Women's Hoops Heads East to Battle Buffalo

Women's Basketball at Buffalo
Date	Wednesday, Feb. 9 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Buffalo, N.Y. \| Alumni Arena
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Twitter	.@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set for a trip to the Empire State, where it will take on the University at Buffalo Wednesday, Feb. 9. Tipoff inside UB's Alumni Arena is set for 7 p.m.
   The Eagles (5-13, 2-9 MAC) are in search of a critical win. With less than one month left in 2021-22 regular season, the Green and White need a positive push to finish inside the league's top eight and qualify for the MAC Tournament. Meanwhile, The Bulls (15-7, 9-3 MAC) are on a four game win streak, but come into the contest with little rest after defeating Western Michigan, 71-64, at home, Monday, Feb. 7.           The game will be televised on ESPN3 where Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Brian Koziol (analyst) will have the call. The game will be aired on WEMU 89.1 F.M., with Tom Helmer and Alex Jewell providing the verbal entertainment. Additionally, the team's official Twitter account, @EMUWBB, will provide live updates throughout the contest.

TRYING TO SAY "BYE, FELISHA": Sixth year Head Coach Fred Castro has defeated every team in the Mid-American Conference during his tenure at EMU - except Buffalo.
   Castro is 0-6 against the Bulls, with each game being decided by seven points-or-less, and two going to overtime.

FIRST-HALF HEAT: Eastern's defense held Kent State to just 25 first-half points, Feb. 5, the fewest it has allowed against a Division I opponent this season. The total ties for the fewest points the Eagles have allowed to a DI foe in any half this season (25 at FIU - 2H, Nov. 27; 25 at Akron - 2H, Jan. 26). The 25 points is the third-fewest produced by KSU in a first half this season (24 at WMU, Jan. 1; 23 at NIU, Jan. 26).

PINEDA ON THE RISE: Junior Natalia Pineda scored a season-best 12 points in her third start of the season, versus Kent State, Feb. 5. The guard was 2-of-5 from downtown, the only Eagle to hit multiple threes in the contest. The Miami, Fla. native finished the afternoon shooting 4-of-7 (57.1%) from the field and 2-of-2 (100%) from the line. Her shooting percentage was a season-high (in games with at-least four shots).
   Pineda's effort was her first of 10+ points this season, and the 14th double-digit scoring effort of her career. Her last came Feb. 21, 2021, when she dropped 11 against Toledo. Additionally, she has led the Eagles' three-point efforts three times this season and 15 times in her career.

SHARING IS CARING: Areanna Combs currently sits 13th in the Mid-American Conference with 3.4 assists per contest. The guard has dished out 11 dimes in the past two games, five of which came against Kent State, Feb. 5. Combs has recorded five outings with at least five assists so far in the 2021-22 season.
   Meanwhile, freshman guard Lachelle Austin tied her career-high with three assists against the Golden Flashes. For Austin, Saturday's game marked the fifth time the Eagle has achieved the feat.

CLOSING TIME: Eastern mustered just 13 points in the final quarter of its 70-61 loss to Kent State, Feb. 5. Conversely, the Golden Flashes finished the period with 26 points, hitting 8-of-13 (61.54%) shots from the field and 5-of-7 (71.43%) from beyond-the-arc.
Eastern has outscored its opposition in the final period eight times this season (excluding non-DI games), but is 3-5 in those games. Moreover, the team is 1-8 when failing to score more than its opponent in the fourth quarter.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: EMU won the turnover battle against Kent State, Feb. 5, forcing 15 giveaways while recording 13 of its own. The game marked the 11th time this season that EMU has led the turnover battle and the eighth time the Eagles have won that battle in MAC play. The Green and White have forced their opponents into committing 20+ turnovers six times this season.

ON THE BOARDS: EMU dominated with 20 offensive boards against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 5. Eastern hauled in 44.4% (20-of-45) of its total rebounds in the contest on the offensive end.
   The Eagles have gotten 30 percent-or-more of its rebounding production on the offensive end of the floor 12 times during the 2021-22 campaign. It is also the second time this season in which the Green and White have recorded 20-or-more offensive rebounds. The team ranks fourth in the MAC with a 13.1 ORPG average.

