Women's Hoops Opens MAC Play Wednesday

Women's Basketball at NIU
Date	Wednesday, Jan. 3 \| 6 p.m. CT
Venue	Convocation Center (9,100)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Digital Programs
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	NA
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets

DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will open Mid-American Conference play Wednesday, Jan. 3, as it treks to Northern Illinois University to face off with the Huskies inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (3-7) look for their third consecutive win after defeating Saginaw State Valley University, 69-44 at home, Dec. 29. The Huskies (6-5) enter MAC play with a 6-5 non-conference record and are coming off a historic 98-32 dismantling of DIII member, Concordia University-Chicago, Dec. 30. EMU currently holds the upper hand in the all-time series with NIU, 39-22.

ON AIR
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 6 p.m. CT tip. 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.

BACK IN #MACTION
The Green and White's 2023-24 campaign marks the 43rd season Eastern Michigan will compete 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.

EMU IN MAC OPENERS
Eastern Michigan opens its 43rd Mid-American Conference slate Wednesday, Jan. 3, versus Northern Illinois. The Green and White are 20-22 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 14 of the last 20 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2002-03 season, the most recent of which was a close 68-67 victory over Miami University a season ago, Jan. 4.

RING CHASING
Eastern enters 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, and 2012) and two tournament championships (2004, 2012).

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.

THE KE'SHA EFFECT
With the 69-44 victory over SVSU, Dec. 29, Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton recorded her second consecutive career win in her second game leading the team after debuting against IUPUI, Dec. 15.

RUN UP THE SCORE EAGLES
EMU defeated the Cardinals by a 25-point margin. The last time the Eagles won a game by 20 points or more was Nov. 23, 2022, when Eastern Michigan topped IUPUI, 71-49.

RUNNING FOR MYLES
Kennedi Myles led the Eagles with 14 points and nine rebounds, one shy of a double-double, in the victory over SVSU, Dec. 29. Additionally, Myles collected five steals in the win for a season-high. The last time an Eagle player earned five or more steals in a single game was when former Eagle Ce'Nara Skanes recorded five at the University of Toledo, Feb. 18, 2023.

ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson was in the starting lineup for the ninth 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.

HALFTIME LEADERS
The Green and White led the Cardinals, 29-22, after the first half of play. It marked the first time this season in which the Eagles led after halftime. Last season, EMU led its opponent after 30 minutes of play in 14 contests, going 11-3 in said games.

SOPHIE'S OPENED ACCOUNT
Making her collegiate debut in the win was Sophie Canen. The freshman earned her first collegiate points in the fourth quarter as she went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Additionally, the rookie collected one rebound in five minutes of play.

KEEP THEM UNDER 50
The Eagles allowed just 44 SVSU points, the lowest of any foe this season. Last season, the fewest points allowed was also 44 set by Xavier University in EMU's 51-44 victory over the Musketeers, Dec. 17, 2022.

YOU SCORE, I SCORE, WE ALL SCORE
All 11 Eagles that played in the contest against the Cardinals scored a single point with nine having scored in the first 15 minutes of the game. It marked the second consecutive game with the feat after doing so at IUPUI, Dec. 15.

BOARD GAMES
Eastern out-rebounded SVSU, 42-27. It marked the fifth contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 3-2 in such games.

GOING BACK-TO-BACK
With the win, the Eagles have been victorious in back-to-back contests for the first time since they did so in the 2022-23 season when EMU defeated Northern Illinois University (66-61 OT), Jan. 21, before topping Western Michigan University (63-51), Jan. 25.

ALL-TIME VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Wednesday's matchup will mark the 62nd meeting between Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. EMU leads the all-time series, 39-22, with the Huskies coming away with the most recent win, a 73-63 home victory, March 1, 2023.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE HUSKIES
The last time the two schools met, EMU came up short in a 73-63 loss to the Huskies on the road Wednesday, March 1. The Eagles saw three players score in double figures, led by Lachelle Austin, who had 16 points. Tayra Eke tacked on 12 points, six rebounds and two steals while Olivia Smith helped out with 10 points.

ON THE HORIZON
The Green and White will continue conference play as it readies to play host to the University of Toledo Rockets, Saturday, Jan. 6, as the first part of a double-header with the men's team.

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.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Sophie Canen

Cali Denson

Tayra Eke

Kennedi Myles

Ce'Nara Skanes

Olivia Smith

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