Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women’s Hoops: 2022-23 Season Premiere
11/4/2022 2:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EMU women’s basketball begins its 48th season, Monday, Nov. 7
Season Preview Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Monday, Nov. 7 marks the start of the 2022-23 season for Eastern Michigan University basketball. Monday's contest will open the women's 47th season with a home opener that will showcase the Eagles taking on the Lindenwood University Lions at 5 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. The men's team is set to follow with its opener against Wayne State University at approximately 7:30 p.m.
In honor of the 2022-23 Season Premiere, Eastern Basketball is rolling out the green carpet for all fans to make their celebrity entrance into the George Gervin GameAbove Center as gates open at 4 p.m. Make your way down the green carpet with different photo stations and be sure to take advantage of FREE popcorn, premiere posters, and shirt giveaways!
The women's team provided the public a "first glance" at the 2022-23 team in its exhibition game with Northwood University, Wednesday Nov. 2. The Eagles defeated the Timberwolves, 92-84, in a game that does not count towards the season record. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) scored 31 points while senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy-Robert Morris) added 21.
"Northwood is a really good team," said Head Coach Fred Castro. "I am really proud of our teams ability to handle adversity, stay the course, if you will, and make the adjustments we needed to make. I think a lot of our miscues today were very correctable. Things that in the next three days we can address, fix, and get us ready for Lindenwood."
Castro begins his seventh season at the helm of the EMU women's basketball program in 2022-23. Castro has spent the past 20 years climbing the ranks from student manager to now the eighth head coach in EMU program history. During his career, he has worked tirelessly to learn and has held nearly every position within a women's basketball program including serving as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, video coordinator, and travel coordinator.
Castro and the 2021-22 squad finished with a 7-20 overall record, including a 4-16 ledger in Mid-American Conference play. Season highlights included Eastern's series sweep over Central Michigan, 80-60, Jan. 8, and 83-70, Feb. 19. For the Green and White, this was their first series sweep against the Mount Pleasant, Mich. institution since the 2014-15 season and both victories ended in double-digit margins. Prior to this season, the Eagles had not won back-to-back games by double figures over the Maroon and Gold since topping them 85-64, Feb. 14, 2015 and 99-84, March 8, 2014. Individually, former Eagle, Areanna Combs was fantastic once again, as she broke the 1,000 career point mark and earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second consecutive season. Fellow Oklahoman, Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) quickly established herself as one of the league's most dominant post players. She finished the season averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game en route to a team-best 11 double-double performances. Her 11 coupled with the 12 double-doubles she produced in the 2020-21 season, is good for the all-time record leader position with 23 career double-doubles. The next two Eagles, Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) and Olivia Fouty (2010-14) trail Skanes by six.
Elsewhere on staff, assistant coaches Katie Hempen and Carlos Adamson return for the 2022-23 season. Hempen and Adamson helped Castro to build the EMU defense into one of the most consistent rebounding units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 37.4 rebounds per game, finished fifth in the league for combined team rebounds. Additionally, the team produced an average 3.26 blocked shots per game ranking third in the category and 8.74 steals per game, good for sixth. EMU held its opponents to under 70 points 15 times in 2021-22. The team won seven of those 15 games, and has now emerged victorious in 73 of the 114 games in which it has held team's under 70 points during the Castro era (2016-Pres.).
Joining the staff for her first season is assistant coach Ke'Sha Blanton. Blanton comes to Ypsilanti after a three-year stint as the Associate Head Coach at Oakland University. She also spent time as the Golden Grizzlies' acting head coach on multiple occasions. Prior to the 2021-22 season, Blanton assumed acting head coaching duties for Jeff Tungate, who took a medical leave of absence. Her second stint in that role, Blanton led the Golden Grizzlies to a 15-15 overall record and 11-9 mark in Horizon League play. Blanton and the Golden Grizzlies finished just one Horizon League-win shy of the program record, 12, which the team matched during the 2020-21 season. During the 2022 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championships, Blanton led No. 7-seeded Oakland on a historic tournament run in which it defeated No. 10 seed Wright State at home. The victory marked just the second conference tournament win in Rochester in program history. Blanton then guided Oakland to a 63-52 upset win at No. 2 seed Youngstown State, propelling the Golden Grizzlies into the semifinals in Indianapolis, Ind. for the first time in program history.