SKANES' SWATS: Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes has elevated her game near the basket in her last six outings, with nine blocks in the span. Most recently, the forward recorded one rejection at Miami, Jan. 29. Additionally, the Oklahoma City native tied her season-best with three rejections versus Northern Illinois, Jan. 22.
   Skanes currently ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference in both blocks per game (1.2) and total blocks (22).

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 51-of-73 (69.9%) from the line this season, but in the last five games, she is a team-leading 18-of-21 (85.7%). Furthermore, she has been perfect from the line in three of those outings, highlighted by a 6-of-6 performance at Akron, Jan. 26

THE FIRST 20 MATTERS: All five of Eastern's wins have seen the Eagles take a lead into the intermission, while 12 of the squad's 13 setbacks has included a halftime deficit.
   Most recently, the Green and White held a 33-25 advantage over Kent State at the half, but could not hold on the lead, falling 70-61, Feb. 5.
   EMU is 41-16 in games in which it held a halftime lead since the onset of the 2016-17 season, and 17-81 in games where it has trailed at the break in that same span.

THREE-POINT WOES: Despite boasting a team three-point mark of over 30 percent, the Eagles have been cold from deep in the past three games. Through the first 13 games of the season, EMU shot 20%-or-lower from deep just twice (vs. Binghamton, Dec.10, 2-of-16; vs. Western Michigan, Jan. 19, 5-of-25). In their last five outings, the Eagles have shot 20 percent-or-less from deep three times
   EMU shot 0-for-4 from deep in the both the first and fourth quarter against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 5. The Eagles finished 4-for-14 (28.6%) from beyond-the-arc.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED: Eastern has been one of the more disciplined teams in the conference in throughout the 2021-22 season. Currently, the Eagles are seventh in the MAC in fewest fouls (318). Additionally, EMU has been tremendous at taking care of the basketball, ranking second in the league and 18th nationally in fewest turnovers (256).

LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE: The Green and White are sixth in the league, averaging 9.0 steals per contest. That number ties for the second-best mark under Fred Castro (2016-Pres.). The 2017-18 EMU squad racked up 9.7 steals per contest.

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 1,147 career points which ranks 20th on the scoring list.
Meanwhile, redshirt senior Areanna Combs, who recently joined the 1,000-point club, sits at 19th in the record book, with 1,157 points in her three seasons donning the Green and White.        The guard is averaging 18.7 ppg this season, which puts her on track to crack the top-15 in EMU's scoring laurels by the end of the 2021-22 regular season.
Both Combs and Lewis look to pass former Eagle Reeshema Wood (1989-93) who tallied 1,158 points, to continue climbing the ladder. EMU great Tavelyn James (2008-12) owns the top spot in program history, having accumulated 2,470 career points.

HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS: The Eagles have hit 40.8 percent (451-of-1106) of their shots from the field this season. EMU's current best mark under Head Coach Fred Castro came in the 2017-18 campaign when the Green and White shot 40.1 percent from the floor for the season.

DEEP THOUGHTS: EMU boasts a three-point percentage of 31.4 (105-for-334) in 18 games this season. In the same stretch last year, the Eagles were hitting 26.5 percent (92-for-347). The 31.4 percent mark from beyond-the-arc ranks seventh in the Mid-American Conference.
   There were only two games last season where the Green and White shot 35 percent-or-better from deep (at Southeast Missouri State, 40.0%, Dec. 6, 2020; vs. Toledo, 39.3%, Feb. 21). So far this season, Eastern has sank 35 percent-or-better in the category in seven of 15 games.

DEATH, TAXES, DOUBLE DIGITS: If one thing is as certain as can be, it's that Areanna Combs will score 10+ points. Including her 17 performances of the nature this season, Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 59 of her 62 career games with the Green and White (95.2%). That number is the highest percentage in the Mid-American Conference.

COOKIES: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs ranks third in the MAC in total steals (48) and tied for third in steals per game (2.8). 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 three steals in four of her last five contests, highlighted by six swipes versus Buffalo, Feb. 2.

CAN'T LET THEM SCORE 70: Although many factors contribute to the end result of a game, one thing is for certain; 70 is kryptonite for Eastern Michigan. Last season, the team went 0-4 when allowing 70 points in a game. The team is 0-8 in 2021-22. Moreover, EMU is 8-64 when allowing 70+ points since the start of the 2016-17 season.

BLOCK PART(E): EMU is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game (3.33). Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with 21 rejections and is fifth in the MAC with 1.2 blocks per contest while freshman Treasure Thompson is 11th in the league at 0.9 bpg (15 total).
   The Eagles have recorded at least five blocks in five contests this season. In the 2020-21 campaign, Eastern only recorded five-or-more blocks in a game three times.

WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB: Redshirt senior Areanna Combs made history Saturday, Jan. 15, when she notched 13 points to become Eastern Michigan's 24th 1,000-point scorer. Combs, who has been on court with the Eagles since the 2019-20 season, needed just 55 games to hit the total, an average of more than 18 ppg.
   Combs joins teammate Courtnie Lewis as the only active players to have hit the milestone.

TWO GRAND TEAMMATES: Upperclassmen Courtnie Lewis (1,147) and Areanna Combs (1,157) 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.

BACK IN #MACTION: The Green and White's 2021-22 campaign marks the 41st season EMU will compete as a member of the MAC. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 297-380 record against conference opponents all-time.

RING CHASING: Eastern is in search of its first conference championship since 2012. That year, the Eagles captured both the MAC West and MAC Tournament titles.
   As a program, EMU has claimed four division crowns (2004, 2006, 2008, 2012) and two tournament championships (2004, 2012).

STRETCH OF 20+ ENDS: Redshirt senior guard Areanna Combs scored 15 points against Kent State, Feb. 5, ending her five-game streak of hitting the 20+-point mark, a career-best.        Combs scored 129 of her 337 total points this season during that stretch (38%), and averaged 25.8 points per contest during the streak.

THIRD-QUARTER BOOST: After a 20-point first half against UB, the Eagles came out firing after intermission against the Bulls, Feb. 2. EMU scored 26 points, 12 of which came from the charity stripe. For EMU, 26 points is the fourth-most in a single quarter this season. The Green and White dropped 29 points in the fourth quarter at Miami, Jan. 29.

ROCK COLLECTORS: The Green and White recorded 12 steals versus Buffalo, Feb. 2, tied for the third-most by the team this season. The Eagles have pick-pocketed their opponents 10-or-more times in six outings this season. The 12 swipes are tied for the most Buffalo has allowed in its 2021-2022 campaign.

CAUTION…WET PAINT: Eastern scored 42 of its 62 points (67.7%) against Buffalo in the paint, Feb. 2. The Eagles' production in the paint is the highest by the team this season. EMU has reached the 40-point plateau in the paint a total of three times thus far in the 2021-2022 campaign.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BUFFALO: Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series with Buffalo, 15-14. The Bulls have won six-straight meetings and are 8-2 in the last 10 matchups. The past six games between the two schools have all been decided seven points-or-less.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE BULLS: Eastern scored 42 second-half points but was unable to complete its comeback, falling at home 69-62, to Buffalo, Feb. 2. Areanna Combs recorded a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ce'Nara Skanes added 11 points and six rebounds in the effort. UB's Georgia Woolley and Dyaisha Fair combined for 54 points.

SCOUTING BUFFALO: Buffalo currently sits second in the Mid-American Conference standings, boasting a 9-3 record in league play. The Bulls have been solid on both sides of the ball so far this season, ranking first in blocked shots per game (4.50) and second in offensive points per game (75.0). Buffalo's Dyaisha Fair is averaging 22.1 ppg, the second-best mark in the league. Meanwhile, teammate Summer Hemphill tops the league with 30 total blocks.

ON THE HORIZON: Following the road trip east, the Eagles will return to Ypsilanti to host the University of Akron, Feb. 12. Saturday's tip is set for 1 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. It is Superhero day on campus; fans will be greeted by Wonder Woman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Spider-Man, and will also take home a free Block E cape!

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Areanna Combs

Courtnie Lewis

Natalia Pineda

Ce'Nara Skanes

Treasure Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics