Back In Action: The Eagles travel to Cincinnai, Ohio to face Xavier

Women's Basketball at Xavier
Date	Saturday, Dec. 17 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Cincinnati, Ohio \| Cintas Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	FloSports - Subscription Required
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

CINCINNATI, Ohio (EMUEagles.com)-The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team (5-2) will hit the road for the first time in five games, taking a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio to face the Musketeers of Xavier University (7-3) Saturday, Dec. 17, inside the Cintas Center. The contest is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m.
    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.

EAGLES IN THE MAC: Five Eagles are ranked in the top 10 in various statistical categories throughout the Mid-American Conference. Holding the highest ranking for the Green and White is sophomore Tayra Eke, who ranks first in the league in blocks per game (2.14), and in total blocks (15). Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 2.5 steals per game is good for third in the conference and 63rd nationally, while her 3.7 assists per game ranks her eighth in the league. Additionally, Austin holds the 12th spot within the MAC for her 1.6 assists/turnover ratio, third in free throw percentage (88.0) and 10th for points per game (14.5). Senior Natalia Pineda moved to third in the league for minutes played per game (34.1), and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.6). Rounding out the group is ZaNiya Nelson, who ranks eighth in rebounds per game (6.7), and Ce'Nara Skanes, who is third in the league for rebounds per game (8.0), 10th in steals per game (1.83), and fourth for blocks per game (1.3).

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU had four players in double digit points against USI, Dec. 10. It was the seventh consecutive game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures and the fifth with four players in double digits.

NUMBER 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have tallied 42 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (6.0 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and 17th nationally. Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in every game this season. Tayra Eke currently holds the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.1 and in total blocks with 15. Her four blocks against USI are the most by an Eastern Michigan player since Becca Turney recorded five versus Ferris State University, Nov. 16, 2016.

LAST TIME OUT (USI): The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team came up short against the University of Southern Indiana, falling 66-60 to the Screaming Eagles Saturday, Dec. 10. Sophomore Lachelle Austin led the Eagles with 19 points, two steals and three blocks. Sophomore Tayra Eke added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds along with her four blocks, while redshirt junior Ce'Nara Skanes added 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
    Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace the Eagles, grabbing 12 total boards and turning them into six second chance points. Eastern Michigan forced 21 Southern Indiana turnovers, which led to 19 points. Austin paced the Eagles with two robberies.

SCOUTING XAVIER: The Musketeers possess a 7-3 record to start the 2022-23 season. Xavier opened its campaign with an 87-68 victory over MAC foe Miami University, Nov. 7. Since then, the Musketeers won the following four games before taking its first season and conference loss to No. 16 Creighton University, 57-51. The Musketeers then defeated SIU-Edwardsville with an eight-point margin, Nov. 27, (EMU defeated SIUE by nine) before taking two more conference losses. The team is coming off a 48-35 victory over the University of Cincinnati, Dec. 9.
    As a member of the Big East Conference, Xavier finished with a 4-16 conference mark, earning a berth into the Big East Tournament as the No. 10 seed. The Musketeers season ended after a 76-69 loss to the No. 7 seed, St. John's in the first round of the tournament.

THE OVC AND ME: Eastern's 66-60 setback against USI, Dec. 10 marked the first loss to an Ohio Valley Conference member this season. The Green and White previously defeated Lindenwood, Nov. 7, and SIUE, Nov. 13. In the past, Eastern Michigan has faced six other OVC members and holds a 6-4 all-time record against the conference. Two of the four previous year's victories came against Southeast Missouri State University (2019, 2020), while the other two were set against Eastern Illinois University (1983), and Morehead State University (2006), respectively.

EKE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Tayra Eke's 14 points and 14 rebounds led her to her third career double-double, earning all three in an Eastern jersey. Additionally, the Spaniard's 14 rebounds top her previous career high of 11, set Nov. 23 against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

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 Eagles have dominated the turnover battle 112-137 this season. The Green and White forced 21 Screaming Eagles turnovers while committing 16 themselves in the loss, Dec. 10. The team is now 4-2 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than Eastern.

BOX OUT: The Eagles have recorded a total of 280 rebounds thus far. The team's 40.0 boards per game average tops the conference, while junior Ce'Nara Skane's 8.0 rebounds per game ranks third in the MAC.

NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT: Eastern used a season-high 23 third-quarter points to retake control of the game, 47-45, after 30 minutes of action with the Screaming Eagles, Dec. 10. It was the first time with 20+ points in the third frame this season for EMU, and the most third-quarter points for EMU since dropping 26 on Northern Illinois University during the 2021-22 campaign, Feb. 23.

THIRD-QUARTER MARGINS: The Green and White outscored USI 23-14 (nine-point margin) in the third quarter of its game with the Screaming Eagles, Dec. 10. It was the largest third-quarter scoring margin in favor of the Eagles since it outpaced Florida International University by 11, Nov. 27, 2021.

SKANES FROM THE ARC: Ce'Nara Skanes drilled a pair from beyond the arc in the contest against USI, Dec. 10. The Oklahoma native topped her career high one three-pointer made set against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1.

HALFTIME DEFICIT: Eastern Michigan faced a 31-24 halftime deficit in the loss to USI, Dec. 10. Just the second time trailing after 20 minutes this season, the seven-point disadvantage was also the most for the team in a game this season. The Eagles trailed North Dakota State University by one, 30-29, after one half of play, Dec. 1 before outscoring the Bison by 19 in the second half to secure a 73-55 win.

THE TOP DOGS: The Eagles sit atop the conference in numerous statistical categories. The team's 6.0 blocks per game leads the MAC and ranks eighth nationally. Additionally, the Green and White lead the league in free throw attempts per game (21.0), and in rebounds per game (40.0).

NO-NO-NO: As a squad, the Eagles blocked a total of 10 shots on Saturday afternoon. It has been 19 years since EMU has accomplished that feat, totaling 10 rejections versus the University of Akron, January, 7, 2004. Additionally, the Eagles were just one block shy of tying the program's record in the modern statistical era (since 1998-99), when the 2003-04 team blocked 11 shots at Michigan State, Nov. 28, 2003.

SOUND THE ALARM: Eastern Michigan tallied seven steals in the game with USI, Dec. 10. It was the team's seventh consecutive contest with five or more robberies. Additionally, Lachelle Austin's two steals against USI gives her 15 on the season, ranking third in the MAC.

ROAD WINS: Eastern Michigan is 1-0 in road contests to begin the 2022-23 season. The Eagles have emerged victorious in one other road debut under seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro, a 65-52 victory over Southern Illinois University, Nov. 25, 2020. Additionally, EMU's 71 points scored against SIUE, Nov. 13, are the most for the program in a first road game victory since the 2013-14 season, when Eastern scored 84 points at Cleveland State in a 84-70 win, Nov. 17.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Candice Finely, the Associate Head Coach at Xavier, spent time at EMU before heading to Ohio. Finely spent four seasons (2012-2016) as previous Head Coach Tori Verdi's assistant. She helped the Eagles post two 20-win seasons and advance to three postseason tournaments. The Eagles won eight games during her first season (2012-13) on the bench before recording 24 wins only two seasons later and playing in the WNIT Sweet 16.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will continue on the road, taking a trip to Philadelphia, Pa. as the team will take part in the Saint Joe's Tournament hosted by Saint Joseph's University. The Eagles are scheduled to face James Madison University Tuesday, Dec. 20 before playing the winner of the Saint Joseph's and Wright State contest the next day, Wednesday, Dec. 21.

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.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Back In Action: The Eagles travel to Cincinnai, Ohio to face Xavier

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Tayra Eke

ZaNiya Nelson

Natalia Pineda

Ce'Nara Skanes

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