Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, March 8
Cleveland, Ohio
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Bowling Green
Back In Action: No. 7 EMU faces No. 2 Bowling Green in MAC Tournament Quarterfinals
3/6/2023 2:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles will face the Falcons Wednesday, March 8 inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
| Women's Basketball vs. Bowling Green (Quarterfinals round) | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 8 | TBA |
| Venue | Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will begin its quest for the program's third Mid-American Conference Tournament crown when it travels to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the quarterfinal round of the event Wednesday, March 8.
The No. 7 seed, Eastern Michigan (15-14, 7-11 MAC) will face a tough challenge, the No. 2 seed, Bowling Green State University (25-5, 14-4 MAC). Already the most decorated team in MAC Tournament history, BGSU is looking to claim its 12th title in 2023.
The game, which is set to start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the previous contest, will be broadcast on ESPN+ where veteran talents Dave Bacon (Play-by-Play), and Lori Bodnar (Analyst) will have the call. As always, fans can listen to the contest on WEMU 89.1 FM, where the Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, will cover all 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.
MAC LEADERS: The Green and White enter the postseason leading the league in blocks per game (4.3) and rank second in rebounds per game (37.7). Additionally, Tayra Eke's 49 total blocks leads the conference.
EMU IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT: Eastern will play in its 54th MAC tournament game when it takes the court against Bowling Green once more in the opening round, March 8, after doing so in the 2021 MAC Tournament. In that game, the No. 8 seeded Eagles fell to the No. 1 seeded Falcons, 63-47, March 10, 2021. EMU is 28-25 all-time in its league tournament appearances, which date back to the 1981-82 season. Eastern has twice captured the tournament crown and reached the NCAA tournament via an automatic bid, first in 2004, and most recently in 2012.
UNDER FRED CASTRO: The Green and White are 4-4 in MAC Tournament play under seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro. The team's best win under Castro came in the 2020 MAC Tournament, as his No. 7-seeded Eagles defeated No. 2-seeded Ball State, 64-63, in the quarterfinal round in Cleveland. EMU never got to play its semifinal game as the tournament was halted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAC TOURNAMENT GAMES AGAINST BGSU: Wednesday's matchup will mark the ninth time that Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green will meet in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Bowling Green holds a 6-2 advantage in those games, which date back to the opening round of the 1990 event.
The last tournament matchup between the two schools came in the opening round of the 2021 tournament, a contest that Bowling Green won, 63-47 inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
FACING BOWLING GREEN IN CLEVELAND: Of the eight tournament matchups between EMU and BGSU, just five have been played in Cleveland. The Falcons are 4-1 in those games.
Two of the matchups have come in the title game, with EMU winning its 2004 championship over BGSU, and Bowling Green returning the favor in 2011. The teams have met twice in the tournament's semifinal as well, with Bowling Green earning victories in both 2005 and 2007.
The additional contests were first-round, site games.
AS THE NO. 7: 2023 marks the fifth time Eastern Michigan will enter the MAC Tournament as the No. 7 overall seed. The Green and White are an even 4-4 in games played when the team entered the tournament in the seventh position, advancing in all but one appearance, when the 2000-01 team, under former Head Coach Suzy Merchant, lost to Ohio, 80-75.
AGAINST THE NO. 2: EMU has matched up against the No. 2 seed eight times in the MAC Tournament, and holds a 2-6 record in those games. Eastern's two wins over a No.2-seed came in 2015, when No. 6 EMU bested No. 2 Ball State, 75-65, in the semifinal game of the tournament before doing it again over the Cardinals in the 2020 tournament, when No. 7 EMU defeated No. 2 BSU in a tight, 64-63, semifinal game.
FINISHED ON TOP: Although the COVID-19 outbreak prevented the conclusion of the 2020 MAC Tournament, Eastern finished the event in high spirits. After defeating No. 9 Northern Illinois in its on-campus first round game, EMU took out the tournament's No. 2 seed, Ball State, to earn a berth into the semifinal round of the event for the first time since 2015. Unfortunately, that game was unable to be played. Despite his appearance in 2021, the 2020 run is the best for the team in seven years under Head Coach Fred Castro.
NOW THIS IS MARCH MADNESS: The Green and White has posted an even 46-46 record during the month of March over the last 24 seasons, including a program-best 8-2 mark during the 2014-15 season. The team is 1-1 in games played in March this year.
UNDERDOGS: In EMU's postseason history, Eastern Michigan has posted nine wins over higher seeded opponents, including a 64-63 win over No. 2 Ball State in the quarterfinal round of the 2020 MAC Tournament.
EMU AT ROCKET MORTGAGE: Eastern Michigan is very familiar with the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse floor, as the school has posted a 15-13 record there, including capturing the 2004 and 2012 championships. The team went 0-1 at the venue during the 2020-21 campaign.
WHEN PLAYING ON MARCH 8: Three of Eastern's games in its 47-year program history have come on March 8. Hoping to keep the trend, the team is 3-0 in such games, with its last game on the date coming in 2014. That year, EMU defeated Central Michigan in overtime, 99-84, in the final regular-season contest.
ALL-TIME VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 75th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 54-20 after defeating the Eagles, 79-63, earlier in the season, Jan. 7 in Ohio. However, EMU had its most recent stretch of five straight wins against the Ohio institution from Jan. 25, 2017 to Feb. 12, 2020.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE FALCONS: EMU saw three players score in double figures in the 79-63 setback, March 4, led by Lachelle Austin, who had a career-high 21 points and two steals. Olivia Smith tacked on 15 points, four assists and two steals while ZaNiya Nelson chipped in as well with 11 points and eight rebounds from the bench. Eastern shared the ball well in the game, racking up 16 assists on 21 made field goals. Tayra Eke's four assists paced the Eagles. EMU did a great job disrupting Bowling Green shots in the contest, coming away with seven blocks. Both Ce'Nara Skanes' and Eke's three rejections led the way for the Eagles.
THE OPENING STANZA: With its 23 points in the opening stanza against the Bobcats, March 4, the Green and White finished the 2022-23 regular season having scored at least 15 points in the opening quarter of a contest 16 times (55 percent) with five of those games being in the 20+ point range. The team recorded three separate first quarter scores of 22 with the 23 points against Ohio marking the team's season high. Additionally, it marked the 15th game where the Eagles have led its opponent after the first 10 minutes of play.
HALFTIME LEADERS: The Eagles did a great job holding its lead over Ohio, March 4, as the team headed into the locker room with a 40-32 halftime lead. It was the 14th time that EMU has led its opponents at the half this season improving from last season's eight. After the win, the team finished the 2022-23 regular season 11-3 in games when the Eagles are leading at the half.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU saw three players score in double-digit figures against the Bobcats, March 4, highlighted by Ce'Nara Skanes' 21, Lachelle Austin's 25, and Tayra Eke's 12. The group's 58 collective points accounted for 78 percent of the team's scoring output with Austin's 25 points representing 34 percent. Additionally, it was the 20th game this year in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures, topping last season's 17.
AWESOME AUSTIN: Lachelle Austin recorded a team-leading 25 points at Ohio, March 4. It marked the 24th contest in which the sophomore has dropped double-digit points and the 10th leading the Green and White in scoring. Additionally, her nine made field goals marked as a career high, recording eight in three previous occasions.
ALONE AT THE TOP: After posting 21 points and 11 rebounds against Ohio, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 31 of her 75 career games at EMU (41%), 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.
SKANES FROM beyond THE ARC: Ce'Nara Skanes has added the three-point shot to her repertoire this season and continued to do so as she connected on a single triple in the game against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked her 14th contest with a single made three. Moreover, the Oklahoma City native has knocked down 24 three-pointers in the 2022-23 season after hitting just one in her previous campaigns.
SMITH'S 50TH: Olivia Smith connected on one shot from beyond the three-point line in the game against Ohio, March 4. It marked her 50th make of the season from the three-point line, and maintained her team-leader status in made triples.
EMU IS OUR NAME, BLOCKING IS OUR GAME: In just her ninth game collecting at least one block, Lachelle Austin added a single stop to the team's total three blocks with Tayra Eke accounting for the other two against the Ohio offense, March 4.
20-PIECE PERFORMANCES: This season, five Eagles have put up 20-plus scoring performances for the Green and White. After dropping 21 against Ohio, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with five contests recording 20 or more points setting a season high 26 against WMU, Feb. 11. Following Skanes is Lachelle Austin, who collected 25 points against the Bobcats improving her record to four games recording the feat, with the 25 being her highest.
20+ POINT SISTERS: With both Lachelle Austin and Ce'Nara Skanes entering the 20-point plateau against Ohio, March 4, it marked the first time this season in which the Eagles had two or more players with 20 or more points in a single game. The last time the feat was accomplished was Jan. 23, 2019, when former Eagles Corrione Cardwell and Courtnie Lewis dropped 20 points each at Western Michigan.
SKANES' SCORING SHEET: With her 21 points in the win over OU, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes has now been in the double-digit plateau in 20 games this season and 57 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.
CONSECUTIVE CHELLE: Lachelle Austin led the team in triples, contributing two from the arc against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked the 19th contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and her eighth of the season leading the team. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings, leading the Green and White in just three.
SHUT-EM DOWN: The Eagles held the Bobcats to only 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting from the field in the game, March 4. It was the 15th time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. Eastern has out-shot its competitors in all instances but three. The Green and White are 11-4 in games where its competitors shoot less than 40 percent from the field. Additionally, the Eagles are 14-1 when shooting better than its foe.
MOVING UP THE LIST: Ce'Nara Skanes has hit the 1,000-point plateau, becoming EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. With that being said, the race to move up the all-time scoring 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 another year of eligibility, is 1,439 points away from No. 1. Her 1,031 points currently sits 23rd overall.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Tayra Eke added two blocks against Ohio, March 4, to bring her season total to 49 in 29 games, a team-best. The sophomore has dominated the MAC in terms of blocks per game (1.69) and total blocks (49), as she's led the league in both categories for the majority of the season. However, as of recent, CMU's Rochelle Norris took the lead for blocks per game with 1.73.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 123 blocks in the 29 games played (4.2 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 with only MAC tournament play left in the 2022-23 season.
Prior to this season, the 2009-10 team held the highest blocking average at 4.2 blocks per game. EMU could uphold its higher blocking percentage which would be good for a program record. Additionally, with 120 total blocks, the Eagles currently sit in the No. 3 spot in team single-season blocked shots in the EMU record book, just nine blocks away from No. 2, held by the 2009-10 team that recorded 129 blocks in 31 games. Holding the top spot with 137 season blocks is the 2010-11 team which did it in 37 games.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 15 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 10.9 points per contest. Meanwhile, the team's 14 setbacks have come by an average of 13.6 points. With the 61-57 victory over Buffalo, Feb. 23, just four games this season were 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 769 defensive boards in 29 games (26.5 drpg), ranking them fourth in the MAC, with help from Eke's 143, and Skanes' 164. 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 with only MAC Tournament play left in the 2022-23 season.
Moreover, EMU is out-rebounding its opponents, 1,092-999, in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle, 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team has already exceeded last season's total amount of rebounds by 63.
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 305-402 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: If the Eagles advance, the Green and White would play the winner of the No. 3 Ball State versus No. 6 Akron game, Friday, March 10th. All games of the MAC Tournament will be streamed via 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 No. 7 seed, Eastern Michigan (15-14, 7-11 MAC) will face a tough challenge, the No. 2 seed, Bowling Green State University (25-5, 14-4 MAC). Already the most decorated team in MAC Tournament history, BGSU is looking to claim its 12th title in 2023.
The game, which is set to start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the previous contest, will be broadcast on ESPN+ where veteran talents Dave Bacon (Play-by-Play), and Lori Bodnar (Analyst) will have the call. As always, fans can listen to the contest on WEMU 89.1 FM, where the Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, will cover all 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.
MAC LEADERS: The Green and White enter the postseason leading the league in blocks per game (4.3) and rank second in rebounds per game (37.7). Additionally, Tayra Eke's 49 total blocks leads the conference.
EMU IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT: Eastern will play in its 54th MAC tournament game when it takes the court against Bowling Green once more in the opening round, March 8, after doing so in the 2021 MAC Tournament. In that game, the No. 8 seeded Eagles fell to the No. 1 seeded Falcons, 63-47, March 10, 2021. EMU is 28-25 all-time in its league tournament appearances, which date back to the 1981-82 season. Eastern has twice captured the tournament crown and reached the NCAA tournament via an automatic bid, first in 2004, and most recently in 2012.
UNDER FRED CASTRO: The Green and White are 4-4 in MAC Tournament play under seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro. The team's best win under Castro came in the 2020 MAC Tournament, as his No. 7-seeded Eagles defeated No. 2-seeded Ball State, 64-63, in the quarterfinal round in Cleveland. EMU never got to play its semifinal game as the tournament was halted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAC TOURNAMENT GAMES AGAINST BGSU: Wednesday's matchup will mark the ninth time that Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green will meet in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Bowling Green holds a 6-2 advantage in those games, which date back to the opening round of the 1990 event.
The last tournament matchup between the two schools came in the opening round of the 2021 tournament, a contest that Bowling Green won, 63-47 inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
FACING BOWLING GREEN IN CLEVELAND: Of the eight tournament matchups between EMU and BGSU, just five have been played in Cleveland. The Falcons are 4-1 in those games.
Two of the matchups have come in the title game, with EMU winning its 2004 championship over BGSU, and Bowling Green returning the favor in 2011. The teams have met twice in the tournament's semifinal as well, with Bowling Green earning victories in both 2005 and 2007.
The additional contests were first-round, site games.
AS THE NO. 7: 2023 marks the fifth time Eastern Michigan will enter the MAC Tournament as the No. 7 overall seed. The Green and White are an even 4-4 in games played when the team entered the tournament in the seventh position, advancing in all but one appearance, when the 2000-01 team, under former Head Coach Suzy Merchant, lost to Ohio, 80-75.
AGAINST THE NO. 2: EMU has matched up against the No. 2 seed eight times in the MAC Tournament, and holds a 2-6 record in those games. Eastern's two wins over a No.2-seed came in 2015, when No. 6 EMU bested No. 2 Ball State, 75-65, in the semifinal game of the tournament before doing it again over the Cardinals in the 2020 tournament, when No. 7 EMU defeated No. 2 BSU in a tight, 64-63, semifinal game.
FINISHED ON TOP: Although the COVID-19 outbreak prevented the conclusion of the 2020 MAC Tournament, Eastern finished the event in high spirits. After defeating No. 9 Northern Illinois in its on-campus first round game, EMU took out the tournament's No. 2 seed, Ball State, to earn a berth into the semifinal round of the event for the first time since 2015. Unfortunately, that game was unable to be played. Despite his appearance in 2021, the 2020 run is the best for the team in seven years under Head Coach Fred Castro.
NOW THIS IS MARCH MADNESS: The Green and White has posted an even 46-46 record during the month of March over the last 24 seasons, including a program-best 8-2 mark during the 2014-15 season. The team is 1-1 in games played in March this year.
UNDERDOGS: In EMU's postseason history, Eastern Michigan has posted nine wins over higher seeded opponents, including a 64-63 win over No. 2 Ball State in the quarterfinal round of the 2020 MAC Tournament.
EMU AT ROCKET MORTGAGE: Eastern Michigan is very familiar with the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse floor, as the school has posted a 15-13 record there, including capturing the 2004 and 2012 championships. The team went 0-1 at the venue during the 2020-21 campaign.
WHEN PLAYING ON MARCH 8: Three of Eastern's games in its 47-year program history have come on March 8. Hoping to keep the trend, the team is 3-0 in such games, with its last game on the date coming in 2014. That year, EMU defeated Central Michigan in overtime, 99-84, in the final regular-season contest.
ALL-TIME VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: Wednesday's matchup will mark the 75th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 54-20 after defeating the Eagles, 79-63, earlier in the season, Jan. 7 in Ohio. However, EMU had its most recent stretch of five straight wins against the Ohio institution from Jan. 25, 2017 to Feb. 12, 2020.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE FALCONS: EMU saw three players score in double figures in the 79-63 setback, March 4, led by Lachelle Austin, who had a career-high 21 points and two steals. Olivia Smith tacked on 15 points, four assists and two steals while ZaNiya Nelson chipped in as well with 11 points and eight rebounds from the bench. Eastern shared the ball well in the game, racking up 16 assists on 21 made field goals. Tayra Eke's four assists paced the Eagles. EMU did a great job disrupting Bowling Green shots in the contest, coming away with seven blocks. Both Ce'Nara Skanes' and Eke's three rejections led the way for the Eagles.
THE OPENING STANZA: With its 23 points in the opening stanza against the Bobcats, March 4, the Green and White finished the 2022-23 regular season having scored at least 15 points in the opening quarter of a contest 16 times (55 percent) with five of those games being in the 20+ point range. The team recorded three separate first quarter scores of 22 with the 23 points against Ohio marking the team's season high. Additionally, it marked the 15th game where the Eagles have led its opponent after the first 10 minutes of play.
HALFTIME LEADERS: The Eagles did a great job holding its lead over Ohio, March 4, as the team headed into the locker room with a 40-32 halftime lead. It was the 14th time that EMU has led its opponents at the half this season improving from last season's eight. After the win, the team finished the 2022-23 regular season 11-3 in games when the Eagles are leading at the half.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS: EMU saw three players score in double-digit figures against the Bobcats, March 4, highlighted by Ce'Nara Skanes' 21, Lachelle Austin's 25, and Tayra Eke's 12. The group's 58 collective points accounted for 78 percent of the team's scoring output with Austin's 25 points representing 34 percent. Additionally, it was the 20th game this year in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures, topping last season's 17.
AWESOME AUSTIN: Lachelle Austin recorded a team-leading 25 points at Ohio, March 4. It marked the 24th contest in which the sophomore has dropped double-digit points and the 10th leading the Green and White in scoring. Additionally, her nine made field goals marked as a career high, recording eight in three previous occasions.
ALONE AT THE TOP: After posting 21 points and 11 rebounds against Ohio, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 31 of her 75 career games at EMU (41%), 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.
SKANES FROM beyond THE ARC: Ce'Nara Skanes has added the three-point shot to her repertoire this season and continued to do so as she connected on a single triple in the game against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked her 14th contest with a single made three. Moreover, the Oklahoma City native has knocked down 24 three-pointers in the 2022-23 season after hitting just one in her previous campaigns.
SMITH'S 50TH: Olivia Smith connected on one shot from beyond the three-point line in the game against Ohio, March 4. It marked her 50th make of the season from the three-point line, and maintained her team-leader status in made triples.
EMU IS OUR NAME, BLOCKING IS OUR GAME: In just her ninth game collecting at least one block, Lachelle Austin added a single stop to the team's total three blocks with Tayra Eke accounting for the other two against the Ohio offense, March 4.
20-PIECE PERFORMANCES: This season, five Eagles have put up 20-plus scoring performances for the Green and White. After dropping 21 against Ohio, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes leads the team with five contests recording 20 or more points setting a season high 26 against WMU, Feb. 11. Following Skanes is Lachelle Austin, who collected 25 points against the Bobcats improving her record to four games recording the feat, with the 25 being her highest.
20+ POINT SISTERS: With both Lachelle Austin and Ce'Nara Skanes entering the 20-point plateau against Ohio, March 4, it marked the first time this season in which the Eagles had two or more players with 20 or more points in a single game. The last time the feat was accomplished was Jan. 23, 2019, when former Eagles Corrione Cardwell and Courtnie Lewis dropped 20 points each at Western Michigan.
SKANES' SCORING SHEET: With her 21 points in the win over OU, March 4, Ce'Nara Skanes has now been in the double-digit plateau in 20 games this season and 57 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.
CONSECUTIVE CHELLE: Lachelle Austin led the team in triples, contributing two from the arc against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked the 19th contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and her eighth of the season leading the team. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings, leading the Green and White in just three.
SHUT-EM DOWN: The Eagles held the Bobcats to only 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting from the field in the game, March 4. It was the 15th time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. Eastern has out-shot its competitors in all instances but three. The Green and White are 11-4 in games where its competitors shoot less than 40 percent from the field. Additionally, the Eagles are 14-1 when shooting better than its foe.
MOVING UP THE LIST: Ce'Nara Skanes has hit the 1,000-point plateau, becoming EMU's 25th 1,000-point scorer. With that being said, the race to move up the all-time scoring 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 another year of eligibility, is 1,439 points away from No. 1. Her 1,031 points currently sits 23rd overall.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Tayra Eke added two blocks against Ohio, March 4, to bring her season total to 49 in 29 games, a team-best. The sophomore has dominated the MAC in terms of blocks per game (1.69) and total blocks (49), as she's led the league in both categories for the majority of the season. However, as of recent, CMU's Rochelle Norris took the lead for blocks per game with 1.73.
BUILDING A BETTER WALL: EMU has registered a total of 123 blocks in the 29 games played (4.2 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 with only MAC tournament play left in the 2022-23 season.
Prior to this season, the 2009-10 team held the highest blocking average at 4.2 blocks per game. EMU could uphold its higher blocking percentage which would be good for a program record. Additionally, with 120 total blocks, the Eagles currently sit in the No. 3 spot in team single-season blocked shots in the EMU record book, just nine blocks away from No. 2, held by the 2009-10 team that recorded 129 blocks in 31 games. Holding the top spot with 137 season blocks is the 2010-11 team which did it in 37 games.
LOPSIDED: Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's 15 wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 10.9 points per contest. Meanwhile, the team's 14 setbacks have come by an average of 13.6 points. With the 61-57 victory over Buffalo, Feb. 23, just four games this season were 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 769 defensive boards in 29 games (26.5 drpg), ranking them fourth in the MAC, with help from Eke's 143, and Skanes' 164. 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 with only MAC Tournament play left in the 2022-23 season.
Moreover, EMU is out-rebounding its opponents, 1,092-999, in the 2022-23 campaign. Last season, the Eagles lost the rebounding battle, 1,029-1,008. Additionally, the team has already exceeded last season's total amount of rebounds by 63.
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 305-402 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: If the Eagles advance, the Green and White would play the winner of the No. 3 Ball State versus No. 6 Akron game, Friday, March 10th. All games of the MAC Tournament will be streamed via 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