Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, November 11
Statesboro, Ga.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Georgia Southern
Women's Hoops Readies for Georgia Southern
11/9/2023 5:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles set to partake in first part of MAC-SBC Challenge
| Women's Basketball vs. Detroit Mercy | |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 11 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Hanner Fieldhouse (4,325) | Statesboro, Ga. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Digital Programs |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | No live radio coverage | The Varsity Network App | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
STATESBORO, Ga. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team readies to lift the lid on the 2023-24 road season Saturday, Nov. 11, as it travels to Statesboro, Ga. to face off with the Eagles of Georgia Southern University. The non-conference contest will mark as the first part of the Mid-American Conference/Sun-Belt Conference Challenge.
The Green and White enter the game with an 0-1 record after falling to the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, 68-38, in the season home-opener, Nov. 6. The Eagles of Georgia Southern enter the contest after a home-opening win as Georgia Southern dismantled Allen University, 103-49, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
ON AIR
The game, which is slated to tipoff at 2 p.m., will be broadcast on ESPN+ where Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Cameron Belcher (analyst), and LeeAnna Gaye (sideline) will carry the action. 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.
HITTING THE ROAD
The Eagles are slated to hit the road for the first time in the 2023-24 season when it travels to Statesboro, Ga. to faceoff with the Georgia Southern Eagles, Nov. 11. Last season, the Green and White finished with a 5-6 away record. Overall, Fred Castro has compiled a 30-61 record when playing on the road in the eight seasons at the helm of the program.
EARNING THEIR WINGS
A handful of Eastern players made their debut with the Eagles in the loss to UDM including freshman Cali Denson, sophomore Dara Capaldi, junior Olivia Westphal and seniors Ashley Hassett and Kennedi Myles. The five accounted for 13 points (38% of EMU's total points).
THE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge will kick off this weekend with 12 MAC men's basketball programs hosting 12 SBC teams, while the 12 MAC women's basketball programs will visit 12 SBC teams.
The EMU women's team will travel to Statesboro, Ga., Nov. 11, to battle Georgia Southern, while the EMU men's team will host GSU on the same day at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC women and Sun Belt men will host the February matchups. Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge, currently scheduled to take place during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, is guaranteed one home and one away game each season. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups.
TURNOVER TOWN
Eastern won the turnover battle 12 times in 30 outings one season ago holding a 10-2 record in such games. In the opening contest of the 2023-24 season, the Green and White defeated the Titans in the turnover battle, 14-21. The Eagles turned those takeaways into nine points on the offensive end of the floor.
OFF THE BENCH
The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by adding 13 points to its scoring output in the loss to UDM. Last season, the Eagles earned 13 or more bench points in 15 outings.
THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards for seven second-chance points against UDM, Nov. 6.
THE TEAM-LEADING ROOKIE
Cali Denson earned her first collegiate appearance in the setback as the rookie entered the game early in the first half, securing her first collegiate basket with a made layup. Additionally, the rookie led the team in points (9), made field goals (3), and was one of just two Eagles to make a three-pointer while going 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
EXPERIENCED KENNEDI
Kennedi Myles dominated the glass for Eastern Michigan in her Eagle debut, tallying a team-leading 11 rebounds and four steals in the loss, Nov. 6. Myles had just two double-digit rebound games during her time at Marquette University and 17 while at the University of Illinois.
ASH IN GREEN AND WHITE
Ashley Hassett scored two points in her Eastern Michigan debut. She was one of eight players who scored at least two points for EMU.
WESTPHAL'S STICKY FINGERS
Olivia Westphal recorded a career-high three steals against UDM, Nov. 6, topping her previous career-high two set on two seperate occassions during her time at Duquesne with the last time coming against Brown University, Nov. 11, 2022.
SHE'S BACK FOR MORE
Tayra Eke also had a good game on defense for Eastern Michigan, notching two blocks in the loss against the Titans. During the 2022-23 season, the junior had 17 games with multiple blocks.
WELCOME BACK
Dara Capaldi checked in for Eastern Michigan toward the end of the second half of the loss to UDM. It was the first time the sophomore has seen action in her EMU career after suffering a season-ending injury as a rookie.
SEASON OPENERS
In 47 seasons, the Green and White have compiled a 32-16 record in season openers after falling ot the Titans of UDM, Nov. 6. Additionally, the Eagles have won eight of their last 10 lid lifters, including eight in-a-row between 2008-09 and 2018-19. The most recent Eastern victory in a season-opening game was in the 2022-23 season when the Eagles welcomed Lindenwood University to Ypsilanti. The Eagles topped the Lions, 71-56, Nov. 7, 2022 to start the season 1-0.
STARTING AT HOME
Last Monday's home-opener marked the eighth time in the last 10 years that EMU has started the season on its home court. The Eagles are 6-2 in those games with the only loss prior to the 68-38 setback to UDM, Nov. 6, coming two seasons ago against Youngstown State University, which defeated the Green and White, 67-70, Nov. 9, 2021.
ALL-TIME IN HOME-OPENERS
Eastern Michigan entered Monday's contest against UDM with a 36-11 all-time record in home-opening contests. After the setback, EMU recived its 12th home-opening loss in program history. Prior to EMU's home-opening setback to Youngstown State (2021) and the University of Illinois-Chicago (2020), EMU had won 20 consecutive home openers (each season since 2000-20).