This year's team features a mix of returning talent, "true" freshmen, and impressive transfers from around the country. A position-by-position breakdown of this year's team is included below:
GUARDS
EMU will feature some of the best back court players in the MAC this season. Highlighting the efforts will be returning sophomore Austin, who appeared in 27 games as a freshman, starting in all but six. Austin finished her rookie season averaging 27.6 minutes a game, scoring a total 173 points (6.4 per game), and averaging a .632 (24-28) free throw percentage. No stranger to sharing the ball, Austin contributed 42 helpers on the season. Defensively, the Michigan native earned 35 steals (1.3 per game), good for the 22nd best in the league.
Returning for her senior season is fifth-year Eagle Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson). Pineda, who is just three games away from playing 100 contests in an Eastern jersey, will continue to add leadership and needed three-point ability back into the lineup this season. The Miami native knocked down 18 threes in the 2021-22 season, averaging a .305 three-point shooting percentage. Appearing in all but seven games last season, Pineda averaged 21.7 minutes, 5.2 points per game, and a .615 (16-26) shooting average from the line. On the defensive side of the ball, the senior committed 21 robberies, and blocked six total shots.
Other deep threats returning to the lineup include sophomores Zaniya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) and Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Nelson saw action in 25 games, starting 13, and averaged 20.8 minutes per game. She finished her rookie season ranking third on the team in three-pointers made (.261) with a minimum of 60 attempts. Lewis had appearances in 15 total contests, averaging 6.3 minutes per game off the bench. A shooter from within the arc, the Missouri native went 8-for-18 on field goals (.444), and 2-for-6 from the line.
Other newcomers at the guard position include "true" freshmen Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side), Dara Capldi (Detroit, Mich.-La Lumiere), and Elena Cabello (Malaga, Spain-IES Medditterraneo), along with sophomore transfer Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.-Hershey-Northeast Community College). Each enter the EMU program with impressive high school/junior college resumes and have the chance to contribute immediately to the lineup. Hassett brings one year of experience playing in 23 games, starting in all, and averaging 14.5 points per game. Additionally, the sophomore recorded an average 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during her time with the Hawks.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Working alongside the guards will be the EMU forwards and centers, a group with plenty of veteran presence.
Back for her fifth season, fourth with the Eagles, is EMU's women's program's all-time leader in double-doubles, Skanes, who is poised to be one of the league's top players this season. In addition to being the Green and Whites leader in both blocked shots (1.1 bpg) and rebounds (9.1 rpg), she ranked in the top 25 in many statistical categories within the MAC. More specifically, she was the fifth-best shot-blocker and rebounder in the league. She notched a second team-best 20 games with 10+ points and eclipsed the 20-point mark on two different occasions, while hauling in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests all last season.
Joining Skanes will be returning forwards Treasure Thomspon (Joliet, Ill.-Bolingbrook-Louisiana State) and Madisyn Tillman (Kentwood, Mich.-East Kentwood). Thompson, who appeared in 19 contest with the Eagles, registered 49 points from the field, and set a career-best 20 points against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021. More impressively, the transfer only played 20 minutes in said game, averaging a point per minute. Coming off an injury as a rookie and looking to make an impact in the 2022-23 season is Tillman. She has yet to appear in a game with the Eagles and looks to debut this season.
Ready for her first year of action with the Green and White after sustaining an injury in 2021-22 and sitting out as a transfer in 2020-21, Ozzy-Momodu will add a major post presence to this year's roster. She led Robert Morris in rebounding and field goal percentage (.557), and ranked second in scoring (9.3) and blocks (0.5) in her most recent season of action (2019-20).
Joining the front court by way of transfer is sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega Y Gasset-Long Island). Eke, a standout at LIU, spent her freshman year appearing in 27 games with the Sharks. Earning nearly 400 minutes of court time, Eke was by far the best shooter on the team, as she knocked down 54.1 percent (40-of-74) of her total attempts on the season. She was the only Shark to eclipse the 50 percent standard. A steady rebounder as well, Eke hauled in 83 total boards during her inaugural season, including 24 on the offensive end. Additionally, her 3.1 rebounds per contest average ranked inside LIU's top-10 and recorded a whopping 45 blocks on the season, by far the most of any LIU player, and the most by any student-athlete in the Northeast Conference.
Rounding out the forwards and centers group is "true" freshman Sophia Nittinger (Webster Groves, Mo.-Webster Groves).
As mentioned before, the team's regular season is set to begin Monday, Nov. 7, in Ypsilanti, as Eastern welcomes the Lions to town. The game will begin at 5 p.m. with the doors opening at 4 p.m. for the true "movie premiere" experience.
Follow the action all season long and stay connected with the Eagles 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.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Monday, Nov. 7 marks the start of the 2022-23 season for Eastern Michigan University basketball. Monday's contest will open the women's 47th season with a home opener that will showcase the Eagles taking on the Lindenwood University Lions at 5 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. The men's team is set to follow with its opener against Wayne State University at approximately 7:30 p.m.
In honor of the 2022-23 Season Premiere, Eastern Basketball is rolling out the green carpet for all fans to make their celebrity entrance into the George Gervin GameAbove Center as gates open at 4 p.m. Make your way down the green carpet with different photo stations and be sure to take advantage of FREE popcorn, premiere posters, and shirt giveaways!
The women's team provided the public a "first glance" at the 2022-23 team in its exhibition game with Northwood University, Wednesday Nov. 2. The Eagles defeated the Timberwolves, 92-84, in a game that does not count towards the season record. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) scored 31 points while senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy-Robert Morris) added 21.
"Northwood is a really good team," said Head Coach Fred Castro. "I am really proud of our teams ability to handle adversity, stay the course, if you will, and make the adjustments we needed to make. I think a lot of our miscues today were very correctable. Things that in the next three days we can address, fix, and get us ready for Lindenwood."
Castro begins his seventh season at the helm of the EMU women's basketball program in 2022-23. Castro has spent the past 20 years climbing the ranks from student manager to now the eighth head coach in EMU program history. During his career, he has worked tirelessly to learn and has held nearly every position within a women's basketball program including serving as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, video coordinator, and travel coordinator.
Castro and the 2021-22 squad finished with a 7-20 overall record, including a 4-16 ledger in Mid-American Conference play. Season highlights included Eastern's series sweep over Central Michigan, 80-60, Jan. 8, and 83-70, Feb. 19. For the Green and White, this was their first series sweep against the Mount Pleasant, Mich. institution since the 2014-15 season and both victories ended in double-digit margins. Prior to this season, the Eagles had not won back-to-back games by double figures over the Maroon and Gold since topping them 85-64, Feb. 14, 2015 and 99-84, March 8, 2014. Individually, former Eagle, Areanna Combs was fantastic once again, as she broke the 1,000 career point mark and earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second consecutive season. Fellow Oklahoman, Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) quickly established herself as one of the league's most dominant post players. She finished the season averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game en route to a team-best 11 double-double performances. Her 11 coupled with the 12 double-doubles she produced in the 2020-21 season, is good for the all-time record leader position with 23 career double-doubles. The next two Eagles, Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) and Olivia Fouty (2010-14) trail Skanes by six.
Elsewhere on staff, assistant coaches Katie Hempen and Carlos Adamson return for the 2022-23 season. Hempen and Adamson helped Castro to build the EMU defense into one of the most consistent rebounding units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 37.4 rebounds per game, finished fifth in the league for combined team rebounds. Additionally, the team produced an average 3.26 blocked shots per game ranking third in the category and 8.74 steals per game, good for sixth. EMU held its opponents to under 70 points 15 times in 2021-22. The team won seven of those 15 games, and has now emerged victorious in 73 of the 114 games in which it has held team's under 70 points during the Castro era (2016-Pres.).
Joining the staff for her first season is assistant coach Ke'Sha Blanton. Blanton comes to Ypsilanti after a three-year stint as the Associate Head Coach at Oakland University. She also spent time as the Golden Grizzlies' acting head coach on multiple occasions. Prior to the 2021-22 season, Blanton assumed acting head coaching duties for Jeff Tungate, who took a medical leave of absence. Her second stint in that role, Blanton led the Golden Grizzlies to a 15-15 overall record and 11-9 mark in Horizon League play. Blanton and the Golden Grizzlies finished just one Horizon League-win shy of the program record, 12, which the team matched during the 2020-21 season. During the 2022 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championships, Blanton led No. 7-seeded Oakland on a historic tournament run in which it defeated No. 10 seed Wright State at home. The victory marked just the second conference tournament win in Rochester in program history. Blanton then guided Oakland to a 63-52 upset win at No. 2 seed Youngstown State, propelling the Golden Grizzlies into the semifinals in Indianapolis, Ind. for the first time in program history.
This year's team features a mix of returning talent, "true" freshmen, and impressive transfers from around the country. A position-by-position breakdown of this year's team is included below:
GUARDS
EMU will feature some of the best back court players in the MAC this season. Highlighting the efforts will be returning sophomore Austin, who appeared in 27 games as a freshman, starting in all but six. Austin finished her rookie season averaging 27.6 minutes a game, scoring a total 173 points (6.4 per game), and averaging a .632 (24-28) free throw percentage. No stranger to sharing the ball, Austin contributed 42 helpers on the season. Defensively, the Michigan native earned 35 steals (1.3 per game), good for the 22nd best in the league.
