Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, December 29
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
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Saginaw Valley
Women's Hoops Closes Out 2023 Year with Saginaw Valley
12/27/2023 3:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles take on the Cardinals Friday
| Women's Basketball vs. Saginaw Valley | |
| Date | Friday, Dec. 29 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Digital Programs |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | NA |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team prepares to close out the 2023 calendar year with a home meeting against the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals Friday, Dec. 29, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center following a six-game road trip.
The Green and White (2-7) enter the weekend with momentum as the Eagles defeated the Jaguars of IUPUI, 84-74 in overtime, Dec. 15, to break an unlucky five-game losing streak. On the other end, the Cardinals (3-7) come to Ypsilanti after dropping their final game of the holiday road trip to Carson-Newman with a final score of 57-51.
ON AIR
Friday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 2 p.m. tip where Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Reggie Butler (color) will have 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.
COACHING CHANGE
EMU made a change in its women's basketball head coaching position and separated from Head Coach Fred Castro effective immediately, EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced, Dec. 11. Castro was announced as the ninth head women's basketball coach in school history in May 2016. He compiled an overall record of 80-129 with a 40-84 record in MAC play. Assistant Coach Ke'Sha Blanton will lead the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
BLANTON'S FIRST WIN
Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton recorded her first career win in her first game as Interim Head Coach as the Eagles topped the Jaguars 84-74 in overtime, Dec. 15.
EAGLES IN OVERTIME
The game against IUPUI was the Eagles' first overtime game since Jan. 28, 2023, a 79-73 overtime loss to Toledo. Additionally, the Eagles recorded their first overtime win since Jan. 21, 2023, when EMU defeated Northern Illinois, 66-61 in overtime at home.
EMU's double-digit overtime victory was the first of its kind since beating Central Michigan by 15 points in overtime, Mar. 8, 2014. The game against IUPUI marked the first time Eastern was won by 10-plus points in overtime on the road in program history.
COMEBACK KIDS
EMU trailed IUPUI 27-10 after the first 15 minutes of play, Dec. 15 before slowly chipping away for an ultimate 84-74 overtime win. The last time EMU won after trailing by 10+ points was Jan. 11, 2021 - 12 points at Western Michigan (W, 67-62).
HIGH-FIVE
EMU had five players in double-digits in the win over IUPUI, Dec. 15 for the first time since Jan. 8, 2022, against Central Michigan (W, 80-60).
TEAM-LEADING TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 18 points against IUPUI, Dec. 15 were a season-high, topping her 14-point output against SIUE, Nov. 18. She was 9-for-12 from the floor with her nine made field goals being a career high.
ALL ABOUT MYLES
Kennedi Myles hauled in a season-high 16 rebounds against IUPUI, Dec. 15, which was four short of her career-high 20 rebounds set against University of Evansville, Dec. 15, 2019. Her 16 rebounds doubled that of any other player in the game. Myles also had a game-high three steals, one shy of her season-high four steals set against the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR KENNEDI
Kennedi Myles had 11 points and 16 rebounds at IUPUI, marking her 12th career double-double and second of the season. Myles also had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds against SIUE, Nov. 18. She is the third different Eagle with a double-double this season as Tayra Eke also had a double-double against SIUE, Nov. 18, and ZaNiya Nelson posted a double-double at North Dakota State, Dec. 1.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS
Lachelle Austin finished the game at IUPUI with two made field goals, marking the 42nd consecutive appearance in which the junior has registered a single make.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson was in the starting lineup for the eighth consecutive game after doing so for the first time in her career in the road game at Georgia Southern University, Nov. 11. Denson continues to be the only freshman this season to be in the starting five.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH
Sophomore Olivia Smith connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the overtime win. It was the seventh contest this season in which Smith has made a single three-pointer. Last season, the then-rookie led the team in triples recording a single make in 25 total games. Her longest streak of consecutive games with a made triple was 13 (Dec. 17, 2022-Feb. 1, 2023).
THAT'S OUR BALL
EMU forced 26 IUPUI turnovers, the most by an Eagles' foe since they forced 29 turnovers at Central Michigan, Feb. 4, 2023.
BOARD GAMES
Eastern outrebounded IUPUI, 49-40. The Eagles' 49 rebounds are their most since tallying 52 against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021.
ALL-TIME VS. SAGINAW VALLEY
Friday's meeting with the Cardinals will mark the seventh in program history and the first since 1983. The Eagles hold an overall 4-2 record over SVSU dating back to their first meeting in 1978. EMU defeated Saginaw Valley, 60-57 to open the series and took the following three more contests to start with a clean 4-0 record over the Michigan team. It wasn't until 1982 that the Cardinals topped the Eagles as SVSU earned two back-to-back wins over EMU starting with a 67-53 victory in the Eastern Michigan Tournament before hosting the Green and White in their home court and winning 73-49, exactly a year later.
ON THE HORIZON
The Green and White will take a short break to ring in the New Year before traveling to DeKalb, Ill. to begin conference play with Northern Illinois University, Jan. 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 (2-7) enter the weekend with momentum as the Eagles defeated the Jaguars of IUPUI, 84-74 in overtime, Dec. 15, to break an unlucky five-game losing streak. On the other end, the Cardinals (3-7) come to Ypsilanti after dropping their final game of the holiday road trip to Carson-Newman with a final score of 57-51.
ON AIR
Friday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 2 p.m. tip where Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Reggie Butler (color) will have 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.
COACHING CHANGE
EMU made a change in its women's basketball head coaching position and separated from Head Coach Fred Castro effective immediately, EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced, Dec. 11. Castro was announced as the ninth head women's basketball coach in school history in May 2016. He compiled an overall record of 80-129 with a 40-84 record in MAC play. Assistant Coach Ke'Sha Blanton will lead the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
BLANTON'S FIRST WIN
Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton recorded her first career win in her first game as Interim Head Coach as the Eagles topped the Jaguars 84-74 in overtime, Dec. 15.
EAGLES IN OVERTIME
The game against IUPUI was the Eagles' first overtime game since Jan. 28, 2023, a 79-73 overtime loss to Toledo. Additionally, the Eagles recorded their first overtime win since Jan. 21, 2023, when EMU defeated Northern Illinois, 66-61 in overtime at home.
EMU's double-digit overtime victory was the first of its kind since beating Central Michigan by 15 points in overtime, Mar. 8, 2014. The game against IUPUI marked the first time Eastern was won by 10-plus points in overtime on the road in program history.
COMEBACK KIDS
EMU trailed IUPUI 27-10 after the first 15 minutes of play, Dec. 15 before slowly chipping away for an ultimate 84-74 overtime win. The last time EMU won after trailing by 10+ points was Jan. 11, 2021 - 12 points at Western Michigan (W, 67-62).
HIGH-FIVE
EMU had five players in double-digits in the win over IUPUI, Dec. 15 for the first time since Jan. 8, 2022, against Central Michigan (W, 80-60).
TEAM-LEADING TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 18 points against IUPUI, Dec. 15 were a season-high, topping her 14-point output against SIUE, Nov. 18. She was 9-for-12 from the floor with her nine made field goals being a career high.
ALL ABOUT MYLES
Kennedi Myles hauled in a season-high 16 rebounds against IUPUI, Dec. 15, which was four short of her career-high 20 rebounds set against University of Evansville, Dec. 15, 2019. Her 16 rebounds doubled that of any other player in the game. Myles also had a game-high three steals, one shy of her season-high four steals set against the University of Detroit Mercy, Nov. 6.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR KENNEDI
Kennedi Myles had 11 points and 16 rebounds at IUPUI, marking her 12th career double-double and second of the season. Myles also had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds against SIUE, Nov. 18. She is the third different Eagle with a double-double this season as Tayra Eke also had a double-double against SIUE, Nov. 18, and ZaNiya Nelson posted a double-double at North Dakota State, Dec. 1.
AUSTIN-TACIOUS
Lachelle Austin finished the game at IUPUI with two made field goals, marking the 42nd consecutive appearance in which the junior has registered a single make.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson was in the starting lineup for the eighth consecutive game after doing so for the first time in her career in the road game at Georgia Southern University, Nov. 11. Denson continues to be the only freshman this season to be in the starting five.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH
Sophomore Olivia Smith connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the overtime win. It was the seventh contest this season in which Smith has made a single three-pointer. Last season, the then-rookie led the team in triples recording a single make in 25 total games. Her longest streak of consecutive games with a made triple was 13 (Dec. 17, 2022-Feb. 1, 2023).
THAT'S OUR BALL
EMU forced 26 IUPUI turnovers, the most by an Eagles' foe since they forced 29 turnovers at Central Michigan, Feb. 4, 2023.
BOARD GAMES
Eastern outrebounded IUPUI, 49-40. The Eagles' 49 rebounds are their most since tallying 52 against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021.
ALL-TIME VS. SAGINAW VALLEY
Friday's meeting with the Cardinals will mark the seventh in program history and the first since 1983. The Eagles hold an overall 4-2 record over SVSU dating back to their first meeting in 1978. EMU defeated Saginaw Valley, 60-57 to open the series and took the following three more contests to start with a clean 4-0 record over the Michigan team. It wasn't until 1982 that the Cardinals topped the Eagles as SVSU earned two back-to-back wins over EMU starting with a 67-53 victory in the Eastern Michigan Tournament before hosting the Green and White in their home court and winning 73-49, exactly a year later.
ON THE HORIZON
The Green and White will take a short break to ring in the New Year before traveling to DeKalb, Ill. to begin conference play with Northern Illinois University, Jan. 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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