Women's Hoops Travels to Miami Saturday

Women's Basketball at Miami
Date	Saturday, Feb. 24 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Millett Hall
Preview Info	EMU Notes (P DF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will continue its Mid-American Conference road series as it travels to Oxford, Ohio next to face the RedHawks of Miami University Saturday, Feb. 24. The contest will take place inside Millett Hall with the opening tip starting at 1 p.m.

ON AIR
Saturday's game can be watched on ESPN+. 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.

INSIDE THE CONTEST
Saturday's road contest will mark the 68th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Miami. The RedHawks lead the all-time series, 42-25. However, EMU has won the last six consecutive battles and came out on top in seven of the last 10 games, three of which were played in Oxford. The six straight victories marks the longest stretch of wins the Eagles have had over the RedHawks in a series that dates back to 1980.

ROUND #2 WITH THE REDHAWKS
Earlier in the season, EMU fought back from a 34-32 deficit after the third quarter to beat the RedHawks, 53-48, helped by an impressive defensive performance at home, Jan. 17. Tayra Eke put together a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eagles. Treasure Thompson tacked on six points, six rebounds, and three steals from the bench and Kennedi Myles cleaned up the glass with 12 rebounds.
   As a team, the Eagles earned nine team blocks in the win which tied for eighth in EMU single-game history and is the most since Dec. 30, 2018, when the team posted nine against Northwood University. Additionally, EMU shooters contributed six made three-pointers in the victory.

NICE TO MEET YOU, COACHES
Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton is one of five head coaches in the MAC that are in their first season at the helm of their respective programs. In company with Blanton is Ryan Gensler from Akron, Fred Schmiel from Bowling Green, Kristin Haynie from Central Michigan, and Glenn Box from Miami. Below is each first-year head coach in the MAC listed in order of overall coaching record.

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACHES (MAC only):
1. Fred Schmiel           13-11       Bowling Green
2. Ryan Gensler          9-15          Akron
3. Glenn Box                7-17          Miami
4. Ke'Sha Blanton 5-11      Eastern Michigan
5. Kristin Haynie         5-18          Central Michigan

NATIONALLY RANKED TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 2.00 blocks per game is good for first in the MAC and 26th nationally. Of 247 total players ranked in the category, only four other players are members of the MAC, with Eke holding the highest ranking.

National Blocks Per Game Leaders (MAC only):
26.   Tayra Eke            2.00        Eastern Michigan
62.   Rochelle Norris            1.57             Central Michigan
125. Hannah Noveroske    1.21             Toledo
155. Amber Tretter              1.12             Miami
196. Marie Kiefer                  1.00             Ball State

TRACKING TAYRA
After her seven rebounds against WMU, Tayra Eke sits just 37 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just six blocks away from her career milestone 150.

EKE'S MULTI-BLOCK PERFORMANCE
Tayra Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 13th time this season after posting two against the Broncos, Feb. 21. The last time she produced more than a single block in a game was when she posted two against Northern Illinois, Feb. 17. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.

MYLES IN THE RANKINGS
Kennedi Myles ranks fifth in the MAC with her 9.0 rebounds per game and in total rebounds with 216.

KEEP 'EM COMING MYLES
Kennedi Myles recorded her 17th career double-double and the seventh in an Eastern jersey with her 12 points and 10 rebounds against the in-state rivals, Feb. 21. With her seven double-doubles, Myles ranks 15th in EMU history for double-doubles sitting behind former Eagle Areanna Combs and Tayra Eke who have each recorded 10.

MYLES UNDER THE GLASS
Kennedi Myles' 10 boards against WMU, Feb. 21, marked the Ohio native's ninth contest with double-digit rebounds at Eastern and the 26th of her career. She has posted double-digit rebounds in five consecutive games. The five straight games with double-figure rebounds marks the first for the graduate student in her five-year career.

SHARP-SHOOTING SMITH
Olivia Smith connected on two shots from beyond the arc, going 2-of-5 from the three point line in the contest versus the Broncos, Feb. 21. It was the 20th 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).

HEIGHT DON'T MEAN A THING
Standing 5-5 in height, Olivia Smith recorded just her second block of the 2023-24 campaign and the fourth of her career in the game against WMU, Feb. 21. The then-rookie earned her first career block in her first career game as a collegiate athlete. The block came against Lindenwood University in a 71-56 home victory, Nov. 7, 2023. Since then, Smith earned the deed against Toledo, Jan. 28, 2023, and then again earlier this season at Ohio, Jan. 20.

AUSTIN'S PETTY THEFT
Lachelle Austin recorded three steals in the game against WMU, Feb. 21, marking just the fourth time this season she has collected three or more in a single game and the 17th of her career. The last time the junior recorded the feat was when she earned three against the University of Akron, Feb. 7. Additionally, her three picks was one short of her career-high four, which she has set for in four different occasions.

IN THE LINEUP
Tayra Eke is the lone Eagle to start in all 24 games played, thus far. Last season, Lachelle Austin was the closest to starting in all 30 games played as she went 29-29 in games played and games started. In addition to Eke, just three other Eagles have appeared in all 24 contests this season including Olivia Smith (24-17), Kennedi Myles (24-18), and Olivia Westphal (24-0).

THE THIRD-QUARTER TEAM
EMU has scored a big portion of its points this season in the third quarter of the contest (403). After only posting two points in the second quarter of the game at WMU, Feb. 21, the Eagles came out of halftime with some explosiveness, putting up 20 points in the third quarter. It marked the fifth time this season EMU has put up 20 or more points in the third stanza going 1-4 in such games.
    Additionally, the 20 third-quarter points were the most of any quarter of the game. The team has secured their most points in the third quarter of a contest 12 times this season. Below is a breakdown of total points scored in each quarter.

EMU                                Q1 Q2                Q3             Q4              OT
OVERALL                      320               282               403            384               24
MAC 169               140               220            187               11
HOME                            145               117               177            172               11
AWAY                             175               165               226            212               13

THE BLOCKING-BATTLE
EMU won the blocking-battle against the Broncos, 5-2. It was the 13th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will return home to play host to MAC foe, Kent State University, Wednesday Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.

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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Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Tayra Eke

Kennedi Myles

Olivia Smith

Treasure Thompson

Olivia Westphal

Eastern Michigan Athletics