Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 27
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Women's Hoops Plays Host to League-Leading Ball State Saturday
1/25/2024 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles host the Cardinals at 1 p.m. before the men face Buffalo at 3:30 p.m.
| Women's Basketball vs. Miami | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 1 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 FM) | The Varsity Network App |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Fan Information | Purchase Tickets |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will continue Mid-American Conference play as it plays host to the league-leading Ball State University Cardinals Saturday, Jan. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The contest, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip, will be the first part of an EMU basketball double-header with the men's team playing host to the University at Buffalo at 3:30 p.m.
ON AIR
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 1 p.m. tip. where Ryan Wooley and Claire Dau will have the call. Fans can also listen to the game as Tom Helmer will have the call live on WEMU Radio (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App. Fans can also 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 307-406 record against conference opponents all-time.
NATIONALLY RANKED TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 2.4 blocks per game is good for first in the MAC and 18th nationally while her 40 season blocks also leads the league and is ranked 21st in the nation.
AUSTIN'S SERVING ANOTHER 20+ PIECE
Lachelle Austin earned her second season game producing 20-plus points and the sixth of her career with her 22 against the Golden Flashes, Jan. 24. The junior posted 27 points at Lindenwood University, Dec. 7, 2023 which stands as her career-high.
HALFTIME LEADERS
The Green and White led the Golden Flashes 30-27 after the first half of play, Jan. 24. It marked just the third time this season in which the Eagles led their opponent after halftime with the last time being the 67-49 victory over NIU, Jan. 3. After Wednesday's result, EMU is 2-1 in said games. Last season, EMU led its opponent after 30 minutes of play in 14 contests, going 11-3 in said games.
EKE'S MULTI-BLOCK PERFORMANCE
Tayra Eke recorded back-to-back blocks in the same possession during the first quarter of the loss to Kent State, Jan. 24, where she ended with a total three stops. Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 10th time this season. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH
Sophomore Olivia Smith connected on a shot from beyond the arc in the loss to Kent State, going 1-for-3. It was the 13th 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).
WESTPHAL FROM THREE
Olivia Westphal went a perfect 2-for-2 from deep against the Golden Flashes, Jan. 24. It marked the second consecutive contest in which the Duquesne transfer has gone a perfect 1.000 from beyond the three-point line after hitting 3-of-3 against Ohio, Jan. 20.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson came off the bench with 3:49 left in the first quarter of the loss to KSU, Jan. 24, after being in the starting lineup for 15 consecutive games 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.
BOARD GAMES
Eastern out-rebounded Kent State, 43-38, Jan. 24. It marked the ninth contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 5-4 in such games.
THE BLOCKING BATTLE
EMU won the blocking-battle against the Golden Flashes, 5-3. It was the eighth time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent and the fifth consecutive. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State enters Saturday's matchup with a clean 7-0 conference record after giving Toledo their first league loss of the season and taking complete ownership of the top-spot.
ALL-TIME VS. BALL STATE
With the 89th meeting upcoming, Eastern Michigan boasts a 45-43 edge in the all-time series with Ball State. Additionally, the Eagles have bested the Cardinals in five of the last 10 meetings. A win Saturday would mark EMU's first over the Cards since Dec. 2, 2022. A loss would give BSU five straight victories in the series and maintain their undefeated in conference status.
THE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge -- a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball -- has announced the matchups for the second leg scheduled for Feb. 10 or Feb. 11 with 12 MAC men's basketball programs traveling to 12 SBC teams, while the 12 MAC women's basketball programs will host 12 SBC teams.
The women's team has been paired up with the University of South Alabama, based on real-time NET rankings, and will play host to the Jaguars Saturday, Feb. 10, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. It will mark the inaugural meeting between the two schools.
The EMU men's team will travel to the University of Louisiana at Monroe Saturday, Feb. 10, for a game held inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The teams have met once in program history, a narrow 71-67 loss for the Eagles in Monroe, March 18, 2015.
Both the EMU women and men played Georgia Southern University in the first leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge, Nov. 11. The women dropped a 82-58 decision while the men were victorious, 70-60.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will continue conference play at home as it prepares to host the Broncos of Western Michigan University, Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m.
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.
ON AIR
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 1 p.m. tip. where Ryan Wooley and Claire Dau will have the call. Fans can also listen to the game as Tom Helmer will have the call live on WEMU Radio (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App. Fans can also 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 307-406 record against conference opponents all-time.
NATIONALLY RANKED TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 2.4 blocks per game is good for first in the MAC and 18th nationally while her 40 season blocks also leads the league and is ranked 21st in the nation.
AUSTIN'S SERVING ANOTHER 20+ PIECE
Lachelle Austin earned her second season game producing 20-plus points and the sixth of her career with her 22 against the Golden Flashes, Jan. 24. The junior posted 27 points at Lindenwood University, Dec. 7, 2023 which stands as her career-high.
HALFTIME LEADERS
The Green and White led the Golden Flashes 30-27 after the first half of play, Jan. 24. It marked just the third time this season in which the Eagles led their opponent after halftime with the last time being the 67-49 victory over NIU, Jan. 3. After Wednesday's result, EMU is 2-1 in said games. Last season, EMU led its opponent after 30 minutes of play in 14 contests, going 11-3 in said games.
EKE'S MULTI-BLOCK PERFORMANCE
Tayra Eke recorded back-to-back blocks in the same possession during the first quarter of the loss to Kent State, Jan. 24, where she ended with a total three stops. Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 10th time this season. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH
Sophomore Olivia Smith connected on a shot from beyond the arc in the loss to Kent State, going 1-for-3. It was the 13th 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).
WESTPHAL FROM THREE
Olivia Westphal went a perfect 2-for-2 from deep against the Golden Flashes, Jan. 24. It marked the second consecutive contest in which the Duquesne transfer has gone a perfect 1.000 from beyond the three-point line after hitting 3-of-3 against Ohio, Jan. 20.
ROOKIE IN THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman Cali Denson came off the bench with 3:49 left in the first quarter of the loss to KSU, Jan. 24, after being in the starting lineup for 15 consecutive games 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.
BOARD GAMES
Eastern out-rebounded Kent State, 43-38, Jan. 24. It marked the ninth contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 5-4 in such games.
THE BLOCKING BATTLE
EMU won the blocking-battle against the Golden Flashes, 5-3. It was the eighth time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent and the fifth consecutive. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State enters Saturday's matchup with a clean 7-0 conference record after giving Toledo their first league loss of the season and taking complete ownership of the top-spot.
ALL-TIME VS. BALL STATE
With the 89th meeting upcoming, Eastern Michigan boasts a 45-43 edge in the all-time series with Ball State. Additionally, the Eagles have bested the Cardinals in five of the last 10 meetings. A win Saturday would mark EMU's first over the Cards since Dec. 2, 2022. A loss would give BSU five straight victories in the series and maintain their undefeated in conference status.
THE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The MAC-SBC Challenge -- a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball -- has announced the matchups for the second leg scheduled for Feb. 10 or Feb. 11 with 12 MAC men's basketball programs traveling to 12 SBC teams, while the 12 MAC women's basketball programs will host 12 SBC teams.
The women's team has been paired up with the University of South Alabama, based on real-time NET rankings, and will play host to the Jaguars Saturday, Feb. 10, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. It will mark the inaugural meeting between the two schools.
The EMU men's team will travel to the University of Louisiana at Monroe Saturday, Feb. 10, for a game held inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The teams have met once in program history, a narrow 71-67 loss for the Eagles in Monroe, March 18, 2015.
Both the EMU women and men played Georgia Southern University in the first leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge, Nov. 11. The women dropped a 82-58 decision while the men were victorious, 70-60.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will continue conference play at home as it prepares to host the Broncos of Western Michigan University, Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m.
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.
Players Mentioned
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