Women's Basketball Readies for Rivalry Matchup at Western Michigan

Women's Basketball at Western Michigan
Date	Wednesday, March 2 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Kalamazoo, Mich. \| University Arena
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Twitter	.@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- With just a pair of games left in the regular season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set to hit the road for a matchup with its in-state rival, Western Michigan University, Wednesday, March 2. Tipoff inside WMU's University Arena is set for 7 p.m.
   Eastern (7-18, 4-14 MAC) is looking to earn a third victory over an in-state rival this season after previously beating Central Michigan University twice. Meanwhile, the game has major implications for Western (15-12, 9-9 MAC), which is one of four Mid-American Conference teams deadlocked at nine league wins apiece in the fight to earn a bid into the conference tournament next week. Western currently sits in the No. 7 position, but a loss could bump them out of the top eight and qualification for the event, set for March 9-12 in Cleveland. EMU will not participate in this year's tournament.
    The game will be televised on ESPN+. WEMU 89.1 FM will also carry the game, with Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Alex Jewell (analyst) on the call. The team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

STEALING THE SHOW: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes was outstanding against Toledo, Feb. 26. In addition to leading the Green and White in both points (13) and rebounds (10), she also recorded a team-best (tied) and career-high three steals.

AVOIDING THE SWEEP: EMU will need a win over WMU if it wants to avoid being swept by the Broncos in a season series for the first time since 2017. That season, Western defeated Eastern, 76-67, Jan. 14, in Ypsilanti before earning a 10-point, 70-60 win in Kalamazoo, Feb. 18.

WHILE WE'RE TALKING TRENDS: EMU has lost consecutive games to WMU. Neither team has won three-straight games in the rivalry since the 2014-15 through 2015-16 seasons, respectively, when the Eagles bested the Broncos in three straight.
   Western Michigan has not claimed three consecutive victories over Eastern Michigan at any point during the 21st Century. In fact, the last time WMU hit the mark came between 1995-96, when Western took three straight as part of a larger, eight-game stretch of victories for the Broncos.

OKAY, ONE MORE TREND TO DISCUSS: Eastern has played 23 road games at Western Michigan since the start of the Modern Statistical Era (1999-Pres.). The road has been favorable to the Eagles during that stretch, as they have captured 13 victories inside University Arena.
   EMU has been dominant at home during that span as well, compiling a 17-8 record against the Broncos.

SENIORS SHOW OUT: Despite falling at home to Toledo, 75-51, Feb. 26, the EMU seniors made the most of their time on the court. Courtnie Lewis, Danielle Rainey, and RayJon Harris all recorded six points to pace the class, Natalia Pineda and Kylee O'Hara both knocked down one three-pointer, while Juanita Agosto and Toyosi Abiola each added a bucket in the loss.

FIRST-QUARTER DEFENSE: The Eastern Michigan defense stifled the Rockets in the opening frame, holding Toledo to just 15 points, Feb. 26. For UT, this was its lowest first-quarter output since they scored just 14 in the first stanza at Ohio, Feb. 16. Additionally, the Eagles forced three turnovers and saw the Rockets connect on just 6-of-18 (33.3%) from the floor.

SCORING WOES: Eastern was held to just 51 points in the contest versus Toledo, Feb. 26, its lowest since being held to just 48 in its first matchup against the Rockets, Jan. 5. The Rockets' defense currently ranks first in the MAC as it holds its opponents to 59.9 ppg.

AUSTIN AGAIN: Freshman Lachelle Austin continues to make strides, as the guard scored nine points on 3-of-8 (.375) from the field and 1-of-2 (.500) from deep against Toledo, Feb. 26. The guard's three-point basket was her third consecutive game with at least one make from beyond the arc. Prior to the span, Austin had not made a deep ball in her previous three games. Furthermore, the freshman also paced the team with a personal-best three assists in 27 minutes of action.

BOARD GAMES: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes pulled in a team-leading 10 boards against Toledo, Feb. 26. The effort was her 13th of the season with 10+ rebounds, which leads the team. The performance marked the 32nd time in her career and 16th this season leading EMU in single-game rebounding.

TURNOVER TOWN: Eastern forced Toledo into 14 turnovers, Feb. 26. EMU has won the turnover battle in four consecutive games, and 14 times overall in MAC play this season. The Eastern defense has forced 15+ opponent turnovers in 11 of its last 14 games.

HALF THE TIME: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes recorded her 11th double-double of the season against Toledo, Feb. 26 It was her 23rd overall with the Green and White. She has recorded double-doubles in 23 of her 45 career games at EMU (51%), the best percentage of anyone on the team.

BIG BENCH: The EMU bench has been outstanding in the last three games. The Eagles' bench dropped 28 points against Toledo, Feb. 26, to account for 55 percent of the team's total scoring. That came on the heels of a 28-point bench performance against Northern Illinois, Feb. 23, which accounted for 43.1 percent of the team's total offensive production.
   Eastern's second unit also dropped 22 against Central Michigan, Feb. 19, good for 26.5 percent of the team's total offensive production.
   The Eagles have scored 15+ bench points in 12 contests this season, including five straight.

SHARING IS CARING: Areanna Combs currently sits 12th in the Mid-American Conference with 3.6 assists per contest. The guard has dished out 36 dimes in the past eight games, including an eight-assist performance versus Miami, Feb. 16, and five outings with five-or-more helpers during the span. Combs has recorded eight outings with at least five assists so far in the 2021-22 season.

STRIPE LIFE: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes is best known for her blocks and skill near the rim, however, she is also a threat when sent to the charity stripe. The center has sunk 71-of-95 (74.7%) from the line this season, but in the last 10 games, she is a team-leading 29-of-32 (91.0%). Furthermore, she has been perfect from the line in seven of those outings.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED: EMU has been tremendous at taking care of the basketball, ranking fourth in the league and 42nd nationally in fewest turnovers (353). Additionally, the team is sixth in the MAC in fewest fouls with 426.

THE FIRST 20 MATTERS: All seven of Eastern's wins have seen the Eagles take a lead into the intermission, while 17 of the squad's 18 setbacks have included a halftime deficit.
   Eastern is 43-16 in games in which it held a halftime lead since the onset of the 2016-17 season, and 17-86 in games where it has trailed at the break in that same span.

LIVING AT THE LINE: While Ce'Nara Skanes has been improving at the stripe as of late, redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs has been living at the line in her last 10 outings. The Oklahoma City native has taken 78 free throws in that span (7.8 per game). Combs has converted 66.7 percent of the freebie attempts (52-of-78). For comparison, she went to the line just 76 times in EMU's first 13 games of the season (5.8 per game).
   The 78 attempts are by far the most of any Eagle in the recent 10-game stretch. Skanes is second in attempts during that span, with 34 (-44 compared to Combs).

LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE: The Green and White are third in the league, averaging 9.2 steals per contest. That number is the second-best mark under Fred Castro (2016-Pres.). The 2017-18 EMU squad racked up 9.7 steals per contest.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Including her 22 performances of the nature this season, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 64 of her 68 career games with the Green and White (94.1%). That number is the highest percentage in the Mid-American Conference.

CAN'T LET THEM SCORE 70: EMU is 1-11 in 2021-22 when allowing 70+ points. Moreover, EMU is 9-67 when allowing 70+ points since the start of the 2016-17 season.

COOKIES: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs ranks fourth in the MAC in both total steals (60) and steals per game (2.5). Combs set a career-high with 10 steals against Grace Christian, Nov. 18, to help her achieve her first-ever triple-double (12 points, 11 assists, 10 steals). Additionally, the guard has recorded at least one steal in 15-straight games.

COURTNIE AND COMBS CLIMBING: Senior Courtnie Lewis, a veteran for the Eagles and 1,000-point club member, is moving up the all-time point list at EMU. Lewis boasts 1,200 career points, which ranks 19th on the scoring list.
   Meanwhile, redshirt senior Areanna Combs sits at 15th in the record book, with 1,257 points in her three seasons donning the Green and White. The guard has averaged 18.2 ppg this season.
   EMU great Tavelyn James (2008-12) owns the top spot in program history, having accumulated 2,470 career points.

TWO GRAND TEAMMATES: Upperclassmen Courtnie Lewis (1,200) and Areanna Combs (1,257) are the first Eagle teammates to share the court as 1,000-point scorers since the 2016 season, when Cha Sweeney (2013-16) and Janay Morton (2013-16) had both hit the milestone.

BLOCK PART(E): EMU is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (3.3). Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with 29 rejections and is sixth in the MAC with 1.2 blocks per contest while freshman Treasure Thompson is second on the team in blocks with 16.
   The Eagles have recorded at least five blocks in seven contests this season. In the 2020-21 campaign, Eastern only recorded five-or-more blocks in a game three times.

ROCK COLLECTORS: The Green and White recorded 10 steals versus Toledo, Feb. 26, led by both Juanita Agosto and Ce'Nara Skanes with three each. It was a career-high for Skanes.
   Eastern has won or tied the steal battle in conference play 15 times during the 2021-22 campaign. Moreover, the Eagles have pick-pocketed their opponents 10-or-more times in nine outings this season.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, and was the acting head coach for most of the 2006- 07 season when then-head coach Suzy Merchant was on maternity leave. While serving as the acting head coach at EMU for the majority of the 2006-07 season, he guided the Eagles to a 16-13 overall record and a 10-6 finish in the MAC, good for second place in the West Division. Individually, Sarah VanMetre became the first women's basketball player in program history to be named Academic All-American, Patrice McKinney was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Alyssa Pittman was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.

ALL-TIME VERSUS WMU: Wednesday's game will be the 92nd meeting between the Eagles and the Broncos. EMU holds the advantage in the all-time series, 51-40. Western Michigan is on a two-game winning streak in the series after claiming victory in the first matchup between the two squads this season, 62-57, Jan. 19.

LAST TIME AT WESTERN: After eliminating an eight-point halftime deficit and holding a three-point, 62-59, lead with 45 seconds to play, it was the Eastern defense that rose to the occasion. Unafraid to pressure the ball, EMU played tight and forced Western out of bounds on its most important possession of the game. In the driver's seat from there on out, the Eagles were able to expand their lead to four, 63-59, when Combs hit a free throw with 22.5 seconds to play. That point proved critical as Western hit a deep three with 16.5 remaining, a shot that brought the home club within one, 63-62. Unwavering in its focus, EMU was able to keep control of the ball and eventually pull off the victory, 67-62, Jan. 10, 2021.
   The Eagles were led by a 26-point effort from Areanna Combs. She shot 4-of-7 from deep in what was her third 20-point effort in a four-game stretch at the time. Ce'Nara Skanes added a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double to the stat sheet in the victory.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern is set to close out its 2021-22 season with a road trip to Muncie, Ind., Saturday, March 5, where it will take on Ball State University. Tipoff inside Worthen Arena is set for 1 p.m.

Women's Basketball Readies for Rivalry Matchup at Western Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Toyosi Abiola

Juanita Agosto

Lachelle Austin

Areanna Combs

RayJon Harris

Courtnie Lewis

Kylee O'Hara

Natalia Pineda

Danielle Rainey

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics