Women's Hoops Continues Home Stretch; Plays Host to North Dakota State

Women's Basketball vs. NDSU
Date	Thursday, Dec. 1 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| George Gervin GameAbove Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Digital Game Program
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team looks to stretch its four-game win streak Thursday, Dec. 1 in a meeting with the North Dakota State University Bison inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
   Thursday night's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Reggie Butler (analyst) on the call. It will also be broadcast live on WEMU (89.1FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer, the Voice of Eastern Michigan Athletics, and Alex Jewell on the call. Fans can follow the action via live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide score updates throughout the contest.

FOUR RIGHTS MAKE A PERFECT SQUARE: With its 71-49 win over IUPUI, Nov. 23, Eastern Michigan is off to its first 4-0 start since 2013-14, when the Green and White opened with six straight wins. It is the program's sixth 4-0 start since its inception prior to the 1976-77 season. Additionally, it is the first four-game win streak for the program since the 2020-21 campaign, when it captured four-straight wins between Jan. 10-20, defeating Western Michigan University, Miami University, the University of Akron, and Central Michigan University along the way.

CASTRO'S BEST START: EMU's 4-0 start is the first for seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro. It tops the teams consecutive 2-0 starts in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Additionally, of the nine women's basketball head coaches at Eastern, just five have begun a season with four or more consecutive wins. Castro's 4-0 record this season ranks him fifth.

EAGLES IN THE MAC: Six Eagles are ranked in the top 15 in various statistical categories throughout the Mid-American Conference. Holding the highest ranking for the Green and White is sophomore Tayra Eke, who sits atop the league in blocks per game (2.5). Additionally, she is second in the league in total blocks (10). Senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu holds the No. 2 spot in field goal percentage (53.6%), fourth in rebounds per game (8.0), and eighth in blocks per game (1.0). Senior Natalia Pineda ranks second in the league for minutes played per game (35.14), 10th in assists per game (3.2), and 11th in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). Sophomore Lachelle Austin has tabbed her name in the top 15 in four statistical categories, the most by any Eagle this season. Austin is third in the MAC for steals per game (3.0), sixth for assists per game (4.0), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (2.0), and 11th in field goal percentage (41.7%). Rounding out the group is ZaNiya Nelson, who ranks seventh in field goal percentage (47.9%), and Ce'Nara Skanes, who is fifth in the league for rebounds per game (7.8).

TWO DOUBLE-DOUBLES W/ CHEESE: Two Eagles earned double-doubles in the victory over IUPUI, Nov. 23. Sophomore Tayra Eke tabbed her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 boards, while Ce'Nara Skanes added her 25th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first time two Eagles recorded double-doubles in the same contest since the Green and White fell to the University of Delaware, Nov. 26, 2019. Former Eagle, Areanna Combs recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds in that game with Skanes dropping 11 points and 10 boards.

ANOTHER WIN WOULD: If Eastern Michigan comes out of Thursday's contest victorious, the Green and White would have its first five-game winning streak since it did so in the 2019-20 season. In that year, the Eagles went 5-0 between Dec. 10, 2019 and Jan. 8, 2020, taking wins off of Purdue Fort Wayne, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Detroit Mercy, Bowling Green State University, and Kent State University.

10 POINT LEADS: Eastern Michigan led IUPUI, 19-7, at the end of the first quarter, Nov.23. Eastern has now held a first-quarter lead of 10 points in three consecutive contests. The last time EMU led opponents by 10+ points after the first quarter in consecutive games was during the 2019-20 campaign, when Eastern built first-quarter leads of 15 and 17 points in consecutive games against Olivet College, Nov. 8, and Youngstown State University, Nov. 16, respectively.

BUCKETS-ON-BUCKETS: Three Eagles scored 15 or more points in the win over the Jaguars, Nov. 23. Sophomore Lachelle Austin led the way with 19, while junior Ce'Nara Skanes contributed 17, and sophomore Tayra Eke added 15. The last time the Green and White have registered three or more players with 15+ points in a single game was in the road loss to Florida International University, Nov. 27, 2021. Former Eagles Danielle Rainey and Areanna Combs recorded 19 and 15 points in that game, respectively, while Skanes tabbed on 15 of her own. Last season, Eastern Michigan recorded the feat just twice in 27 games.

ALONE AT THE TOP: In just her second year as an active member of the team in 2021-22, Ce'Nara Skanes became the program's all-time leader in double-doubles with 23 following a 21-point, 10-rebound effort at Miami University, Jan. 29.
   After posting 17 points and 11 rebounds against IUPUI, Nov. 23, the forward has now recorded double-doubles in 25 of her 52 career games at EMU (48%), the best percentage of anyone on the 2022-23 roster. Prior to the most recent season, former Eagles Sarah VanMetre and Olivia Fouty tied for the most double-doubles in EMU history with 17.

LAST TIME OUT (IUPUI): Junior Ce'Nara Skanes and sophomore Tayra Eke each recorded double-doubles to help lead the Eastern Michigan women's basketball team past the Jaguars 71-49 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center Wednesday, Nov. 23.
   The Eagles had three players score in double figures, led by sophomore Lachelle Austin, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Skanes added a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Eke claimed her own with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
   Eastern Michigan out-rebounded IUPUI 45-31, led by Eke's 11 boards. The Eastern Michigan defense was also a problem for the Jaguars, forcing 17 IUPUI turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 22 points on the offensive end of the floor. Skanes' two steals led the way individually for the Eagles.

HALFTIME LEADERS: The Eagles built a 16-point lead by halftime in the contest against IUPUI, Nov. 23. It marked four consecutive games to begin the season in which the Eagles have led by 10+ points after 20 minutes of play. Additionally, the 16-point lead is the second highest halftime lead this season with the most being 19 against SIUE, Nov. 13.

STAY 20+ POINTS AWAY: The Green and White defeated IUPUI, Nov. 23, with a 71-49 decision. The 22-point victory margin marks the first 20+ point win over an opponent since the Eagles defeated Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021 by a score of 133-45.

HOW NICE TO BE HOME: With three already played, the Eagles have four remaining home non-conference games including Thursday's contest with NDSU. The seven total non-conference games is the most for the program in a decade, when it played seven non-conference home games during the 2012-13 campaign.
   Eastern Michigan went 3-1 in its non-league home games one season ago and is currently 3-0 at home to begin the 2022-23 campaign. This season marks the sixth in the last 10 years that EMU is 3-0 at home to begin a season.

SCOUTING NDSU: The Bison possess a solid 6-0 record to start the 2022-23 season with their most recent victory coming over the University of Nevada, Nov. 27. Additionally, the Bison have taken a win over a Power Five school this season, defeating the University of Minnesota, 71-65.
   As a member of The Summit League, NDSU finished 7-11 in conference last season earning the sixth-seed in the tournament. The Bison came up short in the quarterfinals, dropping to the third-seeded Kansas City, 81-74 to finish the season.

CAN'T LET THEM SCORE More than 70: EMU went 1-12 in 2021-22 when allowing 70+ points. Moreover, EMU is 10-68 when allowing 70 or more points since the start of the 2016-17 season.
   The Eagles defense has done a great job at limiting its opponents to below 70 in the 2022-23 season thus far. The only opponent to reach 70 against the Eagles was the FAMU Rattlers in the 77-70 victory for the Green and White, Nov. 19.

RACK-EM-UP: Eastern has scored 70+ points in all four games this season. Last year, EMU hit that number just 10 times in 27 total games, and had its longest stretch of three consecutive games of the sort just once.

NO. 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have tallied 22 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (5.5 per game). The 5.5 blocks per game average places the Eagles atop the entire conference and in the top 25 within the nation, taking the 19th spot out of 349 teams ranked. Additionally, sophomore Tayra Eke leads the league in blocks per game with 2.5 and ranks second in total blocks with 10.

AUSTIN-TACIOUS: Sophomore Lachelle Austin collected career highs in points, field goals made, and three-pointers in the win over the Jaguars, Nov. 23. The Redford, Mich. native led the team in points, scoring 19 on seven field goals made. Additionally, Austin earned a game-high in three-pointers, connecting with the net three-of-five times from beyond the arc. Austin's 19 points topped her previous career-high 18, set at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 23, 2022. Furthermore, her last made shot solidified a career-high in field goals made, besting her previous high of six, set in three different contests. Prior to the IUPUI game, the sophomore had never made more than two three's in a single game. Against the Jaguars, Austin made three.

TAYRA'S WALL: Sophomore Tayra Eke recorded her team leading 10th block of the season behind three stops against IUPUI, Nov. 23. Eke has now recorded at least two blocks in four straight contests, the best streak by an Eagle since Skanes tallied a block in five straight games between Jan. 19-29 against Western Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Akron and Miami University, respectively.

TURNOVER TOWN: Eastern won the turnover battle 17 times in 27 outings, including 14 times during Mid-American Conference play one season ago. During league action, EMU had an eight-game span where it forced more turnovers than it gave up.
   Staying true to its 2021-22 trend, the Green and White opened its 2022-23 season forcing 20 Lindenwood turnovers to Eastern's 10 in the win, Nov. 7. Additionally, the Eagles defense kept rolling, causing 26 SIUE turnovers to Eastern's 19, Nov. 13. After winning the turnover battle with IUPUI, Nov. 23, 15-17, the team is now 3-0 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than the Eagles.

UNDER 10 IN THE FIRST 10: The Eagles held the Jaguars to just seven points in the first quarter of the 71-49 Eastern victory, Nov. 23. The last time the Green and White held its opponent under 10 points in the first quarter was in the 71-62 victory over SIUE, Nov. 13, when the Cougars scored just six points in the first 10 minutes of play. With Wednesday's win, the Green and White have held its opponent to under 10 in the first 10 twice in four games. Last season, the Eagles accomplished the feat just twice in 27 games.

WIZARD OF OZZY: Senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu has made quite the impact on the Green and White in her three contest in an Eastern jersey. The international ranks second in the league for field goal percentage (53.6%) and has recorded a single double-double against SIUE, Nov. 13. Furthermore, Ozzy-Momodu ranks in the top ten within the MAC for blocks per game (1.0) in the eighth spot, and fourth in rebounds per game (8.0).

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern continues its home stretch Sunday, Dec. 4, by playing host to the Coyotes of the University of North Dakota with a noon tip. The game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and WEMU (89.1 FM), will be the first half of a doubleheader with the EMU men playing host to the Owls of Florida Atlantic University at 2:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.

FOLLOW THE ACTION ALL SEASON LONG: Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUWBB and @EMUAthletics on Twitter for all of the latest EMU women's basketball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMUWBB.

Women's Hoops Continues Home Stretch; Plays Host to North Dakota State

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Tayra Eke

ZaNiya Nelson

Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu

Natalia Pineda

Ce'Nara Skanes

Eastern Michigan Athletics