Eagles Host Zips in Sunday Showdown

Women's Basketball vs. Akron
Date	Sunday, Feb. 11 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	E SPN3
Listen	N/A
Twitter	@EMUW BB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team opens a brief two-game homestand Sunday, Feb. 11, when the Eagles host the Zips of the University of Akron in Mid-American Conference cross-divisional action. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
   Eastern Michigan suffered its third straight loss, falling to 9-13 on the season and 5-6 in MAC play, with a, 91-85, setback at Ball State, Feb. 7. Akron is also on a three-game losing skid, and has lost 12 of its last 13 games, currently owning a 7-16 record (1-11 MAC).
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 where Ryan Wooley will call the action on the court and Kyler Ludlow will add analysis. Fans can also follow via Twitter through the team's account, @EMUWBB.

TREAT YO' SELF: For just $15 fans can enjoy the EMU women's basketball game and free popcorn, and also take home an EMU pint glass and partake in a wine tasting event in the atrium of the Convo. The tasting begins at 1 p.m., one hour prior to the EMU-UA showdown.

COURTNIE ECLIPSES 300: It comes as no surprise to those familiar with Eastern Michigan that Courtnie Lewis has reached yet another milestone in what has already been a fantastic freshman season. A MAC Freshman of the Year candidate, Lewis eclipsed the 300-point mark with her 29-point output versus Ball State, Feb. 7, becoming the first freshman Eagle to do so since Janay Morton in 2013-14.
   In addition, Lewis sits just 33 points out of the top-10 scoring list by an EMU freshman as she trails Nikki Knapp. With her current average of 14.3 points per game, the Belton, Mo. native is on pace to finish the year with 415 points, which would be good for fifth-most in EMU laurels.

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Both teams were hot on the offensive end of the floor when Eastern Michigan and Ball State squared off inside Worthen Arena, Feb. 7. Ultimately, the high-scoring half saw the Eagles take a 49-44 lead into the lockerroom at the midpoint.
   Not only did EMU's 49-point half tie its total from last season's meeting in Muncie, a 78-49 setback, it also marked Eastern's highest scoring half since the 2015-16 campaign. In the second game of that season, the Eagles put up 49 points in the first half of a 78-56 victory over the Vaqueros of UT Rio Grande Valley, Nov. 21, 2015.

20/20 VISION: With a career-high tying 29-point performance at Ball State, Feb. 7, Courtnie Lewis registered her second straight 20-point effort. She is the first EMU freshman to score 20-or-more points in back-to-back games since, Cha Sweeney scored 21 and 26 in MAC Tournament tilts against Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, March 8-10, 2014.

GET A REBOUND!: With just over eight minutes remaining between Eastern Michigan and Ball State, EMU held a 41-24 edge in the rebounding battle. The game finished with Eastern winning the battle of the glass, 41-39, as BSU grabbed the final 15 caroms of the contest.

THROUGH THE GAUNTLET: EMU's trip to Ball State marked the end of what may have been the toughest stretch of Eastern Michigan's schedule this season. The Green and White took on the top-three teams in the league, who also rank inside the nation's top-50 RPI, in three straight games, and despite hanging tough came away 0-3.

ABOVE 40: In its game at Ball State, Feb. 7, Eastern Michigan shot 35-of-78 from floor. EMU's 44.9 field goal percentage marked the fifth straight game in which the Eagles have shot above 40.0 percent, as well as the 11th time this season.
   The Green and White have been much more consistent since MAC play began, shooting above 40.0 percent in six of 10 conference contests. Last year, EMU only shot above the 40.0 percent mark eight times, and never topped 44.0 percent.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE: Freshman Courtnie Lewis is just 22 games into her Eastern Michigan career, but has already put people on notice. The Belton, Mo. native is averaging 14.3 points per game, the second-best mark on the team, as well as the ninth-highest scoring average among "true" freshmen nationally. In the MAC, Lewis ranks 10th in three-point field goal percentage (38.8) and 12th in scoring, 14th in free throw percentage (76.9), and 15th in three-pointers made (33) all of which are the best of any freshman in the league.

EMU AND AKRON ALL-TIME: Sunday's meeting between the Eagles and the Zips marks the 39th meeting between the squads all-time. Akron holds the upper hand in the series, 22-15, including coming out victorious in last season's lone meeting in the Buckeye State. UA has won three straight over EMU, and nine of the last 12 meetings.
A year ago, the Zips held off the Eagles with a 51-point second half en route to an 80-62 triumph inside James A. Rhodes Arena, Jan. 28, 2017. Phillis Webb was the lone player to hit double digits in scoring for the Green and White, pouring in a game-high 27 on 8-of-17 shooting, including five treys.

LAST WIN OVER THE ZIPS: Eastern Michigan is in search of its first win over Akron since the 2014-15 season. That year, the Green and White bounced the No. 3-seeded Zips in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals, 95-66, behind five double digit performances.
   The last time EMU topped UA inside the Convocation Center came via a 91-46 thumping of the Zips, Jan. 28, 2012. Eastern took a 51-19 lead into halftime before cruising to a 45-point victory. Tavelyn James led all scorers with 31 points, while Natachia Watkins and Paige Redditt added a pair of double-doubles. Watkins poured in 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Redditt finished with 12 points and 10 boards.

PAST THE HALFWAY POINT: With more than half of the Mid-American Conference season in the books, Eastern Michigan finds itself in the thick of things when it comes to tournament seeding. If the MAC Tournament began today, the Eagles would hold the No. 8 seed and host No. 9 seeded Northern Illinois. Central Michigan, Buffalo, Ball State, and Western Michigan would hold byes to Cleveland as the top four seeds.

90 BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: Eastern Michigan gave up 97 points to Buffalo on the road, Jan. 27, and then allowed 95 points against Central Michigan, Feb. 3, and most recently was tagged for 91 at Ball State, Feb. 7. The two-game stretch from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 marked the first time the Eagles had allowed 90-or-more points in back-to-back games since Jan. 19-22, 1994, and the first time EMU has given up 90+ in three straight in program history.

WEST SIDE, BEST SIDE: With just over half of the conference season complete, the West Division has proven to be the tougher of the two. The West has a combined record of 41-29, with just two teams below .500 on the season. Meanwhile, the East Division is just 29-41 in league play. EMU has compiled a 2-4 mark against the East and a 3-2 record versus its own division.

COURTNIE'S CONVO: If Courtnie Lewis continues to put on the type of performances she has inside the Convocation Center in her first seven home games, Eastern Michigan may have to consider renaming the arena. In six games on her home court, Lewis is averaging 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting a blistering 50.6 percent from the field and 45.2 from three-point range, as well as 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the free throw line.

FINDING HER STRIDE: Danielle Minott has been incredible in MAC play this season, leading the team in scoring (19.3 ppg) and steals (25), while ranking second on the team in rebounding at 4.5 boards per game.
   Over the last seven games, Minott is averaging 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals, and 1.7 assists, while shooting 42.3 percent (52-of-123) from the floor and 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from three-point range.

SWEET CHARITY: A key to Eastern Michigan's ability to win close games this season has been how the Green and White perform at the free throw line. In its nine victories EMU is shooting 67.7 percent (111-of-164), while Eastern is converting just 61.8 percent (136-of-220) of its attempts from the stripe in losses.

CREATING SECOND CHANCES: The Green and White have owned the offensive glass, racking up 351 offensive rebounds. EMU's 16.0 offensive rebounds per game ranks top in the MAC and 19th nationally, while leading to 295 points or 19.5 percent of Eastern's scoring this season.

OFF TO THE RACES: Eastern Michigan has been dominant in transition, outscoring the opposition, 243-112, in fast break points. Offensively, the Green and White average 11.0 transition points per game, while giving up just an average of 5.1 points per contest. For the season, EMU is 5-4 when scoring 10+ fast break points.

SHARING IS CARING: EMU's ability to distribute the ball has been a true-tale sign of its success offensively this season. Eastern has racked up 10-or-more assists in 13 games this year and has averaged 73.4 points in those contests. On the flip side, the Eagles score more than 10 points less (61.8 ppg) when finishing with a single digit assist total.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern wraps up a two-game homestand Wednesday, Feb. 14, when the Eagles host the Bobcats of Ohio University in MAC crossover action. The Valentine's Day clash is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.

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Players Mentioned

Courtnie Lewis

Danielle Minott

Eastern Michigan Athletics