Women's Hoops Travels to Muncie

Women's Basketball at Ball State
Date	Saturday, March 2 \| 11 a.m.
Venue	Worthen Arena (11,500)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets

MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will hit the road for the penultimate away game of the 2023-24 season as it travels to Muncie, Ind., for an 11 a.m. Mid-American Conference meeting with Ball State University, who sits second in the MAC, Saturday, March 2, inside Worthen Arena. The Cardinals (24-4, 13-2 MAC) have already clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament, which will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, March 14-16, while the Eagles (6-20, 2-13 MAC) have officially been eliminated from postseason play following the 76-64 setback to Kent State Wednesday.

ON AIR
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 1p.m. tip in Indiana. 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
With the 90th meeting upcoming, EMU boasts a 45-44 edge in the all-time series with Ball State, despite falling to the Cardinals earlier in the season. Additionally, the Eagles have bested the Cardinals in four of the last 10 meetings. A win Saturday would mark EMU's first over the Cardinals since Dec. 2, 2020, and would end a five-game lose streak to BSU. Since the road victory in 2020, EMU has only returned to Muncie once, a 92-58 loss inside Worthen Arena, March 5, 2022. The Eagles are 19-21 when playing in Muncie, Ind., in the all-time series history.

ROUND #2 WITH THE CARDINALS
EMU fought valiantly against the then-MAC leading Ball State, who held a clean 8-0 MAC record ahead of the contest, but ultimately fell, 75-50, Saturday, Jan. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles had two players score in double figures, led by Treasure Thompson, who had 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. Olivia Smith added 10 points and Tayra Eke added six points and 11 rebounds.

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           14-12       Bowling Green
2. Ryan Gensler          9-17          Akron
3. Glenn Box                8-18          Miami
4. Kristin Haynie         6-19          Central Michigan
5. Ke'Sha Blanton 5-13      Eastern Michigan

NATIONALLY RANKED TAYRA
Tayra Eke's 1.96 blocks per game is good for first in the MAC and 29th nationally. Of 248 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):
29.   Tayra Eke            1.96        Eastern Michigan
62.   Rochelle Norris            1.56             Central Michigan
130. Hannah Noveroske    1.19             Toledo
152. Amber Tretter              1.12             Miami
198. Marie Kiefer                  1.00             Ball State

TRACKING TAYRA
After her six rebounds versus Kent State, Feb. 28, Tayra Eke sits just 21 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just three blocks away from her career milestone 150.

MYLES IN THE RANKINGS
Kennedi Myles ranks third in the MAC with her 8.9 rebounds per game and in total rebounds with 232. Additionally, the graduate student ranks seventh in the league for her 1.69 steals per game.

IN THE LINEUP
Tayra Eke is the lone Eagle to start in all 26 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 two other Eagles have appeared in all 26 contests this season including Kennedi Myles (26-20) and Olivia Westphal (26-1).

EKE'S MULTI-BLOCK PERFORMANCE
Tayra Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 14th time this season after posting two against the Golden Flashes, Feb. 28. The last time she produced more than a single block in a game was when she posted two against Western Michigan, Feb. 21. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.

ZANIYA'S DEFENSIVE EFFORT
ZaNiya Nelson snagged three steals in the loss to Kent, marking the fourth time this season accomplishing the feat and the ninth of her career. The junior ranks second on the team in steals with 29 total snags on the season.

NELSON'S BLOCK
ZaNiya Nelson continued to be a threat on defense producing a single block. The Oklahoma native has produced 12 blocks in the 2023-24 campaign and 24 in her career. The last time she blocked an opponent's shot was when she earned one against WMU, Feb. 21.

AUSTIN'S THREE-POINT SHOOTING GAME
Lachelle Austin made a single three in the setback to Kent State, going 1-of-4 from beyond the yard marking the junior's 15th season game with a single make from three-point land, topping the 14 games she secured the feat in during her rookie season. As a sophomore, Austin connected on a three-pointer in 22 total contests.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SHOOTERS
Three Eagles recorded double-digit points in the same game for just the third time this season as Treasure Thompson scored 12, Lachelle Austin posted 13, and Kennedi Myles led with 16.

THE BLOCKING-BATTLE
EMU won the blocking battle against the Golden Flashes, 4-3. It was the 14th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.

NIA'S CAREER-HIGH PERFORMANCE
Nia Boston netted a career-high seven points (3-for-6) to go with two assists and one steal in 17 minutes of action against Kent State, Feb. 28. The seven points top her previous high of five against South Alabama, Feb. 10, while her three field goals made and six field goal attempts also mark as career-highs for the junior. Her two helpers equaled her previous high while her one steal marked the first of her NCAA Division I career along with her single make from beyond the three-point line. As a member of the NJCAA, Boston converted 95 made three-pointers in 298 total attempts.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will play in its final road game of the season as it travels to the University of Toledo, Wednesday, March 6, for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Rockets.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lachelle Austin

Nia Boston

Tayra Eke

Kennedi Myles

ZaNiya Nelson

Olivia Smith

Treasure Thompson

Olivia Westphal

Eastern Michigan Athletics