Eastern Michigan Athletics
Combs, Skanes Earn All-MAC Honors in Women's Basketball
3/9/2021 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Combs earned Second Team All-MAC and MAC All-Defensive Team honors; Skanes earned third team recognition
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Two Eastern Michigan University women's basketball players have earned All Mid-American Conference honors, the league office announced today, March 9. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) and redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) 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.
Now in her second year on court and third overall with the Eastern Michigan program, Combs put up impressive numbers all season for the Green and White. The Oklahoma City native is averaging 18.2 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. Moreover, she has scored 10+ points in 17 of EMU's 19 contests, has led the team in scoring 12 times, has notched 20+ points in seven games, and has been EMU's three-point leader in four contests. She has scored in double figures in 41 of her 43 career games at Eastern.
This season, Combs leads all Eagles in field goals made (127), points (345), points per game (18.2), and steals (53). She is second in the MAC in steals per game (2.79), and ranks inside the league's top-10 in points (345 - No. 10), field goals (127 - No. 9), attempts (343 - No. 7), and minutes per game (35.0 - No. 9).
The most special moment of the season for Combs came on Feb. 24, versus Western Michigan. Not only did she lead the team in scoring, with 12 points, but she also accomplished an incredible milestone in the first quarter of the game. The highlight came at the 2:48 mark, as Combs dropped in a mid-range jumper to not only give EMU a much-needed bucket, but to put her over the 1,000 point mark in her career. Combs started her college career at Oklahoma State, where she scored better than 200 points in two seasons before transferring to Eastern Michigan.
The Oklahoma City native has scored an impressive 810 points in just 43 career games with the Green and White, good for an 18.8 points per game average.
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.
Skanes has dominated the post in Mid-American Conference play. The Oklahoma City product led the team's rebounding efforts (11) for the 16th time this season, at Toledo, March 6. Skanes' rebounding ability has helped her record 12 double-doubles on the season. That number, which leads all active EMU roster members, puts her at a tie for 11th all-time in program history.
In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (1.1 BPG) and second-best double-double candidate (12), she is top-five in numerous other areas, including field goal percentage (49.1 – ranked 4th), rebounds (208 - ranked 2nd), and rebounds per game (10.9 - ranked 2nd).
Skanes has notched a team-best 18 games with 10+ points this season, and has eclipsed the 20-point mark on six different occasions, while she has hauled in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests. She has led the Eagles' scoring efforts five times this season, 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.
The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will begin its quest for the program's third Mid-American Conference Tournament crown when it travels to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the quarterfinal round of the annual conference tournament Wednesday, March 10. The No. 8 overall seed, Eastern (10-9, 7-7 MAC) will face a tough challenge, the No. 1 overall seed, Bowling Green State University (14-4, 18-5 MAC). Already the most decorated team in MAC Tournament history, BGSU is looking to claim its 12th title in 2021.
EMU is 28-24 all-time in its league tournament appearances, which date back to the 1981-82 season. Eastern has twice captured the tournament crown and reached the NCAA tournament via an automatic bid, first in 2004, and most recently in 2012.
The game, which is set to tip off at 11 a.m., will be broadcast on ESPN+ where veteran talents Dave Bacon and Jacki Windon will have the call. As always, fans can listen to the contest on WEMU 89.1 FM, where the Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, will cover all the action.
MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
Robyn Fralick, Bowling Green
MAC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Sixth Player of the Year
Janae Poisson, NIU, R-Jr. Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC First Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Sr. Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, So. Guard
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Sr. Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, So. Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami, So. Guard
Chelby Koker, NIU, So. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC Third Team
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Sr. Forward
Kadie Hempfling, Bowling Green, Jr. Guard
Ce'Nara Skanes, Eastern Michigan, R-So. Forward
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Jr. Guard
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Sophomore, G/F
Women's Basketball All-MAC Honorable Mention (6 Players due to ties)
Sydney Freeman, Ball State, So. Guard
Katie Shumate, Kent State, So. Guard
Lindsey Thall, Kent State, Jr. Forward
Gabby Burris, Ohio, Sr. Forward
Reilly Jacobson, Western Michigan, R-Sr. Forward
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
Women's Basketball MAC All-Defensive Team (6 Players due to ties)
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan
Lindsey Thall, Kent State
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball MAC All-Freshman Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Cheyenne McEvans, Buffalo, Fr. Guard
Madi Mace, Ohio, Fr. Guard
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
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.
Now in her second year on court and third overall with the Eastern Michigan program, Combs put up impressive numbers all season for the Green and White. The Oklahoma City native is averaging 18.2 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. Moreover, she has scored 10+ points in 17 of EMU's 19 contests, has led the team in scoring 12 times, has notched 20+ points in seven games, and has been EMU's three-point leader in four contests. She has scored in double figures in 41 of her 43 career games at Eastern.
This season, Combs leads all Eagles in field goals made (127), points (345), points per game (18.2), and steals (53). She is second in the MAC in steals per game (2.79), and ranks inside the league's top-10 in points (345 - No. 10), field goals (127 - No. 9), attempts (343 - No. 7), and minutes per game (35.0 - No. 9).
The most special moment of the season for Combs came on Feb. 24, versus Western Michigan. Not only did she lead the team in scoring, with 12 points, but she also accomplished an incredible milestone in the first quarter of the game. The highlight came at the 2:48 mark, as Combs dropped in a mid-range jumper to not only give EMU a much-needed bucket, but to put her over the 1,000 point mark in her career. Combs started her college career at Oklahoma State, where she scored better than 200 points in two seasons before transferring to Eastern Michigan.
The Oklahoma City native has scored an impressive 810 points in just 43 career games with the Green and White, good for an 18.8 points per game average.
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.
Skanes has dominated the post in Mid-American Conference play. The Oklahoma City product led the team's rebounding efforts (11) for the 16th time this season, at Toledo, March 6. Skanes' rebounding ability has helped her record 12 double-doubles on the season. That number, which leads all active EMU roster members, puts her at a tie for 11th all-time in program history.
In addition to being the league's third-best shot-blocker (1.1 BPG) and second-best double-double candidate (12), she is top-five in numerous other areas, including field goal percentage (49.1 – ranked 4th), rebounds (208 - ranked 2nd), and rebounds per game (10.9 - ranked 2nd).
Skanes has notched a team-best 18 games with 10+ points this season, and has eclipsed the 20-point mark on six different occasions, while she has hauled in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests. She has led the Eagles' scoring efforts five times this season, 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.
The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will begin its quest for the program's third Mid-American Conference Tournament crown when it travels to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the quarterfinal round of the annual conference tournament Wednesday, March 10. The No. 8 overall seed, Eastern (10-9, 7-7 MAC) will face a tough challenge, the No. 1 overall seed, Bowling Green State University (14-4, 18-5 MAC). Already the most decorated team in MAC Tournament history, BGSU is looking to claim its 12th title in 2021.
EMU is 28-24 all-time in its league tournament appearances, which date back to the 1981-82 season. Eastern has twice captured the tournament crown and reached the NCAA tournament via an automatic bid, first in 2004, and most recently in 2012.
The game, which is set to tip off at 11 a.m., will be broadcast on ESPN+ where veteran talents Dave Bacon and Jacki Windon will have the call. As always, fans can listen to the contest on WEMU 89.1 FM, where the Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, will cover all the action.
MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
Robyn Fralick, Bowling Green
MAC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Sixth Player of the Year
Janae Poisson, NIU, R-Jr. Guard
MAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC First Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Sr. Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, So. Guard
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Sr. Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, So. Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami, So. Guard
Chelby Koker, NIU, So. Guard
Women's Basketball All-MAC Third Team
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Sr. Forward
Kadie Hempfling, Bowling Green, Jr. Guard
Ce'Nara Skanes, Eastern Michigan, R-So. Forward
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Jr. Guard
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Sophomore, G/F
Women's Basketball All-MAC Honorable Mention (6 Players due to ties)
Sydney Freeman, Ball State, So. Guard
Katie Shumate, Kent State, So. Guard
Lindsey Thall, Kent State, Jr. Forward
Gabby Burris, Ohio, Sr. Forward
Reilly Jacobson, Western Michigan, R-Sr. Forward
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
Women's Basketball MAC All-Defensive Team (6 Players due to ties)
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan
Lindsey Thall, Kent State
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women's Basketball MAC All-Freshman Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Cheyenne McEvans, Buffalo, Fr. Guard
Madi Mace, Ohio, Fr. Guard
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
Players Mentioned
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