Returning for her senior season is fifth-year Eagle Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson). Pineda, who is just three games away from playing 100 contests in an Eastern jersey, will continue to add leadership and needed three-point ability back into the lineup this season. The Miami native knocked down 18 threes in the 2021-22 season, averaging a .305 three-point shooting percentage. Appearing in all but seven games last season, Pineda averaged 21.7 minutes, 5.2 points per game, and a .615 (16-26) shooting average from the line. On the defensive side of the ball, the senior committed 21 robberies, and blocked six total shots.
Other deep threats returning to the lineup include sophomores Zaniya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) and Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton). Nelson saw action in 25 games, starting 13, and averaged 20.8 minutes per game. She finished her rookie season ranking third on the team in three-pointers made (.261) with a minimum of 60 attempts. Lewis had appearances in 15 total contests, averaging 6.3 minutes per game off the bench. A shooter from within the arc, the Missouri native went 8-for-18 on field goals (.444), and 2-for-6 from the line.
Other newcomers at the guard position include "true" freshmen Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side), Dara Capldi (Detroit, Mich.-La Lumiere), and Elena Cabello (Malaga, Spain-IES Medditterraneo), along with sophomore transfer Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.-Hershey-Northeast Community College). Each enter the EMU program with impressive high school/junior college resumes and have the chance to contribute immediately to the lineup. Hassett brings one year of experience playing in 23 games, starting in all, and averaging 14.5 points per game. Additionally, the sophomore recorded an average 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during her time with the Hawks.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Working alongside the guards will be the EMU forwards and centers, a group with plenty of veteran presence.
Back for her fifth season, fourth with the Eagles, is EMU's women's program's all-time leader in double-doubles, Skanes, who is poised to be one of the league's top players this season. In addition to being the Green and Whites leader in both blocked shots (1.1 bpg) and rebounds (9.1 rpg), she ranked in the top 25 in many statistical categories within the MAC. More specifically, she was the fifth-best shot-blocker and rebounder in the league. She notched a second team-best 20 games with 10+ points and eclipsed the 20-point mark on two different occasions, while hauling in at-least 10 rebounds in 13 different contests all last season.
Joining Skanes will be returning forwards Treasure Thomspon (Joliet, Ill.-Bolingbrook-Louisiana State) and Madisyn Tillman (Kentwood, Mich.-East Kentwood). Thompson, who appeared in 19 contest with the Eagles, registered 49 points from the field, and set a career-best 20 points against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021. More impressively, the transfer only played 20 minutes in said game, averaging a point per minute. Coming off an injury as a rookie and looking to make an impact in the 2022-23 season is Tillman. She has yet to appear in a game with the Eagles and looks to debut this season.
Ready for her first year of action with the Green and White after sustaining an injury in 2021-22 and sitting out as a transfer in 2020-21, Ozzy-Momodu will add a major post presence to this year's roster. She led Robert Morris in rebounding and field goal percentage (.557), and ranked second in scoring (9.3) and blocks (0.5) in her most recent season of action (2019-20).
Joining the front court by way of transfer is sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega Y Gasset-Long Island). Eke, a standout at LIU, spent her freshman year appearing in 27 games with the Sharks. Earning nearly 400 minutes of court time, Eke was by far the best shooter on the team, as she knocked down 54.1 percent (40-of-74) of her total attempts on the season. She was the only Shark to eclipse the 50 percent standard. A steady rebounder as well, Eke hauled in 83 total boards during her inaugural season, including 24 on the offensive end. Additionally, her 3.1 rebounds per contest average ranked inside LIU's top-10 and recorded a whopping 45 blocks on the season, by far the most of any LIU player, and the most by any student-athlete in the Northeast Conference.
Rounding out the forwards and centers group is "true" freshman Sophia Nittinger (Webster Groves, Mo.-Webster Groves).
As mentioned before, the team's regular season is set to begin Monday, Nov. 7, in Ypsilanti, as Eastern welcomes the Lions to town. The game will begin at 5 p.m. with the doors opening at 4 p.m. for the true "movie premiere" experience.
Follow the action all season long and stay connected with the Eagles 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.
Monday, October 19
Wednesday, September 02
Tuesday, August 11
Monday, August 03