Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, March 1
DeKalb, Ill.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Northern Illinois
Back In Action: Women's Hoops Travels to Northern Illinois
2/27/2023 3:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Both teams remain in contention for a berth into the 2023 MAC Tournament
| Women's Basketball at Toledo | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 1 | 7 p.m. CT |
| Venue | DeKalb, Ill. | Convocation Center |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – With the closing of the home season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will travel to its remaining contests of the regular-season. The Eagles will face the Huskies of Northern Illinois University for a second time this season, Wednesday, March 1 for a 7 p.m. tip.
The Eagles (14-13, 6-10 MAC) and the Huskies (15-12, 7-9 MAC) both remain in contention for a berth into the 2023 MAC Tournament with Eastern currently sharing the No. 6 spot with Miami University and Western Michigan University, holding the tie-breaker over both, but one game behind NIU.
Wednesday's game will broadcast on ESPN+, where Matt Rodewald (play-by-play) and Patricia Babcock-McGraw (analyst) 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.
SENIOR SEND OFF: Two Eagles competed in their last game played in the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Senior Natalia Pineda and Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu said their goodbyes with family, friends, coaches, and teammates. as the two were honored prior to the contest, given a framed jersey, flowers, and other items of appreciation for their time as Eastern Michigan Eagles.
In the five years wearing a Green and White jersey, Pineda played in 76 total contest inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, accumulating an estimated 1,430 minutes of playing time, and contributed to 36 total victories for EMU. Meanwhile, Ozzy-Momodu, who sat out due to injuries her first two years as a transfer at EMU (2020-22), has played in 12 games inside the facility, seven of which resulted in a win for the Eagles, appearing on the court for over 280 minutes in a single season.
HOME STINT: The home contest against Kent State, Feb. 25 was the last in-house game of the 2022-23 season with EMU finishing 9-7 at home, four games better than the last season's clip of 5-9. With only 15 seasons recording nine or more home wins inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, the 2022-23 team is in a five-way tie for fourth most home victories in program history, dating back to 1976 (42 years).
The 2010-11 (12-6 at home), 2009-10 (12-2 at home), and 2005-06 (12-2 at home) teams each produced 12 winning outcomes with the 2009-10 and 2005-06 tying for the best home season record. The 2004-05 (11-1 at home), 2011-12 (11-1 at home), 2001-02 (11-2 at home), and 2014-15 (11-4 at home) teams follow tied for second most home wins in program history in order of best season records. Following those seasons tied for third most EMU favored home contests is the 2003-04 (10-2 at home), 2015-16 (10-4 at home), and 2013-14 (10-7 at home) in order of best records. Finally, with nine home wins each, the 1980-81 (9-2 at home), 1879-80 (9-3 at home), 2000-01 (9-4 at home), 1999-00 (9-6 at home), and 2022-23 (9-7 at home) seasons follow as listed.
CASTRO IN THE NEST: In his seventh season at the helm of the women's basketball program at EMU, Head Coach Fred Castro (2016-Pres.) has accumulated a 45-48 home record, a 48 percent winning clip. The 45 victories rank Castro as the fourth winningest coach when playing at home in program history. Of the nine total commanders, Kathy Hart (1976-87), the first ever, holds the title with a 78-40 home record in 11 seasons, which ranks her as the longest coach at the helm, thus far. Trailing Hart for the most home wins is Suzy Merchant (1998-07), who led the Eagles for nine seasons going 75-28, holding the best winning percentage at 73 percent.
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB, SKANES: With her made layup two minutes into the fourth quarter against Kent State, Feb. 25, Ce'Nara Skanes became EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. 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). Her 10 points against the Golden Flashes put the junior at 1,001 total points at EMU and 1,251 career points (including the 250 points at Florida International).
MOVING UP THE LIST: Ce'Nara Skanes has hit the 1,000-point plateu, becoming EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. With that being said, the race to move up the all-time socring list has begun for the junior. The No. 1 spot in Eastern's all-time scoring list is held by All-American Tavelyn James (2008-12) who finished her EMU career with 2,470 points. Skanes, who has two games left in the 2022-23 regular season and another year of eligibility, is 1,469 points away from No. 1. She currently sits tied for 24th with Paige Redditt (2008-12).
HOT STARTS: Eastern Michigan scored 22 points in the first quarter against Kent State, Feb. 25. The 22 tallies in the first 10 minutes of play tie the team's season-high set previously against Florida A&M, Nov. 19, and Hillsdale College, Dec. 28, respectively, and is the first this season against a Mid-American Conference member.
THE OPENING STANZA: With its 22 points in the opening stanza against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, the Green and White have scored at least 15 points in the opening quarter of a contest 14 times in the 2022-23 season. It was also the 15th time that EMU has led its opponents after the first quarter and the second in the last six outings. The last time the Eagles led in the first quarter was against Buffalo, when they took a 17-14 lead over the Bulls, Feb. 23.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU saw three players score in double-digit figures against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, highlighted by Olivia Smith's 20, Tayra Eke's 19, and Ce'Nara Skanes' 10. The group's 49 collective points accounted for 73 percent of the team's scoring output. Additionally, it was the 19th game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures, topping last season's 17.
HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE: Olivia Smith's 20 points from the field against Kent State, Feb. 25, ranks as a career-high for the rookie, topping her previous 18 set against Miami, Jan. 4, and then again at Toledo, Feb. 18, respectively. Additionally, it was the freshman's ninth career contest hitting the double-digit mark, and her fifth leading the team in scoring. Furthermore, her team-leading two makes from the arc mark's 11th time leading the team in made triples.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH: Olivia Smith connected on five shots in the opening half of the contest versus KSU, Feb. 25, with two of them coming from the three-point line. Furthermore, her 47 season triples are just 23 shy of cracking EMU's top-10 in single-season three-pointers made. Holding the 10th spot is former Eagle Cha Sweeney who made 70 treys in the 2015-16 season.
TYRANT-TAYRA: Tayra Eke recorded a career-high 19 points in the contest versus Kent State, Feb. 25, topping her previous 17, set one game prior against Buffalo, Feb. 23. It marked her 10th contest in the double-digit scoring range and the fifth with 15 or more points.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu led the team with 10 rebounds in Saturday's contest, Feb. 25. The only Eagle to hit double-digit boards in the contest, the senior collected her fourth double-digit rebounding performance of the season, the last inside the George Gervin GameAbove Centerm and the 19th of her career. Additionally, she has led the Green and White in rebounds in six contests this season.
SKANES FROM beyond THE ARC: Ce'Nara Skanes has added the three-point shot to her repertoire this season and continues to do so as she connected on two triples in the game against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25. It marked her 13th contest with a single made three and her ninth with multiple in a single game. Moreover, the Oklahoma City native has knocked down 23 three-pointers in the 2022-23 season after hitting just one in her previous campaigns.
SKANES' SCORING SHEET: Ce'Nara Skanes scored 10 points in the loss to Kent State, Feb. 25. Skanes has been in the double-digit plateau in 19 games this season and 56 in her career, the most by any current Eagle. Last year, she dropped double figures in 18 total games, the second best on the team behind Areanna Comb's 22 on the season.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Tayra Eke added another block against KSU, Feb. 25, to bring her season total to 47 in 27 games, a team-best. The sophomore has dominated the MAC in terms of both blocks per game (1.8) and total blocks (47), as she's led the league in both categories for the majority of the season and continues to do so.
CONSECTUIVE CHELLE: Lachelle Austin contributed a single triple to the Eagles offense against KSU, Feb. 25. It marked the eighth consecutive contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and the 18th this season. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings.
HITTING FROM DEEP: The Green and White as a team went 6-for-10 from deep. The 60-percent shooting performance from three marked the team's season-high in terms of three-point percentage, topping its previous 50 percent set against at Toledo, Feb. 18, when the team shot 11-of-22 from the arc. Moreover, it was just the fifth game in which EMU has shot 45 percent or better from three-point land.
20-PIECE PERFORMANCES: This season, five Eagles have put up 20-plus scoring performances for the Green and White. Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with four contests recording 20 or more points setting a season high 26 against WMU, Feb. 11. Following Skanes is Lachelle Austin with three games recording the feat, 23 points against NIU, Jan. 21 being her highest. Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu has produced two 20-plus point performances this season, scoring a season-high 26 at Akron, Feb. 15. Lastly, with one 20-plus point game each, ZaNiya Nelson recorded 21 versus FAMU, Nov. 19, and Olivia Smith dropped 20 against Kent State, Feb. 25, the most recent 20-plus point performance.
A WIN WOULD: A win Wednesday would keep the Eagles in the top-eight seeds in the Mid-American Conference standings. Additionally, a win would give Eastern a series sweep over the Huskies and Head Coach Fred Castro's fifth overall against NIU.
A LOOK AT THE STANDINGS: Prior to the Eastern-Kent State game, Feb. 25, the Green and White were in the No. 6 spot, holding the tie-breaker over Northern Illinois, and Miami. With the 67-75 home loss to the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, the Eagles dropped to the No. 7 position, with the tie-breaker over Western Michigan and Miami.
The top eight teams at the end of regular season play will earn berths into the MAC Tournament, which is slated to be held March 8-11, inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Already clenched for the tournament is No. 1 Toledo (23-4, 14-2 MAC), t-No. 2 Bowling Green (24-4, 13-3 MAC), t-No. 2 Ball State (23-6, 13-3), and No. 4 Kent State (19-8, 11-5 MAC).
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: If the season ended today, the Eagles would be the No. 7 seed and would face No. 2 Ball State, who holds the tie-breaker over BGSU. However, the Eagles have two more games in the regular season to climb the MAC standings, with the highest seed possible for EMU being No. 5, that is if Kent State takes a loss and EMU wins out.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE HUSKIES: EMU saw three players score in double figures in the 66-61 overtime home victory over NIU, Jan. 21, led by Lachelle Austin, who had a then-career-high 23 points and six rebounds. Ce'Nara Skanes added 17 points, eight rebounds, and five steals while Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu helped out with 11 points. EMU's defense was a problem for the Huskies, as the team forced 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.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS: NIU currently sits tied for fifth with Akron in the Mid-American Conference standings, both boasting a 7-9 record in league play. With only two games left in the regular-season, the Huskies would need at least one more win to guarantee a ticket to Cleveland.
The Huskies lead the league in rebounds per game, averaging 38.7 boards a contest. On the other end, Northern Illinois leads the way in three-pointers per game, connecting on an average 8.3 shots from beyond the arc. Leading the pact is senior A'Jah Davis, who leads the MAC in multiple statistical categories including her 50 career double-doubles (19 this season) which tie for No. 24 nationally. Additionally, her 55.5 field goal percentage, 328 total rebounds (seventh nationally), and 12.6 rebounds per game (fourth nationally) all sit atop the conference. From deep, the Huskies are averaging a 34.1 three-point shooting percentage, good for fifth in the league with senior Chelby Koker ranking second in the MAC with a 40.0 three-point percentage.
ALL-TIME VERSUS NIU: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 61st meeting between
Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. EMU leads the all-time series, 32-28, with the Eagles
coming away with the most recent win, Jan. 21, 2023. In that game, Eastern snapped a three-game losing streak against Northern Illinois that dated back to the 2019-20 season. Additionally, it was the first overtime game since Feb. 1, 2020, and the first time the Eagles have won an overtime game since Jan. 17, 2018, against Western Michigan, ending a streak of losing six consecutive overtime games.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 115 blocks in the 27 games played (4.3 blocks per game). A season ago, the Green and White earned 88 blocks in 27 games (3.3 blocks per game). Not only did the Eagles surpass 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.
