Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, January 25
Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Back In Action: Women's Hoops Travels to In-State Rival Western Michigan
1/23/2023 4:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles face the Broncos, Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
| Women's Basketball at Western Michigan | |
| Date | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 7 p.m. |
| Venue | Kalamazoo, Mich. | University Arena |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ | Conor Clingen (pxp), Lexi Ayala (analyst), Kenny Schierlinger (sideline reporter) |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) | The Varsity Network App | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference play Wednesday, Jan. 25, this time in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Eagles will face their in-state rival, the Broncos, inside University Arena located on the campus of Western Michigan University. The mid-week matchup is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
The Eagles (10-7, 2-4) saw three players score in double figures in the 66-61 overtime victory over Northern Illinois University, Jan. 21. The Green and White collected its second conference win, ending a three-game losing streak against the Huskies and a four-game losing streak overall. Meanwhile, Western Michigan (9-8, 4-2 MAC) earned a 68-56 home win against the University at Buffalo, Jan. 21.
Wednesday's game will broadcast on ESPN+. It will also be broadcast live on WEMU (89.1FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer, the Voice of Eastern Michigan Athletics, and Alex Jewell 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.
WE'RE BACK, BABY: After coming off a 79-66 road setback at Kent State, Jan. 18, the win, Jan. 21, ended the Eagles' four-game losing streak. Additionally, the victory broke a three-game losing streak against the Huskies and gave Head Coach Fred Castro his fourth win over the Illinois based school.
WINNING IN OVERTIME: The Eagles defeated the Huskies, 66-61, in overtime, Jan. 21. The game marked EMU's first overtime game since Feb. 1, 2020. In that contest, Eastern Michigan fell to Akron, 88-81. The game is also the first time the Eagles have won an overtime game since Jan. 17, 2018, against Western Michigan, ending a six-game losing streak in consecutive overtime games.
HITTING 10: The 66-61 win over NIU, Jan. 21 gave the 2022-23 team its 10th win of the season. Head Coach Fred Castro has hit the 10+ victories mark in five of his seven years coaching at EMU. The 10 wins tops the previous season's record of 7-20.
A WIN WOULD: The Eagles are coming off a thrilling 66-61 overtime victoy over NIU, Jan. 21 which ended the Green and White's overall four-game losing streak. A win on Wednesday would give the team consecutive wins and also end a three-game losing streak against Western Michigan. Head Coach Fred Castro is 4-8 in games played against WMU and looks for his fifth victory over the Broncos on Wednesday.
PERFECTION ON THE STRIPE: Eastern Michigan made nine trips to the stripe in its victory over the Huskies, Jan. 21. The nine attempts mark the team's second fewest attempts in a single contest this season. However, with only nine attempts, the Eagles went a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Coincidentally, the last time the Eagles accomplished a feat of 100% from the charity stripe was in the 2015-16 season, when the team went 10-of-10 from the line in an 84-60 victory over NIU, Feb. 20, 2016.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 10 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 11.1 points per contest. That number dropped after the contest against NIU, by 0.6 points, and mark's just the second game this season in which the Eagles have played within a five-point margin. Meanwhile, the team's seven setbacks have come by an average of 16 points. With the 66-61 win over NIU, just two games this season have been decided by five or fewer points (vs. Miami, Jan. 4). Last season, four games were decided within that margin.
SWIPER, YES SWIPING: Junior Ce'Nara Skanes recorded a career-high five steals against NIU, Jan. 21, topping her previous three steals done on four different occasions. Additionally, it was the fifth time this season she has recorded multiple steals in a game. Her 22 steals on the season ranks third on the team and matches her 22 total robberies produced the year before.
CAREER-HIGH SCORING: Sophomore Lachelle Austin record a career-high 23 points against NIU, Jan. 21. The 23 tops her previous high of 21 set against BGSU, Jan.7. Additionally, it marks as the second time the sophomore has reached 20 or more points in a single game and her 16th career double-digit game. More impressively, the sophomore's two 20+ point games came within just two weeks of each other.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION: Eastern Michigan scored 18 points in the first quarter against Northern Illinois, Jan. 21. It was the ninth contest this season in which the Eagles as a team scored 15 or more points in the opening quarter. Additionally, the 19 points in the first 10 minutes of play was just three points shy of the team's high, 22 points set against Florida A&M, Nov. 19, and Hillsdale College, Dec. 28.
WIZARD OF OZZY: Senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu hit the go-ahead bucket from the paint to secure the win over NIU, Jan. 21. The senior collected 11 points and five rebounds in the game. It was her fifth time this season scoring double-digit points. Additionally, Ozzy-Momodu recorded double-digits in consecutive games for the first time this season, scoring 22 at Kent State, Jan. 18.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS: After a 23-point performance against NIU, Jan. 21, sophomore Lachelle Austin has now recorded double figures in consecutive games. It marks the third stretch of two or more games this season in which she had dropped 10+ points. She has twice hit the mark in four consecutive contests. Her three such stretches this season is a career-best single season mark for the second-year Eagle. Austin had two stretches of consecutive games with 10+ during her freshman campaign.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Sophomore Tayra Eke added two blocks against NIU, Jan. 21, to bring her season total to 31 in 17 games, a team best. The Spaniard sits in first place in total blocks and second in the MAC for blocks per game, averaging 1.8. She is just two blocks away from cracking the single-season top-10 in EMU's record book.
SOUND THE ALARM: EMU had a total of nine steals in the game against Northern Illinois, Jan. 21. With this occurrence, it was the 12th time this season in 17 total games that Eastern Michigan has had at least five steals.
LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY: Eastern Michigan as a team scored 20 points off of turnovers (30% of EMU's scoring) in the win over NIU, Jan. 21. The Eagles outscored the Huskies on points off turnovers with a 20-4 margin. Last season, EMU won the scoring off turnover battle against the Huskies, 17-13, Jan. 22, 2022.
TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: Eastern Michigan finished the contest with 13 total assists, Jan. 21. It marked the 12th time this season that the Green and White have notched 10+ helpers (71%). That number is a noticeable improvement over last season's clip. EMU recorded 10 or more assists in just 10 games last year (37% of its total contests).
RECORD BOOK WATCH: Forward Ce'Nara Skanes, now in her fourth season with the Eagles, is on pace to reach the 1,000-point plateau in 2023. Already a 1,000-point collegiate scorer (1,114, including 250 at Florida International in 2018-19), Skanes would become Eastern Michigan's 25th 1,000-point scorer if she can hit the mark (136 points away). Areanna Combs (2019-22) was the last player to eclipse the milestone, finishing her career in the No. 15 spot for all-time scoring at EMU (1,257).
SKANES' RESUME: Junior Ce'Nara Skanes has had quite an impression on not only the Mid-American Conference but the entire NCAA Division-I. With her 28-career double-doubles, Skanes ranks 25th among all active D-I women's basketball players. Additionally, she is second among the MAC with NIU's A'Jah Davis ranking 12th. Davis secured her 42nd career double-double against EMU, Jan. 21, scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. Taking it one step further, Skanes is just one of 12 players from a "Group of Five" institution among the top-25 in the nation.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 87 blocks in the 17 games played (5.1 blocks per game). A season ago, the Green and White earned 88 blocks in 27 games (3.3 blocks per game). Not only are the Eagles one blocks away from topping the previous season's total in almost half the amount of games, but they are on pace to have the most successful blocking average in program history.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN: WMU is 9-8 overall and 4-2 in the MAC this season. The Broncos are coming off a 68-56 home win over Buffalo, Jan. 21. Prior to the home victory, Western Michigan enjoyed a 68-57 victory over Ohio University, Jan. 18. A good defensive team, WMU ranks second in the league in steals per game (10.0), turnover margin (3.65), and turnovers forced per game (18.59). Leading the herd offensively and ranking in the top five in multiple categories within the MAC is sophomore Lauren Ross. The guard averages 21.8 points, 15.3 field goals made, and 6.0 three's per contest.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE BRONCOS: Lachelle Austin achieved her second career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but the team could not overcome Western Michigan's hot shooting in the second half, falling, 68-52, Mar. 2, 2022 inside University Arena. The Eagles saw three players score in double figures, led by Ce'Nara Skanes, who had 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting (.500) from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Former Eagle Danielle Rainey gave EMU a boost as she tacked on 14 points off of the bench, highlighted by hitting 4-of-7 (.571) shots from three. Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Western Michigan, 39-38, led by Austin's 13 boards. Additionally, the Green and White's defense held Western Michigan to only 39.7 percent (25-of-63) shooting from the field.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE IN-STATE RIVAL: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 93rd meeting between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. EMU leads the all-time series, 51-41, with the Broncos coming away with the most recent win, Mar. 2, 2022. In that game, the Eagles fell, 68-52. EMU looks to break a three-game losing streak against WMU and pick up Head Coach Fred Castro's fifth victory over the Kalamazoo-based team.
BOARD GAMES: The addition of sophomore Tayra Eke along with 500-Rebounds Club member Ce'Nara Skanes has made quite the impact on the defensive rebounds count for Eastern Michigan. This season, the team has recorded 456 defensive boards in 17 games (26.8 rpg) with help from Eke (74), and Skanes (89). Last season, the Green and White collected 685 defensive rebounds in 27 games (25.4 rpg). The Eagles are on pace to top the previous season's defensive rebounding average.
Moreover, EMU is out-rebounding its opponents 662-610 in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team's 38.9 rebounds per game ranks second in the MAC.
KEEP THE BLOCK PARTY GOING: Tallying 87 total blocks in the 17 games played so far, the Eagles are 17th in the nation for blocks per game (5.1) and second in the MAC. Eastern Michigan's 5.1 blocks per game is on pace to be a program record. The Eagles' 2009-10 squad currently hold the top spot. That season, the Green and White averaged 4.2 swats per game.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Four Eagles rank in various statistical categories throughout the MAC. Holding the highest ranking for the Green and White is sophomore Tayra Eke, who is second in the league in blocks per game (1.82). Her 31 blocks this season remains strong in the top spot in the MAC and 40th in the nation. Freshman Olivia Smith ranks 11th in the MAC in three-pointers per game (1.82) while sophomore Lachelle Austin's 1.8 steals per game is good for ninth in the conference. Junior Ce'Nara Skanes' 8.0 rebounds per game ranks her fourth in the league and her 1.06 blocks per game ranks her ninth.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles saw three players score in double figures, led by sophomore Lachelle Austin, who had a career-high 23 points and six rebounds in the 66-61 overtime home victory, Jan. 21. Ce'Nara Skanes added 17 points, eight rebounds, and five steals while Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu helped out with 11 points. The Eastern Michigan defense was a problem in Saturday's game, forcing 19 Northern Illinois turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 20 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Skanes' five steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at EMU, 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 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.
BACK IN #MACTION: The Green and White's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan will compete as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 301-395 record against conference opponents all-time.
RING CHASING: Eastern entered league play 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).
ON THE HORIZON: The team will return home after its trip to Kalamazoo in time to host last season's MAC Champions, the University of Toledo. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. 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.
The Eagles (10-7, 2-4) saw three players score in double figures in the 66-61 overtime victory over Northern Illinois University, Jan. 21. The Green and White collected its second conference win, ending a three-game losing streak against the Huskies and a four-game losing streak overall. Meanwhile, Western Michigan (9-8, 4-2 MAC) earned a 68-56 home win against the University at Buffalo, Jan. 21.
Wednesday's game will broadcast on ESPN+. It will also be broadcast live on WEMU (89.1FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer, the Voice of Eastern Michigan Athletics, and Alex Jewell 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.
WE'RE BACK, BABY: After coming off a 79-66 road setback at Kent State, Jan. 18, the win, Jan. 21, ended the Eagles' four-game losing streak. Additionally, the victory broke a three-game losing streak against the Huskies and gave Head Coach Fred Castro his fourth win over the Illinois based school.
WINNING IN OVERTIME: The Eagles defeated the Huskies, 66-61, in overtime, Jan. 21. The game marked EMU's first overtime game since Feb. 1, 2020. In that contest, Eastern Michigan fell to Akron, 88-81. The game is also the first time the Eagles have won an overtime game since Jan. 17, 2018, against Western Michigan, ending a six-game losing streak in consecutive overtime games.
HITTING 10: The 66-61 win over NIU, Jan. 21 gave the 2022-23 team its 10th win of the season. Head Coach Fred Castro has hit the 10+ victories mark in five of his seven years coaching at EMU. The 10 wins tops the previous season's record of 7-20.
A WIN WOULD: The Eagles are coming off a thrilling 66-61 overtime victoy over NIU, Jan. 21 which ended the Green and White's overall four-game losing streak. A win on Wednesday would give the team consecutive wins and also end a three-game losing streak against Western Michigan. Head Coach Fred Castro is 4-8 in games played against WMU and looks for his fifth victory over the Broncos on Wednesday.
PERFECTION ON THE STRIPE: Eastern Michigan made nine trips to the stripe in its victory over the Huskies, Jan. 21. The nine attempts mark the team's second fewest attempts in a single contest this season. However, with only nine attempts, the Eagles went a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Coincidentally, the last time the Eagles accomplished a feat of 100% from the charity stripe was in the 2015-16 season, when the team went 10-of-10 from the line in an 84-60 victory over NIU, Feb. 20, 2016.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 10 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 11.1 points per contest. That number dropped after the contest against NIU, by 0.6 points, and mark's just the second game this season in which the Eagles have played within a five-point margin. Meanwhile, the team's seven setbacks have come by an average of 16 points. With the 66-61 win over NIU, just two games this season have been decided by five or fewer points (vs. Miami, Jan. 4). Last season, four games were decided within that margin.
SWIPER, YES SWIPING: Junior Ce'Nara Skanes recorded a career-high five steals against NIU, Jan. 21, topping her previous three steals done on four different occasions. Additionally, it was the fifth time this season she has recorded multiple steals in a game. Her 22 steals on the season ranks third on the team and matches her 22 total robberies produced the year before.
CAREER-HIGH SCORING: Sophomore Lachelle Austin record a career-high 23 points against NIU, Jan. 21. The 23 tops her previous high of 21 set against BGSU, Jan.7. Additionally, it marks as the second time the sophomore has reached 20 or more points in a single game and her 16th career double-digit game. More impressively, the sophomore's two 20+ point games came within just two weeks of each other.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION: Eastern Michigan scored 18 points in the first quarter against Northern Illinois, Jan. 21. It was the ninth contest this season in which the Eagles as a team scored 15 or more points in the opening quarter. Additionally, the 19 points in the first 10 minutes of play was just three points shy of the team's high, 22 points set against Florida A&M, Nov. 19, and Hillsdale College, Dec. 28.
WIZARD OF OZZY: Senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu hit the go-ahead bucket from the paint to secure the win over NIU, Jan. 21. The senior collected 11 points and five rebounds in the game. It was her fifth time this season scoring double-digit points. Additionally, Ozzy-Momodu recorded double-digits in consecutive games for the first time this season, scoring 22 at Kent State, Jan. 18.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS: After a 23-point performance against NIU, Jan. 21, sophomore Lachelle Austin has now recorded double figures in consecutive games. It marks the third stretch of two or more games this season in which she had dropped 10+ points. She has twice hit the mark in four consecutive contests. Her three such stretches this season is a career-best single season mark for the second-year Eagle. Austin had two stretches of consecutive games with 10+ during her freshman campaign.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Sophomore Tayra Eke added two blocks against NIU, Jan. 21, to bring her season total to 31 in 17 games, a team best. The Spaniard sits in first place in total blocks and second in the MAC for blocks per game, averaging 1.8. She is just two blocks away from cracking the single-season top-10 in EMU's record book.
SOUND THE ALARM: EMU had a total of nine steals in the game against Northern Illinois, Jan. 21. With this occurrence, it was the 12th time this season in 17 total games that Eastern Michigan has had at least five steals.
LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY: Eastern Michigan as a team scored 20 points off of turnovers (30% of EMU's scoring) in the win over NIU, Jan. 21. The Eagles outscored the Huskies on points off turnovers with a 20-4 margin. Last season, EMU won the scoring off turnover battle against the Huskies, 17-13, Jan. 22, 2022.
TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: Eastern Michigan finished the contest with 13 total assists, Jan. 21. It marked the 12th time this season that the Green and White have notched 10+ helpers (71%). That number is a noticeable improvement over last season's clip. EMU recorded 10 or more assists in just 10 games last year (37% of its total contests).
RECORD BOOK WATCH: Forward Ce'Nara Skanes, now in her fourth season with the Eagles, is on pace to reach the 1,000-point plateau in 2023. Already a 1,000-point collegiate scorer (1,114, including 250 at Florida International in 2018-19), Skanes would become Eastern Michigan's 25th 1,000-point scorer if she can hit the mark (136 points away). Areanna Combs (2019-22) was the last player to eclipse the milestone, finishing her career in the No. 15 spot for all-time scoring at EMU (1,257).
SKANES' RESUME: Junior Ce'Nara Skanes has had quite an impression on not only the Mid-American Conference but the entire NCAA Division-I. With her 28-career double-doubles, Skanes ranks 25th among all active D-I women's basketball players. Additionally, she is second among the MAC with NIU's A'Jah Davis ranking 12th. Davis secured her 42nd career double-double against EMU, Jan. 21, scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. Taking it one step further, Skanes is just one of 12 players from a "Group of Five" institution among the top-25 in the nation.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 87 blocks in the 17 games played (5.1 blocks per game). A season ago, the Green and White earned 88 blocks in 27 games (3.3 blocks per game). Not only are the Eagles one blocks away from topping the previous season's total in almost half the amount of games, but they are on pace to have the most successful blocking average in program history.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN: WMU is 9-8 overall and 4-2 in the MAC this season. The Broncos are coming off a 68-56 home win over Buffalo, Jan. 21. Prior to the home victory, Western Michigan enjoyed a 68-57 victory over Ohio University, Jan. 18. A good defensive team, WMU ranks second in the league in steals per game (10.0), turnover margin (3.65), and turnovers forced per game (18.59). Leading the herd offensively and ranking in the top five in multiple categories within the MAC is sophomore Lauren Ross. The guard averages 21.8 points, 15.3 field goals made, and 6.0 three's per contest.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE BRONCOS: Lachelle Austin achieved her second career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but the team could not overcome Western Michigan's hot shooting in the second half, falling, 68-52, Mar. 2, 2022 inside University Arena. The Eagles saw three players score in double figures, led by Ce'Nara Skanes, who had 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting (.500) from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Former Eagle Danielle Rainey gave EMU a boost as she tacked on 14 points off of the bench, highlighted by hitting 4-of-7 (.571) shots from three. Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Western Michigan, 39-38, led by Austin's 13 boards. Additionally, the Green and White's defense held Western Michigan to only 39.7 percent (25-of-63) shooting from the field.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE IN-STATE RIVAL: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 93rd meeting between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. EMU leads the all-time series, 51-41, with the Broncos coming away with the most recent win, Mar. 2, 2022. In that game, the Eagles fell, 68-52. EMU looks to break a three-game losing streak against WMU and pick up Head Coach Fred Castro's fifth victory over the Kalamazoo-based team.
BOARD GAMES: The addition of sophomore Tayra Eke along with 500-Rebounds Club member Ce'Nara Skanes has made quite the impact on the defensive rebounds count for Eastern Michigan. This season, the team has recorded 456 defensive boards in 17 games (26.8 rpg) with help from Eke (74), and Skanes (89). Last season, the Green and White collected 685 defensive rebounds in 27 games (25.4 rpg). The Eagles are on pace to top the previous season's defensive rebounding average.
Moreover, EMU is out-rebounding its opponents 662-610 in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team's 38.9 rebounds per game ranks second in the MAC.
KEEP THE BLOCK PARTY GOING: Tallying 87 total blocks in the 17 games played so far, the Eagles are 17th in the nation for blocks per game (5.1) and second in the MAC. Eastern Michigan's 5.1 blocks per game is on pace to be a program record. The Eagles' 2009-10 squad currently hold the top spot. That season, the Green and White averaged 4.2 swats per game.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Four Eagles rank in various statistical categories throughout the MAC. Holding the highest ranking for the Green and White is sophomore Tayra Eke, who is second in the league in blocks per game (1.82). Her 31 blocks this season remains strong in the top spot in the MAC and 40th in the nation. Freshman Olivia Smith ranks 11th in the MAC in three-pointers per game (1.82) while sophomore Lachelle Austin's 1.8 steals per game is good for ninth in the conference. Junior Ce'Nara Skanes' 8.0 rebounds per game ranks her fourth in the league and her 1.06 blocks per game ranks her ninth.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles saw three players score in double figures, led by sophomore Lachelle Austin, who had a career-high 23 points and six rebounds in the 66-61 overtime home victory, Jan. 21. Ce'Nara Skanes added 17 points, eight rebounds, and five steals while Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu helped out with 11 points. The Eastern Michigan defense was a problem in Saturday's game, forcing 19 Northern Illinois turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 20 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Skanes' five steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Western Michigan Head Coach Shane Clipfell spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at EMU, 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 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.
BACK IN #MACTION: The Green and White's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan will compete as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 301-395 record against conference opponents all-time.
RING CHASING: Eastern entered league play 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).
ON THE HORIZON: The team will return home after its trip to Kalamazoo in time to host last season's MAC Champions, the University of Toledo. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. 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.
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