ALL-TIME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
EMU and GS will meet for just the second time in each of their program's histories. The two schools first met in the 1993 season when the Eagles of Georgia Southern defeated the Eagles of EMU, 87-67 in a neutral site in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 11.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the season road-opener in Geogia, the Green and White are slated to return home in time to host SIU-Edwardsville Saturday, Nov. 18 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
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 an 0-1 record after falling to the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, 68-38, in the season home-opener, Nov. 6. The Eagles of Georgia Southern enter the contest after a home-opening win as Georgia Southern dismantled Allen University, 103-49, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
ON AIR
The game, which is slated to tipoff at 2 p.m., will be broadcast on ESPN+ where Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Cameron Belcher (analyst), and LeeAnna Gaye (sideline) will carry the action. 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.
HITTING THE ROAD
The Eagles are slated to hit the road for the first time in the 2023-24 season when it travels to Statesboro, Ga. to faceoff with the Georgia Southern Eagles, Nov. 11. Last season, the Green and White finished with a 5-6 away record. Overall, Fred Castro has compiled a 30-61 record when playing on the road in the eight seasons at the helm of the program.
EARNING THEIR WINGS
A handful of Eastern players made their debut with the Eagles in the loss to UDM including freshman Cali Denson, sophomore Dara Capaldi, junior Olivia Westphal and seniors Ashley Hassett and Kennedi Myles. The five accounted for 13 points (38% of EMU's total points).
THE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge will kick off this weekend with 12 MAC men's basketball programs hosting 12 SBC teams, while the 12 MAC women's basketball programs will visit 12 SBC teams.
The EMU women's team will travel to Statesboro, Ga., Nov. 11, to battle Georgia Southern, while the EMU men's team will host GSU on the same day at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC women and Sun Belt men will host the February matchups. Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge, currently scheduled to take place during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, is guaranteed one home and one away game each season. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups.
TURNOVER TOWN
Eastern won the turnover battle 12 times in 30 outings one season ago holding a 10-2 record in such games. In the opening contest of the 2023-24 season, the Green and White defeated the Titans in the turnover battle, 14-21. The Eagles turned those takeaways into nine points on the offensive end of the floor.
OFF THE BENCH
The Eastern Michigan bench made an impact by adding 13 points to its scoring output in the loss to UDM. Last season, the Eagles earned 13 or more bench points in 15 outings.
THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards for seven second-chance points against UDM, Nov. 6.
THE TEAM-LEADING ROOKIE
Cali Denson earned her first collegiate appearance in the setback as the rookie entered the game early in the first half, securing her first collegiate basket with a made layup. Additionally, the rookie led the team in points (9), made field goals (3), and was one of just two Eagles to make a three-pointer while going 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
EXPERIENCED KENNEDI
Kennedi Myles dominated the glass for Eastern Michigan in her Eagle debut, tallying a team-leading 11 rebounds and four steals in the loss, Nov. 6. Myles had just two double-digit rebound games during her time at Marquette University and 17 while at the University of Illinois.
ASH IN GREEN AND WHITE
Ashley Hassett scored two points in her Eastern Michigan debut. She was one of eight players who scored at least two points for EMU.
WESTPHAL'S STICKY FINGERS
Olivia Westphal recorded a career-high three steals against UDM, Nov. 6, topping her previous career-high two set on two seperate occassions during her time at Duquesne with the last time coming against Brown University, Nov. 11, 2022.
SHE'S BACK FOR MORE
Tayra Eke also had a good game on defense for Eastern Michigan, notching two blocks in the loss against the Titans. During the 2022-23 season, the junior had 17 games with multiple blocks.
WELCOME BACK
Dara Capaldi checked in for Eastern Michigan toward the end of the second half of the loss to UDM. It was the first time the sophomore has seen action in her EMU career after suffering a season-ending injury as a rookie.
SEASON OPENERS
In 47 seasons, the Green and White have compiled a 32-16 record in season openers after falling ot the Titans of UDM, Nov. 6. Additionally, the Eagles have won eight of their last 10 lid lifters, including eight in-a-row between 2008-09 and 2018-19. The most recent Eastern victory in a season-opening game was in the 2022-23 season when the Eagles welcomed Lindenwood University to Ypsilanti. The Eagles topped the Lions, 71-56, Nov. 7, 2022 to start the season 1-0.
STARTING AT HOME
Last Monday's home-opener marked the eighth time in the last 10 years that EMU has started the season on its home court. The Eagles are 6-2 in those games with the only loss prior to the 68-38 setback to UDM, Nov. 6, coming two seasons ago against Youngstown State University, which defeated the Green and White, 67-70, Nov. 9, 2021.
ALL-TIME IN HOME-OPENERS
Eastern Michigan entered Monday's contest against UDM with a 36-11 all-time record in home-opening contests. After the setback, EMU recived its 12th home-opening loss in program history. Prior to EMU's home-opening setback to Youngstown State (2021) and the University of Illinois-Chicago (2020), EMU had won 20 consecutive home openers (each season since 2000-20).
ALL-TIME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
EMU and GS will meet for just the second time in each of their program's histories. The two schools first met in the 1993 season when the Eagles of Georgia Southern defeated the Eagles of EMU, 87-67 in a neutral site in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 11.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the season road-opener in Geogia, the Green and White are slated to return home in time to host SIU-Edwardsville Saturday, Nov. 18 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
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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