eagles have yet to play Albany, Maine, UMASS Lowell, New Hampshire, and Stony Brook.

CHASING 200: The Eastern Michigan women's basketball program has racked up 195 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.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will hit the road following its matchup with Binghamton as it heads to Indianapolis to take on IUPUI, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

Home Sweet Home: Women's Hoops Set to Welcome Binghamton Friday, Dec. 10

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Areanna Combs

RayJon Harris

Courtnie Lewis

Danielle Rainey

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics