Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-5,1-1MAC
Central Michigan
3-10,1-3MAC
Women's Basketball Routs Central Michigan; Earns First MAC Win
1/8/2022 3:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Five Eagles amassed 10+ points en route to the Eagles second straight win over the Chippewas
Photo Gallery
Postgame Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Five Eagles scored in double digits as the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team routed the Central Michigan Chippewas, 80-60, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center today, Jan. 8.
The Eagles (4-5, 1-1 MAC) had five players score in double figures, led by redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who had 16 points and six rebounds. Fellow upperclassman Danielle Rainey (Washington, D.C.-Vista Ridge (Florida)) added 15 points, while redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds of her own.
Led by redshirt junior Juanita Agosto's (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) three offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 18 second chance points.
Eastern Michigan forced 20 Central Michigan turnovers while committing just eight of its own in Saturday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 20 points on the offensive end of the floor. Agosto led the way individually with two steals.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan started out the scoring by going on a 13-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Skanes, to take an early lead with 5:09 left in the first quarter. Eastern Michigan capitalized on five Central Michigan turnovers in the period, turning them into nine points on the other end of the floor en route to a 24-12 first quarter lead.
EMU kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 9:11 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from senior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton), to increase its lead to 30-12. The Chippewas cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 44-29 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 20 points.
The Eagles continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Agosto, to expand its lead further, to 54-31, with 7:07 to go in the third. Despite a CMU run, the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 66-51 edge. Eastern Michigan turned four offensive rebounds into five second chance points on the way to scoring 22 total points in the quarter.
Eastern Michigan kept its lead intact before going on a 7-0 run to grow the lead to 76-54 with 6:32 to go in the contest. The Chippewas narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 80-60 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of nine Central Michigan turnovers in the quarter, scoring six points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» The Eagles held the Chippewas to only 37.5 percent shooting from the field.
» The Eagles never trailed after taking a 24-12 first quarter lead.
» Five Eastern Michigan players scored 10 or more points.
» The Eagles forced 20 Central Michigan turnovers while committing only eight on the other end.
» Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» EMU's offense started the game on a 13-2 run, holding Central's offense scoreless in the first 5 minutes of the contest
» Eastern Michigan led the Chippewas 24-12 at the end of the first quarter, its largest against a Division I opponent this season. The 12-point advantaged bests EMU's previous mark, an eight-point first quarter lead, which it held over Binghamton, Dec. 10.
» Eastern Michigan scored 44 points in the first half, its most over a Division I opponent this season. The Eagles previously scored a season-best 38 first-half points against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13, 2021.
» Eastern never trailed in the afternoon, leading all but one minute of the game.
» Eastern Michigan saw five players in double-digits, which ties for the most in a single game this season. The second such occurrence of the season, five Eagles also scored 10+ points against Grace Christian, Nov. 18, 2021.
» The 20-point margin of victory is Eastern Michigan's largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent this season. The previous largest margin of victory was 10, when the Eagles defeated Detroit Mercy, 76-66.
»Lewis tied her season-high with 11 points. She previously scored 11 against Grace Christian, Nov. 18.
» Lewis hit a season-best three shots from deep against the Chippewas. She was yet to hit more than one in a game this season prior to the effort.
» Combs has now scored 10+ points in 51 of her 53 career games at EMU.
Historical Notes
» The Eagles improved to 4-1 this season inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. It is their best start at home since they started 5-0 at home to begin the 2018-19 season.
» EMU defeated CMU by a margin of 20+ points for the fifth time in the 91-game series history between the two programs.
»The Eagles now hold a two game winning streak against the Chippewas, the first time they have won two straight meetings against Central since the 2015 season.
Up Next
» EMU will remain at home as the Eagles welcome Ball State University to campus for a Wednesday night showdown with the Cardinals, Jan. 12. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
