Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 21
Convocation Center
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Toledo
Women's Basketball Returns to Action Sunday, Feb 21, Versus Toledo
2/19/2021 2:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Green and White will suit up for the first time in 25 days
| Women's Basketball vs. Toledo | |
| Date | Sunday, Feb. 21 |
| Venue | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Convocation Center |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Watch | ESPN3 |
| Virtual Program | Click Here |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set to return to action for the first time in 25 days when it hosts the University of Toledo for a Mid-American Conference matchup, Feb. 21, 2020. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3, where Greg Steiner and Kristy King will have the call.
CONGRATS, BRIAN: The EMU office of Athletic Media Relations extends its best wishes to Brian DeBenedictis, Toledo's Director of Player Development and Community Engagement, who closed out his time with the Rockets last month after nearly three decades within the Toledo communications and women's hoops ranks.
DeBenedictis was a consistent presence of professionalism and UT pride, and will be missed.
Thank you for your many years of service, Brian!
APPROACHING 1,000: When combining her 229 career points at Oklahoma State and her 760 points at EMU thus far, redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs is approaching the 1,000-career point mark (989 total). She needs just 11 more points to accomplish the feat.
HAPPY 100: Two Eagles have hit the century mark in games played during the 2020-21 campaign.
Senior Autumn Hudson played in her 100th game when EMU battled Ball State, Jan. 23. Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell did the same against Ohio, Jan. 27. Hudson and Cardwell could both break into the top-15 if they are able to reach the 113 mark.
DEFEATING THE YPSI GYPSI: Playing at home is supposed to be an advantage, but it had seemed like anything but for Eastern heading into its matchup with Ohio, Jan. 27. EMU had just one home win on the season to that point, a 64-46 decision over Akron, Jan. 16, and was just 1-4 overall.
That changed with EMU's 69-66 victory over the Bobcats, a win that the team will hope to turn into a more consistent accomplishment.
EMU has 192 wins all-time in the Convo. The team is 30-28 in Ypsilanti under Fred Castro.
ONE FROM 400: The EMU men's and women's basketball programs have called the Convocation Center home since the beginning of the 1998-99 seasons. In that time, the two programs have combined for 399 victories in Ypsilanti (men - 207, women -192). The team will have first crack at 400 when they welcome Toledo to town Sunday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: Eastern went 5-3 in the month of January this season. That mark ties the best start to the New Year under Fred Castro (2016-Pres.) Eastern has twice previously finished the month of January with a 5-3 record (2017-18, 2019-20) in that span, but is yet to eclipse that mark.
LATEST EVER: The month of February will be 21 days old before EMU takes the court for the first time in it, making it the latest first game in the month for the team in program history. Eastern has had five games postponed this month.
CRAZY CONSISTENT: Consistency has been the name of the game for EMU's offense this season. Eastern, which averages 65.9 points per game, has only two true outliers, both of which saw the team score 70+ points. EMU put up a season-best 77 in a win over Ball State, Dec. 2. Most recently, the Green and White scored 70 to slip past Central Michigan, 70-67, Jan. 20. EMU has scored within two points of its average in six of its contests (40%), and within four points of its average in 13-of-15 games (87%).
NEEDED MORE, GOT MORE: EMU relied heavily on its starting five for its scoring through its first 14 games. To that point, 86 percent (787-of-919) of the team's points came from its starting unit.
That trend changed against Ohio, Jan. 27. Eastern got 15 points, or 22 percent, of its offense courtesy of its role players. Junior Terrysha Banner chipped in nine of those 15 points, while senior Autumn Hudson added six on 3-of-3 shooting.
While one game certainly doesn't cement a new pattern, it is a good sign for the Green and White.
EAGLE TRENDS: Who has the hot hand? Who is crashing the boards? How do the current numbers compare to season averages and totals? Take a look at trends from the last five games (see in PDF).
BEST OF THE BUNCH: The Eagles allow just 61.5 points per game, which is the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense is also first, as opponents shoot just 36.9 percent against the Green and White.
OUT WITH OHIO: Eastern was able to hold Ohio to a season-low 66 points when the two teams met Jan. 27. Ohio, who was averaging a league-best 81.1 points per game coming into the contest, was held to just 26-of-70 shooting from the field. Ohio's previous low on the season was 69 points, which it grabbed in a winning effort over Western Michigan Jan. 23. In that game, OU was missing its second-best scorer, Erica Johnson, who did play against the Eagles.
RAISE THE BANNER: Junior transfer guard Terrysha Banner had a breakout game against Ohio, Jan. 27. The first-year Eagle recorded season-highs in minutes (27), points (9), field goals (3), three-point field goals (1), free throws (2), rebounds (7), and assists (2).
In addition to her impressive numbers on the stat sheet, Banner was responsible for perhaps the most important moment of EMU's 69-66 triumph over the Bobcats. With EMU up just one, 60-59, with under three minutes to play, Banner rose up and drained a contested left-wing three. That bucket gave EMU the separation it needed to pull away for just its second win over Ohio in its last six attempts.
PERK UP, PINEDA: Junior guard Natalia Pineda has established her offensive role for the Green and White over its last five games. Through the first 10 games of the season, Pineda averaged just 4.3 points per game and was 9-of-34 from deep (26%). In Eastern's last four contests, she has elevated her scoring average to 7.4 points per contest, and is shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-21; 38%). Those numbers have helped Pineda score 10+ points three times in her last five outings, a feat she only accomplished once during EMU's first 10 games. Most recently, she scored a season-high 13 points on three triple makes (tied season-high) against Ohio, Jan. 27.
SERIOUSLY, CE'NARA?: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes continues to dominate the post in Mid-American Conference play. After her 22-point, 16-rebound performance versus Ohio, Jan. 27, Skanes now has nine double-doubles on the season. That number, which leads all active EMU roster members, puts her at 12th all-time in program history.
In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (18) and second-best double-double candidate (9), she is top-five in numerous other areas, including FG% (50.8 – ranked 2nd), rebounds (162 - ranked 3rd), and rebounds per game (10.8 - ranked 2nd)
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 9.8 ppg average, which ranks third on the team, she has been incredible at dishing the rock. The Baldwin, N.Y. native ranks fifth in the conference in assists per game (4.1), and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.97). She has led the MAC in assist-to-turnover ratio in each of the two previous seasons.
CAN'T FORGET ABOUT COMBS: While many have focused on the impressive efforts of her teammates, redshirt senior Areanna Combs is in the midst of a season-long bid for MAC Player of the Year. The Oklahoma City native is averaging 19.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the league and 41st in the nation. Moreover, she has scored 10+ points in 14 of EMU's 15 contests, has led the team in scoring 10 times, has notched 20+ points in seven games, and has been EMU's three-point leader in four contests.
Combs is first in the MAC in steals per game (3.1), and ranks inside the league's top-10 in points (295 - No. 9), field goals (106 - No. 10), attempts (280 - No. 7), and minutes per game (35.7 - No. 6).
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 2-0 this season and 14-7 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 5-0 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 33-6 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 7-0 this season when leading at the break, and just 2-6 when attempting a second-half comeback. Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, the Eagles are 35-14 when holding an intermission lead, and just 16-67 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 13 of EMU's 15 games this season. That trend holds consistent during the last five seasons; the Eagles are 44-14 when outshooting opponents in that stretch, and are just 10-66 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 568 through 15 games. Her 37.9 minutes per game average is the best in the conference, and ranks ninth nationally.
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 have been great once again in 2020-21. Combs and junior Jenna Annecchiarico are first and ninth in the MAC, and 10th and 84th nationally, with their respective 3.1 and 2.3 steals per game averages. Annecchiarico's nine steals against Miami, Jan. 13, is a personal record and is the best by any player in the MAC this season.
ALL-TIME AGAINST TOLEDO: Wednesday's contest marks the 86th meeting between Toledo and Eastern Michigan, who first met during the 1977-78 season. The Rockets lead the overall series, 51-34, however EMU won both games of the series a season ago.
LAST TIME AGAINT THE ROCKETS: Courtnie Lewis became the 23rd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark, tallying 12 points on the afternoon while pulling down four rebounds and tying for the team lead with a pair of assists, as the Eagles defeated Toledo, 64-46, Feb. 29, 2020
Corrione Cardwell also shined for the Green and White as she scored a team-high 19 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting, while adding four boards, an assist, a block, and a steal. From there, Areanna Combs notched 15 points and dished out a team-high five assists, while showing three rebounds and a pair of steals.
EMU finished 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor, while holding Toledo to a woeful 29.8 percent (17-of-57) efficiency. The Green and White also out-rebounded the visitors, 44-35, and bested the Rockets in points off turnovers (18-2), points in the paint (34-22), bench points (19-7), blocks (5-4)
ROAD WARRIORS: EMU may be just 1-4 at home this season, but its play on the road has been nearly perfect. The Eagles are 6-1 away from Ypsilanti this season, a record which includes four wins over conference opponents. EMU's lone loss came at the hands of Bowling Green, which bested Eastern, 71-64, Dec. 11.
WILD, WILD WEST (KIND OF): The Mid-American Conference elected to move away from divisional play in 2020-21, but nevertheless, Eastern has fared well against its traditional MAC West Division opponents this season. The Green and White are 3-1 against its usual divisional rivals this year with wins over Ball State - Dec. 2, Western Michigan - Jan. 10, and Central Michigan - Jan. 20. Eastern's average margin of victory in those contests has been nine points.
Eastern's only setback came in its last game, versus Ball State, Jan. 23.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern stays in Ypsilanti for a midweek battle with Western Michigan Wednesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The game is the team's annual Play4Kay event in honor of breast cancer awareness and prevention. To learn more about the team's efforts and how you can help, visit EMUEagles.com
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3, where Greg Steiner and Kristy King will have the call.
CONGRATS, BRIAN: The EMU office of Athletic Media Relations extends its best wishes to Brian DeBenedictis, Toledo's Director of Player Development and Community Engagement, who closed out his time with the Rockets last month after nearly three decades within the Toledo communications and women's hoops ranks.
DeBenedictis was a consistent presence of professionalism and UT pride, and will be missed.
Thank you for your many years of service, Brian!
APPROACHING 1,000: When combining her 229 career points at Oklahoma State and her 760 points at EMU thus far, redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs is approaching the 1,000-career point mark (989 total). She needs just 11 more points to accomplish the feat.
HAPPY 100: Two Eagles have hit the century mark in games played during the 2020-21 campaign.
Senior Autumn Hudson played in her 100th game when EMU battled Ball State, Jan. 23. Redshirt senior Corrione Cardwell did the same against Ohio, Jan. 27. Hudson and Cardwell could both break into the top-15 if they are able to reach the 113 mark.
DEFEATING THE YPSI GYPSI: Playing at home is supposed to be an advantage, but it had seemed like anything but for Eastern heading into its matchup with Ohio, Jan. 27. EMU had just one home win on the season to that point, a 64-46 decision over Akron, Jan. 16, and was just 1-4 overall.
That changed with EMU's 69-66 victory over the Bobcats, a win that the team will hope to turn into a more consistent accomplishment.
EMU has 192 wins all-time in the Convo. The team is 30-28 in Ypsilanti under Fred Castro.
ONE FROM 400: The EMU men's and women's basketball programs have called the Convocation Center home since the beginning of the 1998-99 seasons. In that time, the two programs have combined for 399 victories in Ypsilanti (men - 207, women -192). The team will have first crack at 400 when they welcome Toledo to town Sunday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: Eastern went 5-3 in the month of January this season. That mark ties the best start to the New Year under Fred Castro (2016-Pres.) Eastern has twice previously finished the month of January with a 5-3 record (2017-18, 2019-20) in that span, but is yet to eclipse that mark.
LATEST EVER: The month of February will be 21 days old before EMU takes the court for the first time in it, making it the latest first game in the month for the team in program history. Eastern has had five games postponed this month.
CRAZY CONSISTENT: Consistency has been the name of the game for EMU's offense this season. Eastern, which averages 65.9 points per game, has only two true outliers, both of which saw the team score 70+ points. EMU put up a season-best 77 in a win over Ball State, Dec. 2. Most recently, the Green and White scored 70 to slip past Central Michigan, 70-67, Jan. 20. EMU has scored within two points of its average in six of its contests (40%), and within four points of its average in 13-of-15 games (87%).
NEEDED MORE, GOT MORE: EMU relied heavily on its starting five for its scoring through its first 14 games. To that point, 86 percent (787-of-919) of the team's points came from its starting unit.
That trend changed against Ohio, Jan. 27. Eastern got 15 points, or 22 percent, of its offense courtesy of its role players. Junior Terrysha Banner chipped in nine of those 15 points, while senior Autumn Hudson added six on 3-of-3 shooting.
While one game certainly doesn't cement a new pattern, it is a good sign for the Green and White.
EAGLE TRENDS: Who has the hot hand? Who is crashing the boards? How do the current numbers compare to season averages and totals? Take a look at trends from the last five games (see in PDF).
BEST OF THE BUNCH: The Eagles allow just 61.5 points per game, which is the best of any team in the league. EMU's field goal percentage defense is also first, as opponents shoot just 36.9 percent against the Green and White.
OUT WITH OHIO: Eastern was able to hold Ohio to a season-low 66 points when the two teams met Jan. 27. Ohio, who was averaging a league-best 81.1 points per game coming into the contest, was held to just 26-of-70 shooting from the field. Ohio's previous low on the season was 69 points, which it grabbed in a winning effort over Western Michigan Jan. 23. In that game, OU was missing its second-best scorer, Erica Johnson, who did play against the Eagles.
RAISE THE BANNER: Junior transfer guard Terrysha Banner had a breakout game against Ohio, Jan. 27. The first-year Eagle recorded season-highs in minutes (27), points (9), field goals (3), three-point field goals (1), free throws (2), rebounds (7), and assists (2).
In addition to her impressive numbers on the stat sheet, Banner was responsible for perhaps the most important moment of EMU's 69-66 triumph over the Bobcats. With EMU up just one, 60-59, with under three minutes to play, Banner rose up and drained a contested left-wing three. That bucket gave EMU the separation it needed to pull away for just its second win over Ohio in its last six attempts.
PERK UP, PINEDA: Junior guard Natalia Pineda has established her offensive role for the Green and White over its last five games. Through the first 10 games of the season, Pineda averaged just 4.3 points per game and was 9-of-34 from deep (26%). In Eastern's last four contests, she has elevated her scoring average to 7.4 points per contest, and is shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-21; 38%). Those numbers have helped Pineda score 10+ points three times in her last five outings, a feat she only accomplished once during EMU's first 10 games. Most recently, she scored a season-high 13 points on three triple makes (tied season-high) against Ohio, Jan. 27.
SERIOUSLY, CE'NARA?: Redshirt sophomore forward Ce'Nara Skanes continues to dominate the post in Mid-American Conference play. After her 22-point, 16-rebound performance versus Ohio, Jan. 27, Skanes now has nine double-doubles on the season. That number, which leads all active EMU roster members, puts her at 12th all-time in program history.
In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (18) and second-best double-double candidate (9), she is top-five in numerous other areas, including FG% (50.8 – ranked 2nd), rebounds (162 - ranked 3rd), and rebounds per game (10.8 - ranked 2nd)
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 9.8 ppg average, which ranks third on the team, she has been incredible at dishing the rock. The Baldwin, N.Y. native ranks fifth in the conference in assists per game (4.1), and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.97). She has led the MAC in assist-to-turnover ratio in each of the two previous seasons.
CAN'T FORGET ABOUT COMBS: While many have focused on the impressive efforts of her teammates, redshirt senior Areanna Combs is in the midst of a season-long bid for MAC Player of the Year. The Oklahoma City native is averaging 19.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the league and 41st in the nation. Moreover, she has scored 10+ points in 14 of EMU's 15 contests, has led the team in scoring 10 times, has notched 20+ points in seven games, and has been EMU's three-point leader in four contests.
Combs is first in the MAC in steals per game (3.1), and ranks inside the league's top-10 in points (295 - No. 9), field goals (106 - No. 10), attempts (280 - No. 7), and minutes per game (35.7 - No. 6).
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 2-0 this season and 14-7 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 5-0 when holding its opponents under the 60-point plateau. Furthermore, Eastern is 33-6 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 7-0 this season when leading at the break, and just 2-6 when attempting a second-half comeback. Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, the Eagles are 35-14 when holding an intermission lead, and just 16-67 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 13 of EMU's 15 games this season. That trend holds consistent during the last five seasons; the Eagles are 44-14 when outshooting opponents in that stretch, and are just 10-66 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 568 through 15 games. Her 37.9 minutes per game average is the best in the conference, and ranks ninth nationally.
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 have been great once again in 2020-21. Combs and junior Jenna Annecchiarico are first and ninth in the MAC, and 10th and 84th nationally, with their respective 3.1 and 2.3 steals per game averages. Annecchiarico's nine steals against Miami, Jan. 13, is a personal record and is the best by any player in the MAC this season.
ALL-TIME AGAINST TOLEDO: Wednesday's contest marks the 86th meeting between Toledo and Eastern Michigan, who first met during the 1977-78 season. The Rockets lead the overall series, 51-34, however EMU won both games of the series a season ago.
LAST TIME AGAINT THE ROCKETS: Courtnie Lewis became the 23rd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark, tallying 12 points on the afternoon while pulling down four rebounds and tying for the team lead with a pair of assists, as the Eagles defeated Toledo, 64-46, Feb. 29, 2020
Corrione Cardwell also shined for the Green and White as she scored a team-high 19 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting, while adding four boards, an assist, a block, and a steal. From there, Areanna Combs notched 15 points and dished out a team-high five assists, while showing three rebounds and a pair of steals.
EMU finished 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor, while holding Toledo to a woeful 29.8 percent (17-of-57) efficiency. The Green and White also out-rebounded the visitors, 44-35, and bested the Rockets in points off turnovers (18-2), points in the paint (34-22), bench points (19-7), blocks (5-4)
ROAD WARRIORS: EMU may be just 1-4 at home this season, but its play on the road has been nearly perfect. The Eagles are 6-1 away from Ypsilanti this season, a record which includes four wins over conference opponents. EMU's lone loss came at the hands of Bowling Green, which bested Eastern, 71-64, Dec. 11.
WILD, WILD WEST (KIND OF): The Mid-American Conference elected to move away from divisional play in 2020-21, but nevertheless, Eastern has fared well against its traditional MAC West Division opponents this season. The Green and White are 3-1 against its usual divisional rivals this year with wins over Ball State - Dec. 2, Western Michigan - Jan. 10, and Central Michigan - Jan. 20. Eastern's average margin of victory in those contests has been nine points.
Eastern's only setback came in its last game, versus Ball State, Jan. 23.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern stays in Ypsilanti for a midweek battle with Western Michigan Wednesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The game is the team's annual Play4Kay event in honor of breast cancer awareness and prevention. To learn more about the team's efforts and how you can help, visit EMUEagles.com
Players Mentioned
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