Prior to this season, the 2009-10 team held the highest blocking average at 4.2 blocks per game. With two games left in the regular season, EMU could uphold its higher blocking percentage which would be good for a program record. Additionally, with 115 total blocks, the Eagles currently sit in the No. 3 spot in team single-season blocked shots in the EMU record book. Holding the top spot with 137 season blocks is the 2010-11 team that finished with a 3.3 bpg.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 14 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 10.8 points per contest. Meanwhile, the team's 13 setbacks have come by an average of 13.5 points. With the 61-57 victory over Buffalo, Feb. 23, just four games this season have been decided by five or fewer points (vs. Akron, Feb. 15; vs. Miami, Jan. 4; vs. NIU, Jan. 21). Last season, just four games were decided within that margin.
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 leads the league in total blocks (47) and blocks per game (1.7). Additionally, Eke's 7.1 rebounds per game is good for eighth in the league. Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 1.9 steals per game is good for sixth in the conference. Junior Ce'Nara Skanes' 7.9 rebounds per game ranks her fifth in the league and her 205 total boards ranks her fifth. Additionally, her 44.1 field goal percentage ranks 10th. Lastly, rookie Olivia Smith has made her way back into the top 10 within the league in three-pointers per game with 1.7.
BOARD GAMES: The addition of sophomore Tayra Eke 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 715 defensive boards in 27 games (26.5 drpg), ranking them third in the MAC, with help from Eke's 135, and Skanes' 153. 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, 1,016-935, in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle, 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team needs just 13 more rebounds to top last season's number.
BACK IN #MACTION: Eastern's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan has competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 305-401 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: With only one contest remaining in the regular-season, the Eagles will travel to Athens, Ohio to face the Bobcats of Ohio University once more this season, Mar. 4, for a 1 p.m. tip. The game is slated to broadcast on ESPN+.
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 (14-13, 6-10 MAC) and the Huskies (15-12, 7-9 MAC) both remain in contention for a berth into the 2023 MAC Tournament with Eastern currently sharing the No. 6 spot with Miami University and Western Michigan University, holding the tie-breaker over both, but one game behind NIU.
Wednesday's game will broadcast on ESPN+, where Matt Rodewald (play-by-play) and Patricia Babcock-McGraw (analyst) 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.
SENIOR SEND OFF: Two Eagles competed in their last game played in the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Senior Natalia Pineda and Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu said their goodbyes with family, friends, coaches, and teammates. as the two were honored prior to the contest, given a framed jersey, flowers, and other items of appreciation for their time as Eastern Michigan Eagles.
In the five years wearing a Green and White jersey, Pineda played in 76 total contest inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, accumulating an estimated 1,430 minutes of playing time, and contributed to 36 total victories for EMU. Meanwhile, Ozzy-Momodu, who sat out due to injuries her first two years as a transfer at EMU (2020-22), has played in 12 games inside the facility, seven of which resulted in a win for the Eagles, appearing on the court for over 280 minutes in a single season.
HOME STINT: The home contest against Kent State, Feb. 25 was the last in-house game of the 2022-23 season with EMU finishing 9-7 at home, four games better than the last season's clip of 5-9. With only 15 seasons recording nine or more home wins inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, the 2022-23 team is in a five-way tie for fourth most home victories in program history, dating back to 1976 (42 years).
The 2010-11 (12-6 at home), 2009-10 (12-2 at home), and 2005-06 (12-2 at home) teams each produced 12 winning outcomes with the 2009-10 and 2005-06 tying for the best home season record. The 2004-05 (11-1 at home), 2011-12 (11-1 at home), 2001-02 (11-2 at home), and 2014-15 (11-4 at home) teams follow tied for second most home wins in program history in order of best season records. Following those seasons tied for third most EMU favored home contests is the 2003-04 (10-2 at home), 2015-16 (10-4 at home), and 2013-14 (10-7 at home) in order of best records. Finally, with nine home wins each, the 1980-81 (9-2 at home), 1879-80 (9-3 at home), 2000-01 (9-4 at home), 1999-00 (9-6 at home), and 2022-23 (9-7 at home) seasons follow as listed.
CASTRO IN THE NEST: In his seventh season at the helm of the women's basketball program at EMU, Head Coach Fred Castro (2016-Pres.) has accumulated a 45-48 home record, a 48 percent winning clip. The 45 victories rank Castro as the fourth winningest coach when playing at home in program history. Of the nine total commanders, Kathy Hart (1976-87), the first ever, holds the title with a 78-40 home record in 11 seasons, which ranks her as the longest coach at the helm, thus far. Trailing Hart for the most home wins is Suzy Merchant (1998-07), who led the Eagles for nine seasons going 75-28, holding the best winning percentage at 73 percent.
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB, SKANES: With her made layup two minutes into the fourth quarter against Kent State, Feb. 25, Ce'Nara Skanes became EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. 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). Her 10 points against the Golden Flashes put the junior at 1,001 total points at EMU and 1,251 career points (including the 250 points at Florida International).
MOVING UP THE LIST: Ce'Nara Skanes has hit the 1,000-point plateu, becoming EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. With that being said, the race to move up the all-time socring list has begun for the junior. The No. 1 spot in Eastern's all-time scoring list is held by All-American Tavelyn James (2008-12) who finished her EMU career with 2,470 points. Skanes, who has two games left in the 2022-23 regular season and another year of eligibility, is 1,469 points away from No. 1. She currently sits tied for 24th with Paige Redditt (2008-12).
HOT STARTS: Eastern Michigan scored 22 points in the first quarter against Kent State, Feb. 25. The 22 tallies in the first 10 minutes of play tie the team's season-high set previously against Florida A&M, Nov. 19, and Hillsdale College, Dec. 28, respectively, and is the first this season against a Mid-American Conference member.
THE OPENING STANZA: With its 22 points in the opening stanza against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, the Green and White have scored at least 15 points in the opening quarter of a contest 14 times in the 2022-23 season. It was also the 15th time that EMU has led its opponents after the first quarter and the second in the last six outings. The last time the Eagles led in the first quarter was against Buffalo, when they took a 17-14 lead over the Bulls, Feb. 23.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU saw three players score in double-digit figures against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, highlighted by Olivia Smith's 20, Tayra Eke's 19, and Ce'Nara Skanes' 10. The group's 49 collective points accounted for 73 percent of the team's scoring output. Additionally, it was the 19th game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures, topping last season's 17.
HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE: Olivia Smith's 20 points from the field against Kent State, Feb. 25, ranks as a career-high for the rookie, topping her previous 18 set against Miami, Jan. 4, and then again at Toledo, Feb. 18, respectively. Additionally, it was the freshman's ninth career contest hitting the double-digit mark, and her fifth leading the team in scoring. Furthermore, her team-leading two makes from the arc mark's 11th time leading the team in made triples.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH: Olivia Smith connected on five shots in the opening half of the contest versus KSU, Feb. 25, with two of them coming from the three-point line. Furthermore, her 47 season triples are just 23 shy of cracking EMU's top-10 in single-season three-pointers made. Holding the 10th spot is former Eagle Cha Sweeney who made 70 treys in the 2015-16 season.
TYRANT-TAYRA: Tayra Eke recorded a career-high 19 points in the contest versus Kent State, Feb. 25, topping her previous 17, set one game prior against Buffalo, Feb. 23. It marked her 10th contest in the double-digit scoring range and the fifth with 15 or more points.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu led the team with 10 rebounds in Saturday's contest, Feb. 25. The only Eagle to hit double-digit boards in the contest, the senior collected her fourth double-digit rebounding performance of the season, the last inside the George Gervin GameAbove Centerm and the 19th of her career. Additionally, she has led the Green and White in rebounds in six contests this season.
SKANES FROM beyond THE ARC: Ce'Nara Skanes has added the three-point shot to her repertoire this season and continues to do so as she connected on two triples in the game against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25. It marked her 13th contest with a single made three and her ninth with multiple in a single game. Moreover, the Oklahoma City native has knocked down 23 three-pointers in the 2022-23 season after hitting just one in her previous campaigns.
SKANES' SCORING SHEET: Ce'Nara Skanes scored 10 points in the loss to Kent State, Feb. 25. Skanes has been in the double-digit plateau in 19 games this season and 56 in her career, the most by any current Eagle. Last year, she dropped double figures in 18 total games, the second best on the team behind Areanna Comb's 22 on the season.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Tayra Eke added another block against KSU, Feb. 25, to bring her season total to 47 in 27 games, a team-best. The sophomore has dominated the MAC in terms of both blocks per game (1.8) and total blocks (47), as she's led the league in both categories for the majority of the season and continues to do so.
CONSECTUIVE CHELLE: Lachelle Austin contributed a single triple to the Eagles offense against KSU, Feb. 25. It marked the eighth consecutive contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and the 18th this season. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings.
HITTING FROM DEEP: The Green and White as a team went 6-for-10 from deep. The 60-percent shooting performance from three marked the team's season-high in terms of three-point percentage, topping its previous 50 percent set against at Toledo, Feb. 18, when the team shot 11-of-22 from the arc. Moreover, it was just the fifth game in which EMU has shot 45 percent or better from three-point land.
20-PIECE PERFORMANCES: This season, five Eagles have put up 20-plus scoring performances for the Green and White. Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with four contests recording 20 or more points setting a season high 26 against WMU, Feb. 11. Following Skanes is Lachelle Austin with three games recording the feat, 23 points against NIU, Jan. 21 being her highest. Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu has produced two 20-plus point performances this season, scoring a season-high 26 at Akron, Feb. 15. Lastly, with one 20-plus point game each, ZaNiya Nelson recorded 21 versus FAMU, Nov. 19, and Olivia Smith dropped 20 against Kent State, Feb. 25, the most recent 20-plus point performance.
A WIN WOULD: A win Wednesday would keep the Eagles in the top-eight seeds in the Mid-American Conference standings. Additionally, a win would give Eastern a series sweep over the Huskies and Head Coach Fred Castro's fifth overall against NIU.
A LOOK AT THE STANDINGS: Prior to the Eastern-Kent State game, Feb. 25, the Green and White were in the No. 6 spot, holding the tie-breaker over Northern Illinois, and Miami. With the 67-75 home loss to the Golden Flashes, Feb. 25, the Eagles dropped to the No. 7 position, with the tie-breaker over Western Michigan and Miami.
The top eight teams at the end of regular season play will earn berths into the MAC Tournament, which is slated to be held March 8-11, inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Already clenched for the tournament is No. 1 Toledo (23-4, 14-2 MAC), t-No. 2 Bowling Green (24-4, 13-3 MAC), t-No. 2 Ball State (23-6, 13-3), and No. 4 Kent State (19-8, 11-5 MAC).
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: If the season ended today, the Eagles would be the No. 7 seed and would face No. 2 Ball State, who holds the tie-breaker over BGSU. However, the Eagles have two more games in the regular season to climb the MAC standings, with the highest seed possible for EMU being No. 5, that is if Kent State takes a loss and EMU wins out.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE HUSKIES: EMU saw three players score in double figures in the 66-61 overtime home victory over NIU, Jan. 21, led by Lachelle Austin, who had a then-career-high 23 points and six rebounds. Ce'Nara Skanes added 17 points, eight rebounds, and five steals while Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu helped out with 11 points. EMU's defense was a problem for the Huskies, as the team forced 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.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS: NIU currently sits tied for fifth with Akron in the Mid-American Conference standings, both boasting a 7-9 record in league play. With only two games left in the regular-season, the Huskies would need at least one more win to guarantee a ticket to Cleveland.
The Huskies lead the league in rebounds per game, averaging 38.7 boards a contest. On the other end, Northern Illinois leads the way in three-pointers per game, connecting on an average 8.3 shots from beyond the arc. Leading the pact is senior A'Jah Davis, who leads the MAC in multiple statistical categories including her 50 career double-doubles (19 this season) which tie for No. 24 nationally. Additionally, her 55.5 field goal percentage, 328 total rebounds (seventh nationally), and 12.6 rebounds per game (fourth nationally) all sit atop the conference. From deep, the Huskies are averaging a 34.1 three-point shooting percentage, good for fifth in the league with senior Chelby Koker ranking second in the MAC with a 40.0 three-point percentage.
ALL-TIME VERSUS NIU: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 61st meeting between
Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. EMU leads the all-time series, 32-28, with the Eagles
coming away with the most recent win, Jan. 21, 2023. In that game, Eastern snapped a three-game losing streak against Northern Illinois that dated back to the 2019-20 season. Additionally, it was the first overtime game since Feb. 1, 2020, and the first time the Eagles have won an overtime game since Jan. 17, 2018, against Western Michigan, ending a streak of losing six consecutive overtime games.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 115 blocks in the 27 games played (4.3 blocks per game). A season ago, the Green and White earned 88 blocks in 27 games (3.3 blocks per game). Not only did the Eagles surpass 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.
Prior to this season, the 2009-10 team held the highest blocking average at 4.2 blocks per game. With two games left in the regular season, EMU could uphold its higher blocking percentage which would be good for a program record. Additionally, with 115 total blocks, the Eagles currently sit in the No. 3 spot in team single-season blocked shots in the EMU record book. Holding the top spot with 137 season blocks is the 2010-11 team that finished with a 3.3 bpg.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 14 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 10.8 points per contest. Meanwhile, the team's 13 setbacks have come by an average of 13.5 points. With the 61-57 victory over Buffalo, Feb. 23, just four games this season have been decided by five or fewer points (vs. Akron, Feb. 15; vs. Miami, Jan. 4; vs. NIU, Jan. 21). Last season, just four games were decided within that margin.
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 leads the league in total blocks (47) and blocks per game (1.7). Additionally, Eke's 7.1 rebounds per game is good for eighth in the league. Sophomore Lachelle Austin's 1.9 steals per game is good for sixth in the conference. Junior Ce'Nara Skanes' 7.9 rebounds per game ranks her fifth in the league and her 205 total boards ranks her fifth. Additionally, her 44.1 field goal percentage ranks 10th. Lastly, rookie Olivia Smith has made her way back into the top 10 within the league in three-pointers per game with 1.7.
BOARD GAMES: The addition of sophomore Tayra Eke 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 715 defensive boards in 27 games (26.5 drpg), ranking them third in the MAC, with help from Eke's 135, and Skanes' 153. 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, 1,016-935, in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle, 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team needs just 13 more rebounds to top last season's number.
BACK IN #MACTION: Eastern's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan has competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU has compiled a 305-401 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: With only one contest remaining in the regular-season, the Eagles will travel to Athens, Ohio to face the Bobcats of Ohio University once more this season, Mar. 4, for a 1 p.m. tip. The game is slated to broadcast on ESPN+.
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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/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of Aug. 4, 2025
Sunday, August 10
Inaugural Bowling with the Eagles Event
Friday, August 08
Women's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of July 28, 2025
Friday, August 08
2025 Women's Basketball Alumni Panel
Wednesday, July 30