Back In Action: Women's Hoops Looks for Second MAC Victory at Bowling Green

Women's Basketball at Bowling Green
Date	Saturday, Jan. 7 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Bowling Green, Ohio \| Stroh Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN 3 \| Brad Wozinicki (play-by-play), Rhett Boyd (analyst)
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio(EMUEagles.com) -The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference play Saturday, Jan. 7, when it travels to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on the Falcons inside the Stroh Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
   EMU (9-3, 1-0 MAC) looks for its second conference win after defeating Miami University, 68-67, Jan. 4. The pair of Lachelle Austin and Ce'Nara Skanes both recorded double-doubles to help lead the Eagles over the RedHawks. Meanwhile, Bowling Green (11-2, 0-1 MAC) enters the still looking for a MAC win after falling to Ball State University, 81-73, Jan. 4.
   The game will broadcast on ESPN3 with Brad Woznicki (play-by-play) and Rhett Boyd (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.

RECORD BREAKER: Fourth-year Eagle Ce'Nara Skanes made history Dec. 1, 2021, against North Dakota State. With her eight rebounds in the contest, Skanes became the 22nd member of EMU's 500-rebound club. EMU's all-time best rebounder is Nikki Knapp (2002-06), who hauled in 802 boards during her collegiate career. Skanes, already the program's all-time leader in double-double efforts (27) has a career average of 9.5 rebounds per game. That number is by far and away the best of any player to secure 500 or more rebounds at Eastern Michigan. The next best is Suzanne Huff (1979-83), who averaged 7.8 boards per game en route to 756 rebounds (seventh all-time) during her career.

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 (1,064, including 250 at Florida Atlantic in 2018-19), Skanes would become Eastern Michigan's 25th 1,000-point scorer if she can hit the mark. 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).

THE TOP DOGS: The Eagles sit atop the conference in three statistical categories. The team's 5.6 blocks per game leads the MAC and ranks 11th nationally, while the team's 40.17 rebounds per game also leads the league and ranks 76th in the nation. With its 3.8 rebounding margin, the Eagles rank first in the MAC and 103rd in the nation.

SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH: Freshman guard Olivia Smith has made an immediate impact on EMU's offense in her first season donning the Green and White. Averaging 10.2 points per game, the third-best mark on the team, Smith had a career night in her most recent outing, against Miami University, Jan. 4. She dropped a team and career-best 18 points, and was 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. The 18 points are the first by an EMU "true" freshman since Lachelle Austin hit the same total at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 23, 2022. Additionally, Smith has led EMU in single-game three-point makes four times this season, and is the only player on the team with multiple games of four-or-more three-point makes.

FRED LIKES THE FALCONS: Head Coach Fred Castro has enjoyed success against Bowling Green since taking over at EMU starting in 2016-17. The seventh-year head man is 5-3 overall against BGSU, which ties for his second-best win total against any conference foe (has defeated Miami on six occasions). Additionally, Castro-led teams have earned two of EMU's six all-time road victories against Bowling Green, including back-to-back road victories over the Falcons in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Prior to those nods, Eastern had not won consecutive games in Bowling Green since it did so in the 1979 and 1981 seasons, respectively.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE FALCONS: Former Eagle Areanna Combs led the Eagles with 21 points and a pair of assists, while Ce'Nara Skanes added nine points, but it wasn't enough as BGSU earned a 71-60 victory inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Jan. 24, 2022. EMU pulled down 13 boards that resulted in nine second-chance points, while the defense forced 18 Bowling Green turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 13 points on the other end of the floor. Combs' three steals led the way individually for the Eagles.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons are 11-2 to begin the 2022-23 campaign, taking losses to No. 6/7 Indiana University, 96-61, Nov. 17, and Ball State University, 81-73, Jan. 4, giving BGSU its first conference loss of the season. Leading the Falcons is junior Nyla Hampton, who averages 12.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE FALCONS: Saturday's matchup will mark the 74th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 53-20. However, EMU had its most recent stretch of five wins against the Ohio institution from Jan. 25, 2017 to Feb. 12, 2020.

EAGLES IN THE MAC: Five Eagles are ranked in the top 10 in various statistical categories throughout the MAC. Holding the highest ranking for the Green and White is sophomore Tayra Eke, who ranks first in the league in blocks per game (1.92), and in total blocks (23). Additionally, her 6.9 rebounds per game is good for ninth. Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 1.9 steals per game is good for seventh in the conference while her 78.6 free throw percentage ranks ninth. The sophomore is also ranked fifth in minutes played per game (33.6) and 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.13). Joining the top 10 for the first time is freshman Olivia Smith who ranks 10th in the league for three pointers per game (1.92). Senior Natalia Pineda holds the 10th spot in blocks per game with 1.0 while junior Ce'Nara Skanes' 7.9 rebounds per game ranks her fourth in the league and her 51.4 field goal percentage ranks fourth.

LIV'IN IT UP: Playing all 40 minutes of the game against the RedHawks, Jan. 4, freshman Olivia Smith recorded a career-high 18 points in the Eagles victory. Her previous best of 16 came in Eastern's loss to James Madison University, Dec. 12. In just her 12 collegiate games, the freshman guard has notched 122 points for third best among the Eagles.
   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, scoring four from the arc.

LAST TIME OUT: The Eagle pair of Lachelle Austin and Ce'Nara Skanes both recorded double-doubles to help lead EMU over the Miami RedHawks, 68-67, in the MAC opener Wednesday night, Jan. 4. The double-doubles by Austin, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Skanes, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds, led the Eagles in the contest. Olivia Smith earned a career-high 18 points (4-of-9 3FG) in the victory. Led by Skanes' seven offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 15 boards that resulted in 15 second chance points.

NUMBER 1 REJECTS: The Green and White have led the MAC in blocks per game throughout the entirety of the season. Tallying 67 total blocks in the 12 games played so far, the Eagles are 11th in the nation for blocks per game (5.6). Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in all but three games this season. Tayra Eke continues to hold the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 1.9 and in total blocks with 23. 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.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU had three players in double digit points against the RedHawks, Jan. 4. It was the ninth game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures and the fourth with three players in double digits this season.

FROM THE FIELD: The Eastern offense converted on 29 field goals in the victory over Miami, Jan. 4, which ties the team's season-high previously set in a 71-56 win over the Lions of Lindenwood University, Nov. 7. Last season, EMU converted on a program-high 54 field goals in its 133-45 victory over Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021.

KEEPING THE BALL SAFE: The team's seven turnovers against the RedHawks, Jan. 4 are the fewest of the season, topping the 10 recorded against Lindenwood, Nov. 7. It is the lowest mark for the Eagles since 2020 when the team turned over possession just six times in a win over Northern Illinois University, Mar. 9. The seven turnovers by Eastern Michigan tie for the second-fewest in the George Gervin GameAbove Center history (1998-Pres.). EMU has committed six turnovers at home four times during that stretch, most recently in 2015, against Kent State University.

BUILT DIFFERENT: Sophomore Tayra Eke added two more blocks against Miami to bring her season total to 23 in 12 games, a team best. The Spaniard sits in first place in the conference in the category, averaging 1.9 rejections per game. The total was just two shy of her season high four set against Southern Indiana, Dec. 10.

AUSTIN-TACIOUS: Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game against Miami, Jan. 4, counted for the sophomore's fourth career double-double. The accomplishment also marks her second consecutive double-double after Austin collected 11 points and 12 boards in the Eagles 76-61 victory over Hillsdale, Dec. 28. Prior to her current stretch, Austin had never recorded back-to-back double-doubles.

WHAT'S A BREAK?: Both Olivia Smith and Lachelle Austin played the entirety of the game against Miami, Jan. 4. The 40 minutes of non-stop action from the two were career highs for both. Former Eagle Areanna Combs was the last Eagle to see 40 minutes of court time, against Kent State University, Feb. 5, 2022.

TWO DOUBLE-DOUBLES W/ CHEESE: Two Eagles earned double-doubles in the victory over Miami, Jan. 4. It was the second consecutive game in which two Eagles recorded the feat in the same contest and just the third of the season. Earlier in the year, Tayra Eke tabbed her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 boards, while Ce'Nara Skanes added her 25th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds against IUPUI, Nov. 23. Then, in EMU's victory over Hillsdale, Lachelle Austin recorded her first double-double of the season while senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu recorded 11 points and added 11 additional boards. Eastern Michigan has had two double-double performances in the same game three times this season, the most by any EMU team since the 2020-21 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the same feat. EMU has twice seen multiple double-double performances in a game five times in a season (2006-07, 2011-12), which is the program's record.

ONE POINT MATTERS: The 68-67 triumph over Miami, Jan. 4, was the first game since the 2019-20 season where the Eagles defeated their opponent by one singular point. In that year, Eastern Michigan defeated second seeded Ball State by one point in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals, 64-63, March 11, 2020.

HALFTIME LEADERS: Despite trailing by five in the first quarter, the Eagles rallied in the second, building a six-point lead by halftime in the contest against Miami, Jan. 4. It marked the seventh game in which the Eagles have led their opponents heading into halftime this season and just the second time doing so after trailing in the first. The last time the Eagles sparked a lead after a first-quarter deficit was in the 79-73 heartbreaker against the University of North Dakota, Dec. 4 when the Green and White tied its season-high 26 points in a single quarter to take a four-point lead over the Fighting Hawks.

CAPTURING NO. 300: The Green and White's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan has competed as a member of the MAC. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU headed into tonight's contest with a 299-391 record against conference opponents all-time. The 68-67 victory over the RedHawks, Jan. 4 marked the program's 300th conference win.

ALONE AT THE TOP: In just her second year as an active member of the team in 2021-22, Ce'Nara Skanes became the program's all-time leader in double-doubles with 23 following a 21-point, 10-rebound effort at Miami, Jan. 29.
   After posting 14 points and 12 rebounds against Miami this season, Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 27 of her 59 career games at EMU (46%), the best percentage of anyone on the 2022-23 roster. Prior to the most recent season, former Eagles Sarah VanMetre and Olivia Fouty tied for the most double-doubles in EMU history with 17.

WHAT CAN'T SKANES DO: Ce'Nara Skanes matched her season high of 12 rebounds in the win over Miami, Jan. 4, set previously in EMU's 51-44 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 17. The Oklahoma native leads the Eagles in the category with 87 this season for sixth overall in the conference. Additionally, Skanes recorded four assists in the Eagles' victory to bring her season total to 24 for third best among the Eagles. The junior's performance marked her third straight game with four assists.

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 199-206 this season. The Green and White forced 11 RedHakws turnovers while committing a season-low of seven themselves. The team is now 6-1 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than Eastern.

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 300-391 record against conference opponents all-time.

EMU IN MAC OPENERS: Eastern Michigan opened its 42nd Mid-American Conference slate Wednesday, Jan. 4, versus Miami University with a 68-67 victory. The Green and White are 20-22 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 14 of the last 20 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2003-04 season, the most recent of which was a 77-58 dismantling of Ball State a season ago, Dec. 2.

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: Following the road conference matchup with Bowling Green, the Eagles will return home to host the Zips of Akron University, Wednesday, Jan. 11 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.

Back In Action: Women's Hoops Looks for Second MAC Victory at Bowling Green

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Areanna Combs

Tayra Eke

Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu

Natalia Pineda

Ce'Nara Skanes

Olivia Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics