Women's Hoops Closes Out the Non-Conference Schedule Versus Hillsdale

Women's Basketball vs. Hillsdale
Date	Wednesday, Dec. 28 \| 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+ \| Ryan Wooley (pxp), Lexi Ayala (analyst)
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team (7-3) will play host to the Hillsdale College Chargers (7-6) Wednesday, Dec. 28 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
    Wednesday's game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Ryan Wooley (pxp), and Lexi Ayala (analyst) will have 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.

EAGLES IN THE MAC: Three Eagles remain 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 (2.10), and in total blocks (21). Additionally, her 7.6 rebounds per game is good for fifth. Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 2.2 steals per game is good for fifth in the conference while her 83.8 free throw percentage ranks third. Rounding out the group is Ce'Nara Skanes, who is sixth in the league for rebounds per game (7.6).

SANITIZATION STATION: With the Green and White's 78 total boards in the 27th Hawk Classic, Dec. 20-21, the Eagles have collected 400 total rebounds in the 10 games played this season. Last year, the Eagles recorded 40 boards less in the first 10 games of competition. This season's team's 40.0 rebounds per game leads the MAC and ranks 86th in the nation. Leading Eastern Michigan in rebounds in the 2022-23 campaign are Tayra Eke and Ce'Nara Skanes, who both average 7.6 boards a game.

HOW NICE TO BE HOME: With six already played, the Eagles will play their final non-conference home game of the season Wednesday, Dec. 28. The seven total non-conference games are 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 has topped that record with a 4-2 start at home to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Prior to the loss against UND, Dec. 4, and USI, Dec. 10, this season marks the fifth in the last 10 years that EMU was 4-0 at home to begin a season.

LAST TIME OUT (JMU/WSU): EMU took part in the 27th Hawk Classic hosted by Saint Joseph's University, Dec. 20-21. The Green and White took a tough loss to the Dukes of James Madison University in its first game of the tournament, dropping, 78-43, Dec. 20. Freshman Olivia Smith led the Eagles with 16 points, while sophomore Tayra Eke tacked on two points, seven rebounds and two blocks and sophomore ZaNiya Nelson chipped in with her own set of two points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
    Day two saw the Eagles earn a 66-54 victory over the Wright State University Raiders. The Eagles had two players score in double figures, led by junior Ce'Nara Skanes, who had 22 points and four assists. Sophomore Lachelle Austin tacked on 14 points, four assists and two steals, while Eke added six points and 13 rebounds.
    Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Wright State 43-20, led by Eke's 13 boards. The Eagles also collected 13 offensive rebounds and scored 15 second chance points.

THE TOP DOGS: The Eagles sit atop the conference in two statistical categories. The team's 5.8 blocks per game leads the MAC and ranks 10th nationally, while the team's 40.0 rebounds per game also leads the league and ranks 86th in the nation.

NUMBER 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have led the MAC in blocks per game throughout the entirety of the season, thus far. Tallying 58 total blocks in the 10 games played so far, the Eagles are top 10 in the nation for blocks per game (5.8), holding the 10th spot. Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in every game this season, but two. Tayra Eke continues to hold the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.1 and in total blocks with 21. Her four blocks against USI, Dec. 10, are the most by an Eastern Michigan player since Becca Turney recorded five versus Ferris State University, Nov. 16, 2016.

THEY GOT US: The Eagles took a tough loss to James Madison, Dec. 20. The 35-point loss was the largest losing margin for the Green and White this season. Additionally, it is the first contest in which the Eagles have fallen by 20 points or more since the 92-58 setback against Ball State University, March 5.

LIV'IN IT UP: Playing 37 minutes of the game against the Dukes, Dec. 20, freshman Olivia Smith drained four triples on eight attempts. The four makes marks as the rookie's career high, topping her three treys set on two different occasions (vs. Lindenwood University, Nov. 7; vs. the University of North Dakota, Dec. 4). Additionally, her team-leading 16 points topped her previous high of 15 set against North Dakota, Dec. 4.
    Her team-leading 16 points also marked as the rookie's first time leading EMU in points and marked her fourth contest making three or more three-pointers in a single game.

THE BENCH: The Eastern Michigan bench came alive in the setback to JMU, Dec. 20, adding 28 points to its scoring output. The 28 points are the most recorded off the bench this year, which tops the 22 scored by substitutes against Lindenwood, Nov. 7. Additionally, the 28 bench points is the most since Feb. 26, when the bench scored 28 points in the 75-51 home loss, one season ago. In that year, the bench had scored 28 or more points on just three occasions, vs. Toledo (28), at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 23 (28), and vs. Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021 (80).

HALFTIME DEFICIT: Eastern Michigan faced a 36-26 halftime deficit in the loss to JMU, Dec. 20. Just the fourth time trailing after 20 minutes this season, the 10-point disadvantage against JMU, Dec. 20, is the largest halftime deficit the Eagles have faced this year with the previous being seven against the University of Southern Indiana, Dec. 10.

FRESHMAN THINGS: Olivia Smith's four makes from the three-point line against JMU, Dec. 20, is the first to be done by a freshman since teammate ZaNiya Nelson did so against Detroit Mercy University, Nov. 13, 2021.

SOUND THE ALARM: Eastern Michigan tallied six steals in the game with Wright State, Dec. 21. It was the team's ninth consecutive contest with five or more robberies. Additionally, Lachelle Austin's two steals gives her 20 on the season, ranking fifth in the MAC for steals per game (2.2). Austin has a steal in all but two contests this season.

NO FREEBIES: In the game with Wright State, Dec. 21, the Eagles were very strategic when it came to fouls. For the first time this season, the Green and White held its opponent to zero free throw attempts.

SHUT-EM DOWN: Eastern Michigan held the Raiders to only 38.6 percent shooting from the field, ec. 21. It was the fifth time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. In all instances, Eastern has out-shot its competitors.

HELPING HANDS: The Green and White collected 17 total helpers in the contest with Wright State, Dec. 21. The 17 assists mark's as a season high for the team, topping its previous 16 at SIU-Edwardsville, Nov. 13. The last time the Eagles provided 17 or more helpers in a single game was in the road win over Central Michigan University, when the Eagles defeated the Chippewas, 83-70, with 18 total assists, inside McGuirk Arena, Feb. 19.

MAKING THE TOURNAMENT TEAM: Junior Ce'Nara Skanes led the Eagles with 22 points against the Raiders, Dec. 21. A season-high for the junior, Skane's 22 points led her to being named to the 27th Hawk Classic Tournament Team, which was an honor that was announced following the conclusion of all games.

ON THE HORIZON: Following the matchup with Hillsdale, the Green and White will return in the new year to host its first conference contest with Miami University, Jan. 4 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 Closes Out the Non-Conference Schedule Versus Hillsdale

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Tayra Eke

ZaNiya Nelson

Ce'Nara Skanes

Olivia Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics