Women's Basketball Returns to Action Wednesday at Toledo

Women's Basketball at Toledo
Date	Wednesday, Jan. 5 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Toledo, Ohio \| Savage Arena (9,000)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU 89.1 FM
Twitter	@EMU_WBB \| @EMUAthletics

TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- After nearly a month of waiting, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will be back in action Wednesday, Jan. 5, when it travels south for a border-brawl with the University of Toledo Rockets. Tipoff inside Savage Arena is set for 7 p.m.
   EMU is set to open Mid-American Conference play after missing its last four scheduled games due to COVID-19 related challenges. Meanwhile, Toledo is off to an impressive 2-0 start in league play after picking up wins over Kent State, Dec. 29, and Akron, Jan. 1.
   The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can hear the action on WEMU 89.1 FM or worldwide on the Varsity Network app where play-by-play man Tom Helmer will have the call. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

AT LAST: Eastern Michigan will take the court for the first time in 26 days when it plays Toledo, Jan. 5, after last seeing action Dec. 10 versus Binghamton.
   Eastern's last four scheduled games have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 protocols (within multiple programs).
   The break is the longest for the team in program history between games. Last season, the team missed five conference games over a period of 25 days between late January and early February.

BACK IN #MACTION: The Green and White's 2021-22 campaign marks the 41st season Eastern Michigan will compete as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 295-372 record against conference opponents all-time.
EMU IN MAC OPENERS: Eastern Michigan opens its 41st Mid-American Conference slate Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Toledo.
   The Green and White are 19-21 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 13 of the last 19 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2002-03 season, the most recent of which was a 77-58 dismantling of Ball State a season ago, Dec. 2.

RING CHASING: Eastern enters league play 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).

ONE AWAY FROM THE TOP: 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 16 as a member of the Eagles. Skanes is one behind all-time leaders Sarah VanMetre and Oliva Fouty.

FIRST YEAR, FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE: It only took seven games for "true" freshman Lachelle Austin to record her first double-double, dropping 12 points and hauling in 10 rebounds against Binghamton, Dec. 10. The Redford, Mich. native scored six of Eastern's final 18 points in the 66-62 win for the Eagles.
   Austin's performance makes her the fourth member of the Green and White to record a double-double this season, joining redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes, redshirt senior Areanna Combs, and redshirt junior Juanita Agosto.

THE HOT HAND: EMU is off to a solid start from the field in 2021-22. The Eagles rank second in the Mid-American Conference and rank 40th nationally with a 45.1 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 current 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 76.0 points per game through its first seven contests. That number is good for third in the MAC and 35th 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 second in the MAC and seventh in the country in fewest turnovers (118). Additionally, EMU ranks first in the league and 10th nationally in fewest team fouls (126).

DOMINANT FROM DEEP: Eastern Michigan has improved tremendously from three-point land this year compared to last season's numbers. Seven games into the 2021-22 season, EMU boasts a three-point percentage of 36.1 on 48-of-133 attempts. In the same stretch last year, the Eagles were hitting just 26.0 percent (34-for-131).
   The 36.1% mark from beyond-the-arc ranks third in the Mid-American Conference and 33rd in the nation. Meanwhile, the team is 10th in the league in three-pointers made per contest at 6.9.
   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 seven 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 seven games, the guard has hit 22-of-43 (51.2%) from downtown and has hit at least three shots from beyond-the-arc in five contests.
   The Washington, D.C. native's three-point percentage (51.2%) is No. 1 in the MAC and fifth in the nation. Rainey is third in the league in treys made per game (3.14), good 14th in the nation.

SHARING IS CARING: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs has tallied 29 assists (4.1 per game) this season. Her assists per game average is 11th in the MAC.
   Eleven of Combs' 26 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).
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 10th in the league in assists per game at 11.77 and eleventh in total dimes with 82.

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 just behind former Eagle Phillis Webb, who produced 1,125 points between 2013-17. EMU great Tavelyn James (2008-2012) owns the top spot in program history, having accumulated 2,470 career points.

BLOCK PART(E): EMU is first in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (4.4), which is 53rd in the nation.
   Freshman Treasure Thompson has led the way so far with 12 swats, followed by redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (10), and redshirt junior RayJon Harris (4). Thompson (1.71) and Skanes (1.43) rank first and second in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game, respectively.
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 ranks third in the MAC in total steals (23) and fourth in the league in steals per game (3.29) this season, good for 12th nationally. 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).
   As a team, Eastern is fifth in the Mid-American Conference in steals per game, with a 9.9 average.

STRIPE LIFE: Areanna Combs is 40-of-48 (83.3%) from the charity stripe this season. The redshirt senior's 40 makes is third-best in the MAC. Additionally, the guard's 83.3 percent clip is good for fifth in the league.
   Combs went 6-of-8 (75.0%) from the free-throw line against Binghamton, Dec. 10. Her six makes at the stripe marked her sixth outing of the 2021-22 season sinking at least five free throws. Additionally, the game against BU was the Oklahoma City native's third with eight-or-more attempts.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Including her seven performances of the nature this season, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 49 of her 51 career games with the Green and White (96.1%). Most recently the redshirt senior paced the team with 16 points, Dec. 10. The Oklahoma City native's 17.1 points per game are good for 10th in the league.

ALL-TIME AGAINST TOLEDO: Wednesday's contest marks the 88th meeting between Toledo and Eastern Michigan, who first met during the 1977-78 season. The Rockets lead the overall series, 52-35, however, EMU has won three of the last four meetings.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE ROCKETS: Eastern and Toledo closed the 2020-21 regular season with a bout inside Savage Arena, March. 6. It was the Rockets who emerged victorious in that contest at they used a 15-10 fourth quarter run to overtake Eastern, 59-55, in the final minutes of play.
   Eastern was led by the post duo of Ce'Nara Skanes and then-senior Autumn Hudson, who put up 17 and 11 points, respectively. The pair was joined by Areanna Combs, who finished the game with 13 points to notch her 17th double-digit scoring performance of the season.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have opened up the 2021-22 season with a home record of 3-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of Youngstown State, 70-67, Nov. 9. For Eastern Michigan, this is the best start to a season since the 2018-19 team started 5-0 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Meanwhile, the team is currently 0-2 in away contests and 0-1 in neutral site games.

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 return home Saturday, Jan. 8 when it welcomes Central Michigan to the George Gervin GameAbove Center for a 1 p.m. tip against the Chippewas. The game will serve as the front end of a doubleheader with the EMU men's team, which will play Ball State at 3:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Juanita Agosto

Lachelle Austin

Areanna Combs

RayJon Harris

Courtnie Lewis

Danielle Rainey

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics