Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, December 10
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Southern Indiana
Back In Action: Women's Hoops Hosts Southern Indiana
12/8/2022 10:32:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Battle of the Eagles is set for Saturday, Dec. 10
| Women's Basketball vs. USI | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 1 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+ |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)-The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team (5-1) continues its home stretch, playing host to the University of Southern Indiana (3-4) Saturday, Dec. 10, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
With a 1 p.m. tip, Saturday's game will broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Claire Dau (analyst) 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.
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 second in the league in blocks per game (1.83), and in total blocks (11). Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 2.6 steals per game is good for third in the conference and 57th nationally, while her 3.8 assists per game ranks her sixth in the league. Additionally, Austin holds the 11th spot within the MAC for her 1.3 assists/turnover ratio. Senior Natalia Pineda moved to fifth in the league for minutes played per game (33.7), eighth in blocks per game (1.0), and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.6). Rounding out the group is ZaNiya Nelson, who ranks fifth in field goal percentage (46.6%), and Ce'Nara Skanes, who is fourth in the league for rebounds per game (7.8), sixth in steals per game (2.0), and eighth for blocks per game (1.0).
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU had four players in double digit points against UND, Dec. 4. It was the sixth consecutive game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures and the fourth with four players in double digits.
NUMBER 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have tallied 32 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (5.3 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and 18th nationally. Additionally, Tayra Eke holds the No. 2 spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.2 and in total blocks with 11.
LAST TIME OUT (UND): The Eagles had four players score in double figures in the 79-73 loss to UND, led by senior Natalia Pineda, who had 19 points and three blocks. Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson added 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals while freshman Olivia Smith chipped in as well with 15 points and three steals. Sophomore Lachelle Austin rounded out the group with 11 points, three rebounds, and four assists. The Eastern Michigan offense was strong from deep, making eight threes on 33 attempts. Pineda hit five treys for the Eagles in the contest. Eastern Michigan forced 18 North Dakota turnovers while committing 17 themselves in Sunday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 16 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Nelson's three steals led the way for Eastern Michigan.
HOW NICE TO BE HOME: With five already played, the Eagles have two remaining home non-conference games including Saturday's contest with USI. 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 4-1 start at home to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Prior to the loss against UND, Dec. 4, this season marks the fifth in the last 10 years that EMU was 4-0 at home to begin a season.
SCOUTING USI: The Screaming Eagles possess a 3-4 record to start the 2022-23 season. Southern Indiana is coming off a 58-48 defeat at Butler University, Dec. 7. The team is averaging 70.6 points per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, Meredith Raley, USI's top scorer, averages 15.1 points per game and led her team against Butler with 11 points, going 4-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe.
As a first-year member of the Ohio Valley Conference, USI finished 16-2 in the Grand Lakes Valley Conference (NCAA Division II) last season earning the top-seed into the tournament. The Screaming Eagles defeated the eighth seeded Southwest Baptist University, 92-59, in the quarterfinals to advance to the semi's where USI then lost to Lewis University, 88-72. Despite the loss, Southern Indiana earned a bid into the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament in which the Red, White, and Blue lost to Walsh University, 75-63.
THE OVC AND ME: Saturday's contest will mark the third OVC opponent the Eagles will have faced this season. The Green and White previously defeated Lindenwood, Nov. 7, and SIUE, Nov. 13. Additionally, it was the first time the Eagles had met with both universities, doing the same with USI on Saturday. 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 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.
CAN'T LET THEM SCORE More than 70: EMU went 1-12 in 2021-22 when allowing 70+ points. Moreover, EMU is 10-69 when allowing 70 or more points since the start of the 2016-17 season.
The Green and White allowed 79 North Dakota points in the loss, Dec. 1. The only other opponent to reach 70 against the Eagles this season was Florida A&M University in the 77-70 victory for the Green and White, Nov. 19. The Fighting Hawks' 79 points is the highest amount of points Eastern has allowed on defense this season.
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 73-116 this season. The Green and White forced 18 Fighting Hawks turnovers while committing 17 themselves in the victory, Dec. 4. The team is now 4-1 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than Eastern.
LIV'IN IT UP: Freshman Olivia Smith had a good game for Eastern Michigan, scoring 15 points and dishing out two assists with three steals in the loss to UND, Dec. 4. The 15 points in the game was the second time this season she has scored double digits in points, and marked as the freshman's career-high, topping her 13 against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7.
BOX OUT: The Eagles have recorded a total of 241 rebounds thus far. The team's 40.2 boards per game average tops the conference, while junior Ce'Nara Skane's 7.4 rebounds per game ranks fourth in the MAC.
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM: The Eagles scored 17 points in the first quarter against UND, Dec. 4. It marked the sixth consecutive game that EMU has secured 16 or more points to open play, going 5-1 in those contests. In the 2021-22 season, Eastern Michigan accomplished the same feat in 14 of the 27 games, going 7-7 in such games. This season, EMU's most points in the first quarter came against against Florida A&M University, Nov. 19, when the team put up 22 points in the first 10 minutes of play.
HALFTIME LEADERS: The Eagles built a four-point lead by halftime after trailing in the first in the contest against UND, Dec. 4. It marked the fifth game in which the Eagles have led their opponents heading into halftime this season. The only game EMU trailed its opponent after 20 minutes of play was against North Dakota State, Dec. 1 when the team went into the locker room down by one.
TREY'S ON TREY'S: Eastern Michigan found success from beyond the arc, knocking down eight treys in the game against North Dakota, Dec. 4. The eight three's ties with the eight made against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1 for a season high. Additionally, the Green and White have made five or more buckets from beyond the three-point line in all but one game this season, scoring only two at SIU-E, Nov. 13.
BUCKETS-ON-BUCKETS: Three Eagles scored 15 or more points in the win over the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4. Senior Natalia Pineda led the way with 19, while sophomore ZaNiya Nelson contributed 16, and freshman Olivia Smith added 15. This marks the second time this season the Eagles have recorded three players with 15 or more points in a single game. The last time the Green and White accomplished this feat was in the 71-49 victory over IUPUI, Nov. 23. In that game, sophomore Lachelle Austin had 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals, while Ce'Nara Skanes added a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Tayra Eke claimed her own double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Last season, Eastern Michigan recorded the feat just twice in 27 games.
LAST YEAR, BEST YEAR: Senior Natalia Pineda was 5-of-8 from the three-point range in the game against UND, Dec. 4, to mark the fourth time in her career she has scored at least four triples in a contest with the last coming Nov. 27, 2019, on a 4-of-9 shooting performance at home against the University of Michigan. Sunday's career-high performance also marked just the second time she has hit four or more treys in a home game as her first two games of four makes both came on the road during the 2018-19 season (Nov. 27, 2018, at Purdue University Fort Wayne and Jan. 9, 2019, at Kent State University). Pineda finished the game with a career-high 19 points, topping her previous high 17 set against FAMU, Nov. 19. She was also a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, registered five boards, two blocks, and dished out three helpers.
GUESS WHO'S BACK: Coming back from an injury, sophomore Kyndal Lewis appeared in her second game of the season, playing a career-high 19 minutes against the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4. The Missouri native was a perfect 1-for-1 from the field, and drew three personal fouls, earning two points on four free-throw attempts. Her four total scores set as a season-high for Lewis, and was shy two from her career high six, set against Grand Canyon University, Nov. 19, 2021.
NELSON'S CAREER DAY: Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson scored 16 points against the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4, the third most in a game in her career (21 vs. FAMU, Nov. 19, and 18 at SIU-E, Nov. 13). The effort was the third time this season she has scored 16 or more points with her 79 season tallies leading the Green and White. Additionally, her nine rebounds in the contest marked as a career high for the sophomore, topping her eight against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7. This was the fourth game of the season in which the sophomore has recorded double-digit points, tying the four games she recorded in double-digits within the 2021-22 season. Additionally, Nelson dished out four assists against the Fighting Hawks topping her previous career-high two assist at Ball State University, Mar. 5, and improved her season total by 200% going from two prior to the game to six.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the contest with the Screaming Eagles, Eastern will hit the road for the first time in five games, taking a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio to face the Musketeers of Xavier University Saturday, Dec. 17, inside Cintas Center. The contest is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m.
