Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 24
Ann Arbor, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Michigan
Women's Hoops Preps for Michigan Following Thanksgiving
11/22/2023 3:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles set to take on the Wolverines at 1 p.m. inside Crisler Center
| Women's Basketball vs. SIU-Edwardsville | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 24 | 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Crisler Center (12,707) | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Digital Programs |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | B1G Network+ |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 FM) | The Varsity Network App | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set to travel down the road for a meeting with the Wolverines of the University of Michigan Friday, Nov. 24, inside Crisler Center. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Green and White enter the game with a 1-2 record after defeating the Cougars of SIU-Edwardsville, 68-65, Nov. 18, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The victory was the first of the season for EMU while the Wolverines (4-1) are coming off their first loss of the season, a 60-49 setback to the University of Mississippi, Nov 20.
ON AIR
The game, which is slated to tipoff at 1 p.m. will be broadcast on B1G+ and can be listened to on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Tom Helmer, the official voice of EMU Athletics. 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.
STAYING ON TREND
Picking up where it left off in the 2022-23 season, EMU continues to lead the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots per game with 4.7 this season. Last season, EMU produced an average of 4.2 blocks per game, good for first in the league and 46th nationally. The year prior, the team averaged 3.3 blocks per game, showing a significant improvement in the 2022-23 campaign. Additionally, Tayra Eke, who led both the Green and White and the MAC in total blocks with 51 one season ago, ranks second in the league with 2.3 blocked shots per game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Tayra Eke's (14 pts, 10 reb) double-double in the contest against SIUE, Nov. 18, marked the first of the season and the sixth of her career while Kennedi Myles' (10 pts, 14 reb) recorded her 11th of her career. Moreover, it was Eke's 14th career double figure points game and Myles' 27th.
PAIR OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Two Eagles recorded double-doubles in the same game (Nov. 18) for the first time since former Eagle Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu and Tayra Eke earned double-doubles in the loss to Akron, Feb. 15, 2023. Eastern Michigan had two double-double performances in the same game four times last season, the most by any EMU team since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the feat in five games. 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. The last time EMU saw a single player earn a double-double was when the all-time double-doubles leader, Ce'Nara Skanes recorded her final one at Ohio University, March 4, 2023.
EXPERIENCED KENNEDI
Along with registering her 11th career double-double, Kennedi Myles led the Eagles in rebounds for the third consecutive game with 14 in the win over SIUE, Nov. 18. It was her 18th career game recording 10+ rebounds.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson found herself in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game after doing so for the first time in her career in the road game at Georgia Southern University, Nov. 11.
THE ROOKIE
Cali Denson recorded three-plus assists in consecutive games as the rookie collected a career-high four in the victory over SIUE. She currently leads the Green and White in helpers with eight on the season. Additionally, Denson's 12 points in the win marked a career-high, topping her nine against the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6. It was the rookies first double-digit points performance as she went 5-for-12 from the field with one made triple.
FINDING TREASURE
Treasure Thompson made her first appearance in an Eastern uniform for the first time since the 2021-22 season when she played in 19 contests. The junior transfer collected her first season appearance along with her first season block and points (2).
FROM THE STRIPE
Three Eagles went a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe in the victory over the Cougars. It marked the second consecutive game in which the Green and White have had three or more players go a perfect 1.000 from the free-throw line.
GRAB THE PAINT BUCKET
The Green and White were effective in the paint against SIUE, collecting a season-high 44 points. The 44 paint points topped the previous team season high of 28 set against Georgia Southern, Nov. 11.
HELPFUL HELPERS
Four Eagles recorded multiple assists in the game as Lachelle Austin led with a season-high six, while Cali Denson chipped in with four, Kennedi Myles with three, and Olivia Smith recording two. Additionally, it marked the fourth career game for Austin recording five or more assists in a single game.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS
Lachelle Austin finished the game with two made field goals marking the 37th consecutive game in which the junior has registered a single make. Additionally, her two steals mark her eighth consecutive game with a single steal and her six helpers add as her 24th career game with three or more assists in a single game.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SISTERS
Three Eagles recorded double-digit points in the win against SIUE for the first time this season as Tayra Eke led with 14, Olivia Westphal with 11, and Kennedi Myles with 10. EMU saw three or more players score in double-digit figures in the same game in 20 of the 30 contests last season, topping the 2021-22 season's 17.
WESTPHAL FROM THREE
Duquesne transfer, Olivia Westphal, went 3-for-5 from downtown in the game against SIUE, marking her first made three-pointer as an EMU Eagle, and tied her career-high of three makes from beyond the three-point line set at Brown University, Nov. 11, 2022. The last time EMU saw a player hit three or more triples in a game was when Olivia Smith recorded four at the University of Toledo, Jan. 28.
STICKY FINGERS
Three Eagles registered multiple steals in the victory as Kennedi Myles, ZaNiya Nelson, and Lachelle Austin each collected two.
OFF THE BENCH
The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by adding 19 points to its scoring output. Last season, the Eagles earned 19 or more bench points in nine outings.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
The Eagles rallied from a two-point; 45-43 third quarter deficit to pick up the win over SIUE, Nov. 18. It marked the first time this season in which the Eagles have come back and won a game.
SCORING IS FUN
The 68 total team points versus SIUE marked as a season-high for the Eagles and the first time the Green and White have scored 60+ points. Last season, the team registered 60 or more points in 23 games going 14-9 in such contests.
KEEP THEM UNDER 70
EMU allowed the least amount of points this season, allowing SIUE 65 points. Last season, the team allowed 60+ points in 21 games going 6-15.
SHARP SHOOTERS
As a team, Eastern Michigan shot 48% from the field in the win against the Cougars. The effort was the best the team has shot this year from the field, and the first time over the 30% mark.
BACK ON THE WIN COLUMN
The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with the win over the Cougars. The last time the Green and White were victorious was in the final regular season game of the 2022-23 season at Ohio, March 4, 2023.
BACK AT HOME
The Eagles played host for the second time this season after falling in the home-opener, 68-38, to the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6. The victory over the Cougars marked the 95th home contest for Head Coach Fred Castro inside the George Gervin GameAbove center as he holds a 46-49 record in home games during his eight seasons at the helm of the program.
IN THE TOP-THREE
Two Eagles currently rank in the MAC top-three, in Tayra Eke (2nd- total blocks - 7; 2nd- blocked shots/game - 2.3), and Kennedi Myles (3rd- rebounds/game - 10.7).
ALL-TIME VS. MICHIGAN
EMU and Michigan will meet for the 26th time Friday. A competitive series, the Wolverines hold a 16-9 all-time edge over the Green and White. Eastern has claimed victory in four of the last eight meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WOLVERINES
In their last meeting, EMU came up short against Michigan, falling 57-38 to its Washtenaw County rivals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles were frustrated for much of the game on the offensive end, finishing 23.6 percent (13-of-55) overall, while the Wolverines shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field. EMU tallied more second-chance points than Michigan, 11-5, but the visitors held the edge in rebounds (46-39), steals (9-7), and blocks (4-3).
ALL-TIME VS. THE BIG 10
Eastern Michigan is just 14-48 against Big Ten Conference members all-time, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. EMU has been most successful against Michigan, posting nine wins against its Washtenaw County foe, but still trails in the series, 16-9. Eastern has also registered wins against Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Wisconsin and while the Eagles hold a win in the only contest against Wisconsin, they are level with NU all-time, and they trail in the series with MSU, 1-16, and OSU, 1-2. Meanwhile, EMU is winless against Illinois (0-5), Indiana (0-2), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), and Purdue (0-3).
CLOSE-CONNECTIONS
University of Michigan women's basketball athletic communications contact Sarah VanMetre is familiar with the EMU program, having donned the Green and White as a basketball student-athlete from 2003-07. VanMetre is tied-for fourth all-time in boards, with 770. She is also the only academic All-American in program history.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the road game Friday, the Eagles will prepare for a longer road trip as the team is slated to head west to North Dakota where the Green and White will face North Dakota State University Friday, Dec. 1, before meeting with the University of North Dakota Sunday, Dec. 3.
FOLLOW US
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 Green and White enter the game with a 1-2 record after defeating the Cougars of SIU-Edwardsville, 68-65, Nov. 18, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The victory was the first of the season for EMU while the Wolverines (4-1) are coming off their first loss of the season, a 60-49 setback to the University of Mississippi, Nov 20.
ON AIR
The game, which is slated to tipoff at 1 p.m. will be broadcast on B1G+ and can be listened to on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Tom Helmer, the official voice of EMU Athletics. 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.
STAYING ON TREND
Picking up where it left off in the 2022-23 season, EMU continues to lead the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots per game with 4.7 this season. Last season, EMU produced an average of 4.2 blocks per game, good for first in the league and 46th nationally. The year prior, the team averaged 3.3 blocks per game, showing a significant improvement in the 2022-23 campaign. Additionally, Tayra Eke, who led both the Green and White and the MAC in total blocks with 51 one season ago, ranks second in the league with 2.3 blocked shots per game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Tayra Eke's (14 pts, 10 reb) double-double in the contest against SIUE, Nov. 18, marked the first of the season and the sixth of her career while Kennedi Myles' (10 pts, 14 reb) recorded her 11th of her career. Moreover, it was Eke's 14th career double figure points game and Myles' 27th.
PAIR OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Two Eagles recorded double-doubles in the same game (Nov. 18) for the first time since former Eagle Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu and Tayra Eke earned double-doubles in the loss to Akron, Feb. 15, 2023. Eastern Michigan had two double-double performances in the same game four times last season, the most by any EMU team since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the feat in five games. 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. The last time EMU saw a single player earn a double-double was when the all-time double-doubles leader, Ce'Nara Skanes recorded her final one at Ohio University, March 4, 2023.
EXPERIENCED KENNEDI
Along with registering her 11th career double-double, Kennedi Myles led the Eagles in rebounds for the third consecutive game with 14 in the win over SIUE, Nov. 18. It was her 18th career game recording 10+ rebounds.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson found herself in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game after doing so for the first time in her career in the road game at Georgia Southern University, Nov. 11.
THE ROOKIE
Cali Denson recorded three-plus assists in consecutive games as the rookie collected a career-high four in the victory over SIUE. She currently leads the Green and White in helpers with eight on the season. Additionally, Denson's 12 points in the win marked a career-high, topping her nine against the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6. It was the rookies first double-digit points performance as she went 5-for-12 from the field with one made triple.
FINDING TREASURE
Treasure Thompson made her first appearance in an Eastern uniform for the first time since the 2021-22 season when she played in 19 contests. The junior transfer collected her first season appearance along with her first season block and points (2).
FROM THE STRIPE
Three Eagles went a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe in the victory over the Cougars. It marked the second consecutive game in which the Green and White have had three or more players go a perfect 1.000 from the free-throw line.
GRAB THE PAINT BUCKET
The Green and White were effective in the paint against SIUE, collecting a season-high 44 points. The 44 paint points topped the previous team season high of 28 set against Georgia Southern, Nov. 11.
HELPFUL HELPERS
Four Eagles recorded multiple assists in the game as Lachelle Austin led with a season-high six, while Cali Denson chipped in with four, Kennedi Myles with three, and Olivia Smith recording two. Additionally, it marked the fourth career game for Austin recording five or more assists in a single game.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS
Lachelle Austin finished the game with two made field goals marking the 37th consecutive game in which the junior has registered a single make. Additionally, her two steals mark her eighth consecutive game with a single steal and her six helpers add as her 24th career game with three or more assists in a single game.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SISTERS
Three Eagles recorded double-digit points in the win against SIUE for the first time this season as Tayra Eke led with 14, Olivia Westphal with 11, and Kennedi Myles with 10. EMU saw three or more players score in double-digit figures in the same game in 20 of the 30 contests last season, topping the 2021-22 season's 17.
WESTPHAL FROM THREE
Duquesne transfer, Olivia Westphal, went 3-for-5 from downtown in the game against SIUE, marking her first made three-pointer as an EMU Eagle, and tied her career-high of three makes from beyond the three-point line set at Brown University, Nov. 11, 2022. The last time EMU saw a player hit three or more triples in a game was when Olivia Smith recorded four at the University of Toledo, Jan. 28.
STICKY FINGERS
Three Eagles registered multiple steals in the victory as Kennedi Myles, ZaNiya Nelson, and Lachelle Austin each collected two.
OFF THE BENCH
The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by adding 19 points to its scoring output. Last season, the Eagles earned 19 or more bench points in nine outings.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
The Eagles rallied from a two-point; 45-43 third quarter deficit to pick up the win over SIUE, Nov. 18. It marked the first time this season in which the Eagles have come back and won a game.
SCORING IS FUN
The 68 total team points versus SIUE marked as a season-high for the Eagles and the first time the Green and White have scored 60+ points. Last season, the team registered 60 or more points in 23 games going 14-9 in such contests.
KEEP THEM UNDER 70
EMU allowed the least amount of points this season, allowing SIUE 65 points. Last season, the team allowed 60+ points in 21 games going 6-15.
SHARP SHOOTERS
As a team, Eastern Michigan shot 48% from the field in the win against the Cougars. The effort was the best the team has shot this year from the field, and the first time over the 30% mark.
BACK ON THE WIN COLUMN
The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with the win over the Cougars. The last time the Green and White were victorious was in the final regular season game of the 2022-23 season at Ohio, March 4, 2023.
BACK AT HOME
The Eagles played host for the second time this season after falling in the home-opener, 68-38, to the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6. The victory over the Cougars marked the 95th home contest for Head Coach Fred Castro inside the George Gervin GameAbove center as he holds a 46-49 record in home games during his eight seasons at the helm of the program.
IN THE TOP-THREE
Two Eagles currently rank in the MAC top-three, in Tayra Eke (2nd- total blocks - 7; 2nd- blocked shots/game - 2.3), and Kennedi Myles (3rd- rebounds/game - 10.7).
ALL-TIME VS. MICHIGAN
EMU and Michigan will meet for the 26th time Friday. A competitive series, the Wolverines hold a 16-9 all-time edge over the Green and White. Eastern has claimed victory in four of the last eight meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WOLVERINES
In their last meeting, EMU came up short against Michigan, falling 57-38 to its Washtenaw County rivals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles were frustrated for much of the game on the offensive end, finishing 23.6 percent (13-of-55) overall, while the Wolverines shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field. EMU tallied more second-chance points than Michigan, 11-5, but the visitors held the edge in rebounds (46-39), steals (9-7), and blocks (4-3).
ALL-TIME VS. THE BIG 10
Eastern Michigan is just 14-48 against Big Ten Conference members all-time, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. EMU has been most successful against Michigan, posting nine wins against its Washtenaw County foe, but still trails in the series, 16-9. Eastern has also registered wins against Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Wisconsin and while the Eagles hold a win in the only contest against Wisconsin, they are level with NU all-time, and they trail in the series with MSU, 1-16, and OSU, 1-2. Meanwhile, EMU is winless against Illinois (0-5), Indiana (0-2), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), and Purdue (0-3).
CLOSE-CONNECTIONS
University of Michigan women's basketball athletic communications contact Sarah VanMetre is familiar with the EMU program, having donned the Green and White as a basketball student-athlete from 2003-07. VanMetre is tied-for fourth all-time in boards, with 770. She is also the only academic All-American in program history.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the road game Friday, the Eagles will prepare for a longer road trip as the team is slated to head west to North Dakota where the Green and White will face North Dakota State University Friday, Dec. 1, before meeting with the University of North Dakota Sunday, Dec. 3.
FOLLOW US
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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