Women's Basketball Hosts Education Day on Friday Morning

Women's Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure
Date	Friday, Dec. 9 \| 11 a.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,784)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU 89.1 FM
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.2282 \| Clear Bag Policy

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team welcomes the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure University to the Convocation Center, Friday at 11 a.m., for an Education Day showdown.
   Eastern Michigan enters the clash on the heels of a 77-64 setback at the hands of the University of Detroit Mercy, Dec. 6, despite a career-high-tying 31-point performance from junior Sasha Dailey. Meanwhile, the Bonnies saw their three-game win streak snapped by Bucknell, 57-35, at the Reilly Center, Dec. 6.
   The contest will be shown on ESPN3, where Ryan Wooley and Sean Hostetter will provide coverage. Additionally, WEMU (89.1 FM) will have the game covered with Chad Bush and Greg Steiner calling the action on the court.

WEBB WORKS HER WAY UP THE LIST: With 10 points and 12 rebounds in EMU's loss to Detroit Mercy, senior Phillis Webb notched her second double-double of the season, and seventh of her career, moving her into sole possession of 10th all-time in EMU laurels. Sarah VanMetre and Olivia Fouty are tied atop the list, holding the program standard of 17 career double-doubles.

BATTLING THE BONNIES: Eastern Michigan and St. Bonaventure will square off on the hardwood for just the second time in the history of the programs on Friday afternoon. The first and only previous meeting took place back in the early part of the 1988-89 campaign. EMU escaped with a 71-68 victory over SBU on day one of the Cameron Coca-Cola Lady Panther Invitational hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.

EMU AGAINST THE A-10: EMU owns a 6-8 record against the Atlantic 10 Conference all-time. Home to St. Bonventure and 13 other institutions, the Eagles have battled roughly half of the members of the Newport News, Va.-based conference.
   The Eagles have taken on seven members of the A-10 since the program began in 1976. EMU has clashed with Dayton the most of any A-10 opponent, but has fallen short in all six meetings against the Flyers. While the Green and White also trail in the all-time series against Davidson (0-1), Eastern leads the overall tally against Duquesne (1-0), Massachusetts (2-1), St. Bonaventure (1-0), and St. Louis (2-0).

FOUL FRENZY: Up until Tuesday night's tilt with the Titans, fouls had not had much of an impact in EMU's games this season. In fact, the Eagles had averaged 15.5 fouls per game coming into the contest. That all changed when the Green and White battled Detroit Mercy, picking up a season-high 27 fouls that included seeing two players foul out with more than eight minutes remaining. In fact, EMU's 27 fouls were just five less than the Eagles racked up in their games against Incarnate Word, Ferris State, and Northern Colorado combined. As if foul trouble was not problematic enough for the Eagles small roster, the Titans made the most of their 41 free throw attempts. UDM went 31-of-41 from the charity stripe, while posting the fourth-most makes and seventh-most attempts in Convocation Center history.

MELVA SMITH MAKES HER DEBUT: Just weeks after wrapping up her collegiate volleyball career at Eastern Michigan, senior Melva Smith has joined the women's basketball team. With a few weeks of practice under her belt and the Eagles in serious foul trouble, Smith made her career debut in EMU's loss to Detroit Mercy. Playing the final six minutes of the game, Smith grabbed three rebounds, including two on the offensive end of the floor.

EARLY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS: Through the first eight games of the season several things have become indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Eagles are 3-1 this season when holding a lead at halftime, compared to 0-4 when trailing or tied. EMU is also just 1-4 when shooting less than 70 percent from the free throw line. Conversely, the Green and White is 2-1 when shooting above 70 percent, and has converted 75.6 percent of its shots from the charity stripe in those three games compared to 62.3 percent of its attempts in its other five contests. Additionally, Eastern Michigan is winless, 0-4, when allowing 60-or-more points.

FAMILIAR FACE IN A NEW PLACE: When the Bonnies visit the Convocation Center Friday, Dec. 9, St. Bonaventure first-year head coach, Jesse Fleming, will return to a familiar place. Fleming made the jump to head coach last May after a four-year stint on Jennifer Roos' staff as the associate head coach at Bowling Green State University.

DAILEY GETS BUCKETS: Junior Sasha Dailey continued her hot start to the season against Detroit Mercy, Dec. 6, turning in a career-high-tying performance. Dailey finished the night with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting, including two triples, and added four rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes on the floor. Her 31 points tied her career-high mark which she set in her collegiate debut at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, while it was the most points she has ever scored against a Division I institution. Additionally, Dailey's point total is the most by an Eagle this season and bumped her season average up to 21.6 points per game.

CAREER DAY ON THE GLASS FOR EASLEY: Since making the leap into the starting five, junior Tori Easley has turned in some of the best games of her career for the Green and White. Most recently, Easley grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds versus Detroit Mercy, Dec. 6, marking the first time the Toledo, Ohio native had reached double digits in rebounding in her career. For the season, Easley has already sets career-highs in field goals made (19), rebounds (49), blocks (5), and points (41).

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The Eagles have racked up a solid home-court advantage inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center since the doors opened during the 1998-99 campaign. Eastern Michigan has won 73 of the last 98 home games dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Green and White have won 67.9 percent of the contests played in the building, piling up a 167-79 all-time mark.

RACKING UP THE REJECTIONS: Through the first seven games, the Eagles have registered 29 blocks, a mark that ranks them first in the league and 107th nationally. The Green and White average 3.6 rejections per game, a standard that would rank inside the top-five all-time if the Eagles can keep up that pace this season.

RUNNIN' THE FLOOR: Through seven games, the Eagles have showcased their ability to get out in transition and take advantage of numbers, as EMU has outscored opponents 73-30 in fastbreak points this season.

A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan has positioned itself near the top of multiple statistical categories in the Mid-American Conference as of Dec. 7. Let's take a look...
   Player   Category   Rank   Number
    Sasha Dailey   Points per game   2nd   21.6 (13th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals attempted   1st   141 (17th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Field goals made   1st   62 (18th nationally)
   Micah Robinson   Minutes played per game   1st   36.5 (26th nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds per game   2nd   44.0 (32nd nationally)
   EMU   Rebounds   2nd   352 (58th nationally)
   EMU   Three Pt FG Defense   5th   27.1 (62nd nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   3-Point FG Percentage   4th   43.2 (72nd nationally)
   Phillis Webb   Free throw percentage   5th   85.7 (73rd nationally)
   EMU    Turnovers per game   5th   14.8 (90th nationally)
   Sasha Dailey   Free throws made   2nd   28 (94th nationally)
   EMU   Blocked Shots   2nd   29 (107th nationally)
   Phills Webb   Steals   3rd   15 (144th nationally)

ROBINSON EMBRACING HER NEW ROLE: After spending her first two seasons serving as the Eagles back-up point guard and amassing just 376 minutes of playing time, Micah Robison has embraced her new role in her junior season. Taking on the responsibilities of the Green and White's primary ball handler, Robinson has thrived for Eastern this season. Averaging a team-high 36.5 minutes per game, Robinson has scored 81 points, 38 more than her career point total coming into the season. Additionally, the Ann Arbor product has posted career-highs in free throws made (25), field goals (27), and rebounds (51).

CLIMBING THE RANKS: Senior Phillis Webb came into her final season ranked 21st in Eastern Michigan history with 509 rebounds. This season, Webb has grabbed 62 boards, moving her into 18th-place with 571 caroms. Nikki Knapp holds the program record with 802 career rebounds, while Webb is two boards behind Denise Allen for 17th-place on the all-time list.

LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles returned home for the first time in nearly three weeks to take on the University of Detroit Mercy Tuesday, Dec. 6, to open a three-game homestand. The Green and White gained an early edge before Detroit rode a 10-point lead after the first quarter to a 77-64 victory. Despite the loss, a trio of juniors set or tied career-highs for the Eagles. Sasha Dailey tied a career-best with 31 points, while Tori Easley corralled a career-high 10 rebounds. Additionally, Micah Robinson poured in 16 points, the most in a single game in her career.

CASHING IN ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES: The Eagles have totaled 352 rebounds through eight games, including 115 boards that came on the offensive end of the floor. EMU has made the most of its second chance opportunities, cashing them in for 96 points.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan closes out a three-game homestand Monday night, Dec. 12, versus Monmouth University. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and will serve as the second part of a home-and-home that began last season.

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Players Mentioned

Sasha Dailey

Tori Easley

Micah Robinson

Melva Smith

Phillis Webb

Eastern Michigan Athletics