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.
With a 1 p.m. tip, Saturday's game will broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Claire Dau (analyst) 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.
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 second in the league in blocks per game (1.83), and in total blocks (11). Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 2.6 steals per game is good for third in the conference and 57th nationally, while her 3.8 assists per game ranks her sixth in the league. Additionally, Austin holds the 11th spot within the MAC for her 1.3 assists/turnover ratio. Senior Natalia Pineda moved to fifth in the league for minutes played per game (33.7), eighth in blocks per game (1.0), and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.6). Rounding out the group is ZaNiya Nelson, who ranks fifth in field goal percentage (46.6%), and Ce'Nara Skanes, who is fourth in the league for rebounds per game (7.8), sixth in steals per game (2.0), and eighth for blocks per game (1.0).
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU had four players in double digit points against UND, Dec. 4. It was the sixth consecutive game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures and the fourth with four players in double digits.
NUMBER 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have tallied 32 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (5.3 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and 18th nationally. Additionally, Tayra Eke holds the No. 2 spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.2 and in total blocks with 11.
LAST TIME OUT (UND): The Eagles had four players score in double figures in the 79-73 loss to UND, led by senior Natalia Pineda, who had 19 points and three blocks. Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson added 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals while freshman Olivia Smith chipped in as well with 15 points and three steals. Sophomore Lachelle Austin rounded out the group with 11 points, three rebounds, and four assists. The Eastern Michigan offense was strong from deep, making eight threes on 33 attempts. Pineda hit five treys for the Eagles in the contest. Eastern Michigan forced 18 North Dakota turnovers while committing 17 themselves in Sunday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 16 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Nelson's three steals led the way for Eastern Michigan.
HOW NICE TO BE HOME: With five already played, the Eagles have two remaining home non-conference games including Saturday's contest with USI. 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 4-1 start at home to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Prior to the loss against UND, Dec. 4, this season marks the fifth in the last 10 years that EMU was 4-0 at home to begin a season.
SCOUTING USI: The Screaming Eagles possess a 3-4 record to start the 2022-23 season. Southern Indiana is coming off a 58-48 defeat at Butler University, Dec. 7. The team is averaging 70.6 points per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, Meredith Raley, USI's top scorer, averages 15.1 points per game and led her team against Butler with 11 points, going 4-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe.
As a first-year member of the Ohio Valley Conference, USI finished 16-2 in the Grand Lakes Valley Conference (NCAA Division II) last season earning the top-seed into the tournament. The Screaming Eagles defeated the eighth seeded Southwest Baptist University, 92-59, in the quarterfinals to advance to the semi's where USI then lost to Lewis University, 88-72. Despite the loss, Southern Indiana earned a bid into the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament in which the Red, White, and Blue lost to Walsh University, 75-63.
THE OVC AND ME: Saturday's contest will mark the third OVC opponent the Eagles will have faced this season. The Green and White previously defeated Lindenwood, Nov. 7, and SIUE, Nov. 13. Additionally, it was the first time the Eagles had met with both universities, doing the same with USI on Saturday. 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 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.
CAN'T LET THEM SCORE More than 70: EMU went 1-12 in 2021-22 when allowing 70+ points. Moreover, EMU is 10-69 when allowing 70 or more points since the start of the 2016-17 season.
The Green and White allowed 79 North Dakota points in the loss, Dec. 1. The only other opponent to reach 70 against the Eagles this season was Florida A&M University in the 77-70 victory for the Green and White, Nov. 19. The Fighting Hawks' 79 points is the highest amount of points Eastern has allowed on defense this season.
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 73-116 this season. The Green and White forced 18 Fighting Hawks turnovers while committing 17 themselves in the victory, Dec. 4. The team is now 4-1 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than Eastern.
LIV'IN IT UP: Freshman Olivia Smith had a good game for Eastern Michigan, scoring 15 points and dishing out two assists with three steals in the loss to UND, Dec. 4. The 15 points in the game was the second time this season she has scored double digits in points, and marked as the freshman's career-high, topping her 13 against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7.
BOX OUT: The Eagles have recorded a total of 241 rebounds thus far. The team's 40.2 boards per game average tops the conference, while junior Ce'Nara Skane's 7.4 rebounds per game ranks fourth in the MAC.
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM: The Eagles scored 17 points in the first quarter against UND, Dec. 4. It marked the sixth consecutive game that EMU has secured 16 or more points to open play, going 5-1 in those contests. In the 2021-22 season, Eastern Michigan accomplished the same feat in 14 of the 27 games, going 7-7 in such games. This season, EMU's most points in the first quarter came against against Florida A&M University, Nov. 19, when the team put up 22 points in the first 10 minutes of play.
HALFTIME LEADERS: The Eagles built a four-point lead by halftime after trailing in the first in the contest against UND, Dec. 4. It marked the fifth game in which the Eagles have led their opponents heading into halftime this season. The only game EMU trailed its opponent after 20 minutes of play was against North Dakota State, Dec. 1 when the team went into the locker room down by one.
TREY'S ON TREY'S: Eastern Michigan found success from beyond the arc, knocking down eight treys in the game against North Dakota, Dec. 4. The eight three's ties with the eight made against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1 for a season high. Additionally, the Green and White have made five or more buckets from beyond the three-point line in all but one game this season, scoring only two at SIU-E, Nov. 13.
BUCKETS-ON-BUCKETS: Three Eagles scored 15 or more points in the win over the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4. Senior Natalia Pineda led the way with 19, while sophomore ZaNiya Nelson contributed 16, and freshman Olivia Smith added 15. This marks the second time this season the Eagles have recorded three players with 15 or more points in a single game. The last time the Green and White accomplished this feat was in the 71-49 victory over IUPUI, Nov. 23. In that game, sophomore Lachelle Austin had 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals, while Ce'Nara Skanes added a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Tayra Eke claimed her own double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Last season, Eastern Michigan recorded the feat just twice in 27 games.
LAST YEAR, BEST YEAR: Senior Natalia Pineda was 5-of-8 from the three-point range in the game against UND, Dec. 4, to mark the fourth time in her career she has scored at least four triples in a contest with the last coming Nov. 27, 2019, on a 4-of-9 shooting performance at home against the University of Michigan. Sunday's career-high performance also marked just the second time she has hit four or more treys in a home game as her first two games of four makes both came on the road during the 2018-19 season (Nov. 27, 2018, at Purdue University Fort Wayne and Jan. 9, 2019, at Kent State University). Pineda finished the game with a career-high 19 points, topping her previous high 17 set against FAMU, Nov. 19. She was also a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, registered five boards, two blocks, and dished out three helpers.
GUESS WHO'S BACK: Coming back from an injury, sophomore Kyndal Lewis appeared in her second game of the season, playing a career-high 19 minutes against the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4. The Missouri native was a perfect 1-for-1 from the field, and drew three personal fouls, earning two points on four free-throw attempts. Her four total scores set as a season-high for Lewis, and was shy two from her career high six, set against Grand Canyon University, Nov. 19, 2021.
NELSON'S CAREER DAY: Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson scored 16 points against the Fighting Hawks, Dec. 4, the third most in a game in her career (21 vs. FAMU, Nov. 19, and 18 at SIU-E, Nov. 13). The effort was the third time this season she has scored 16 or more points with her 79 season tallies leading the Green and White. Additionally, her nine rebounds in the contest marked as a career high for the sophomore, topping her eight against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7. This was the fourth game of the season in which the sophomore has recorded double-digit points, tying the four games she recorded in double-digits within the 2021-22 season. Additionally, Nelson dished out four assists against the Fighting Hawks topping her previous career-high two assist at Ball State University, Mar. 5, and improved her season total by 200% going from two prior to the game to six.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the contest with the Screaming Eagles, Eastern will hit the road for the first time in five games, taking a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio to face the Musketeers of Xavier University Saturday, Dec. 17, inside Cintas Center. The contest is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m.
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.
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