Women's Basketball Set for Monday Night Matchup With Bowling Green

Women's Basketball vs. Bowling Green State University
Date	Monday, Jan. 24 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| George Gervin GameAbove Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Twitter	.@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will close its three-game homestand with a Monday night bout against Bowling Green State University, Jan. 24. Tipoff inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center is set for 7 p.m.
   The Eagles (4-9, 1-5 MAC) will look to bounce back after falling to Northern Illinois, 85-76, in their most recent contest, Jan. 22. Meanwhile, Bowling Green (7-7, 2-3 MAC) is looking to get back into the win column after dropping a game at Ohio, 85-70, the same day.
   The game will be televised on ESPN+ where Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Dannie Rogers (analyst) will have the call. Fans can hear the game on WEMU 89.1 FM or on the Varsity Network app as well, with Tom Helmer providing the play-by-play. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

BIG TIME BLOCKS: The Eagles were active in affecting shots on the defensive end of the floor against Northern Illinois, Jan. 22, recording six blocks as a team. The six rejections ties EMU's single-game season-high, a number which it has now hit in four games. Individually, redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes led the way with three swats, which tied her career-high.

NINE FROM BEHIND THE LINE: Eastern Michigan was outstanding from behind the three-point line vs. NIU, Jan. 22. The Green and White knocked down nine triples in the game. That number ties for the second-most in a game this season, and the most for the team against a Division I opponent.

A TROOP OF 10+: The Eagles had three players score in double-digits against NIU, Jan. 22 (Combs - 23, Rainey - 17, Skanes - 12), marking the ninth such occurrence in the 2021-22 season. The Eagles have an overall record of 4-5 in those games.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: EMU dominated the turnover battle against NIU, Jan. 22, forcing 21 giveaways while recording just eight of its own. Eastern has now bested its opponents in total turnovers in six games this season.

GOOD FOR 20: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs led the Eagles' offense against Northern Illinois, Jan. 22, scoring 23 points on 9-of-24 shooting. It is the third time this season Combs has scored at least 20 points and the 22nd time in the guard's three-year EMU career.

SHE'S BACK: After shooting 1-of-12 from three-point range against WMU, Jan. 19, it only took redshirt senior Danielle Rainey one quarter to hit multiple three-pointers against NIU, Jan. 22. Rainey was 2-of-3 from deep in the first quarter against the Huskies. It is the 11th time in 13 games this season she had connected on multiple three-pointers. She ended the contest with five three-point baskets, which ties her single-game career high (previously hit against Grace Christian, Nov. 18.). Those numbers are both single-game highs for any EMU player this season.

HOT FIRST HALF: Danielle Rainey's three-point efforts against NIU, Jan. 22, were highlighted by an explosive first half. She scored 14 points in the frame, which ties her highest-scoring half of the season, originally set against FIU, Nov. 27. That number is the second-best in a single half by any player this season, just one point behind the 15 points that Areanna Combs dropped in the second half against Youngstown State, Nov. 11.

ON THE BOARDS: EMU has left a mark on the offensive side of the glass this season. A total of 52 percent (13-of-25) of Eastern's total rebounds against NIU came on the offensive glass, which is tied for the highest percentage in a single game this season. EMU has gotten 30 percent-or-more of its rebounding production from the offensive end of the floor seven times during the 2021-22 campaign. The Green and White rank sixth in the MAC with an 11.6 ORPG average.

SECOND CHANCES: The Eagles cashed in on their impressive rebounding efforts by recording 12 second chance points against Western Michigan, Jan. 19, and following that up 14 points of the sort against NIU, Jan. 22. Eastern has scored at least 10 second chance points in nine contests this season.

BIG TIME BUCKETS: EMU averages 71.1 points per game, the fourth-best average in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles have scored 70+ points in six contests this season. Last season, EMU eclipsed 70 points just twice.

COURTNIE CLIMBS THE LADDER: 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 1,143 career points, sitting 19th all-time behind former Eagle Reeshema Wood (1989-93) who tallied 1,158 points. EMU great Tavelyn James (2008-12) owns the top spot in program history, having accumulated 2,470 career points.

THE FIRST 20 MATTERS: Eastern Michigan's first-half play has been largely illustrative of the team's win-loss record this season. All four of Eastern's wins have seen the Eagles take a lead into the intermission, while each of the squad's nine setbacks has included a halftime deficit.
EMU is 40-15 in games in which it held a halftime lead since the onset of the 2016-17 season, and 17-78 in games where it has trailed at the break in that same span.

LEFT THE DOOR OPEN: EMU gave up 48 first-half points to Northern Illinois, Jan. 22. That number ties Eastern's season-high for points allowed in a half. The Eagles allowed Oklahoma to score 48 points in the second half of the Dec. 7, 2021 contest between the two teams.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED: Eastern has been one of the most disciplined teams in the conference in the early portion of the 2021-22 season. The Eagles are sixth in the MAC and rank 72nd in the country in fewest fouls (235). Additionally, EMU has been tremendous at taking care of the basketball, ranking second in the league and 18th nationally in fewest turnovers (195).

LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE: The Green and White are sixth in the league, averaging 8.6 steals per contest. That number is on track to be the second-best mark under Fred Castro (2016-Pres.). The 2017-18 EMU squad racked up 9.7 steals per contest.

HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS: Eastern has been one of the best shooting teams in the MAC this season. The Eagles have hit 43.1 percent (336-of-779) of their shots from the field this season, good for second in the league and 74th nationally. EMU's current best mark under Head Coach Fred Castro came in the 2017-18 campaign when the Green and White shot 40.1 percent from the floor for the season.

DEEP THOUGHTS: EMU boasts a three-point percentage of 34.5 in 13 games this season. In the same stretch last year, the Eagles were hitting just 26.9 percent. The 34.5% mark from beyond-the-arc ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference and 54th in the nation. Meanwhile, the team is seventh in the league in three-pointers made per contest at 6.8.
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 seven of 13 games.

JUANITA'S HUSTLE: Redshirt junior Juanita Agosto has done a little bit of everything for the Eagles as of late. Over the past five games, the Seattle, Wash. native has recorded more assists than any Eagle (12), highlighted by tying her career-high of five dimes at Kent State, Jan. 15. Defensively, the 5-foot-6 guard has also collected the second-most rebounds (26) on the team. Additionally, she has committed the fewest turnovers (5) of any regular starter in that stretch.

COURTNIE FOR THREE: Senior guard Courtnie Lewis hit just four three-pointers in her first seven games this season, but has been solid from deep since. The Belton, Mo. native has knocked down 11 trey balls in her last five games for a three-point percentage of 39.0. Her 11 makes is second on the team during that stretch (Danielle Rainey - 14), while the percentage is the team-best over the last five games.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Including her 12 performances of the nature this season, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 54 of her 57 career games with the Green and White (94.7%). That number is the highest percentage in the Mid-American Conference.

COOKIES: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs ranks third in the MAC in total steals (32) and fourth in the league in steals per game (2.46). Combs set a career-high with 10 steals against Grace Christian, Nov. 18, to help her achieve her first ever triple-double (12 points, 11 assists, 10 steals).

SKILLED SKANES: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes has been skilled around the basket this season for the Eagles, leading the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage 53.4 percent. Her efficiency this year surpasses her work last year, finishing the 2020-2021 season shooting 49.4 percent (119-of-241) from the floor. Skanes has shot 50 percent-or-better from the floor in eight outings so far this season. Most recently, the forward was 5-10 in a 2-point effort against Northern Illinois, Jan. 22.

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. Rainey has hit 40-of-97 (41.2%) from downtown and has hit at least three shots from beyond the arc in nine contests.
   The Washington, D.C. native's three-point percentage is No. 2 in the MAC and 37th in the nation. Rainey is second in the league in treys made per game (3.08), good for sixth in the country.

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. Last season, the team went 0-4 when allowing 70 points in a game. The team is 0-6 in 2021-22. Moreover, EMU is 8-62 when allowing 70+ points since the start of the 2016-17 season.

SHARING IS CARING: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs has tallied 44 assists (3.1 per game) this season. Eleven of Combs' 44 assists came against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18. The 11 dimes against the Tigers tops her previous best, which she set two games prior against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 9 (7). EMU has recorded 10-or-more assists in six games this season.

BLOCK PART(E): EMU is third in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (3.69). Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with 16 rejections and is fourth in the MAC with 1.23 blocks per game while freshman Treasure Thompson sits fifth in the league with one block per contest (13 overall).
The Eagles have recorded at least five blocks in four contests this season. 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.

WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs made history Saturday, Jan. 15, when she notched 13 points to become Eastern Michigan's 24th 1,000-point scorer. Combs, who has been on court with the Eagles since the 2019-20 season, needed just 55 games to hit the total, an average of more than 18 ppg.
   Combs joins teammate Courtnie Lewis as the only active players to have hit the milestone.

TWO GRAND TEAMMATES: Upperclassmen Courtnie Lewis (1,143) and Areanna Combs (1,036) are the first Eagle teammates to share the court as 1,000-point scorers since the 2016 season, when Cha Sweeney (2013-16) and Janay Morton (2013-16) had both hit the milestone.

ONE AWAY FROM THE TOP: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes continues to climb EMU's all-time double-double ladder. Skanes has five double-double outings this season and 16 as a member of the Green and White. She is one behind all-time leaders Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) and Oliva Fouty (2010-14).

BACK IN #MACTION: The Green and White's 2021-22 campaign marks the 41st season EMU will compete as a member of the MAC. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 295-373 record against conference opponents all-time.

RING CHASING: Eastern is in search of its first conference championship since 2012. That year, the Eagles captured both the MAC West and MAC Tournament titles.
   As a program, EMU has claimed four division crowns (2004, 2006, 2008, 2012) and two tournament championships (2004, 2012).

CHASING 200: The Eastern Michigan women's basketball program has racked up 197 total wins inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center (renamed Dec. 11, 2021) 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 VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons have been the dominant team in this battle of the birds, holding a 52-20 lead in the all-time series between EMU and BGSU. The last half-decade has been good to the Green and White, however, as Eastern has claimed victory in six of the last nine matchups, including five of the last seven. Prior to the 2015 season, EMU had lost 12 consecutive games against the Falcons, dating back to 2005.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE FALCONS: The No. 8 Eagles faced off against the No. 1 Falcons in the opening round of the 2021 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. Areanna Combs led the way for EMU, as she finished the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds to notch her third double-double of the season, and 18th game with 10+ points. Ce'Nara Skanes led the team with 13 points overall.

ON THE HORIZON: EMU is set to hit the road for a midweek contest against the University of Akron Wednesday, Jan. 26. Tipoff inside James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 7 p.m.

Women's Basketball Set for Monday Night Matchup With Bowling Green

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Players Mentioned

Juanita Agosto

Areanna Combs

Courtnie Lewis

Danielle Rainey

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics