After defeating the University of North Carolina-Wilmington on Monday, the Eastern Michigan University’s basketball team will take flight to New York where it will play Syracuse tonight at 7 p.m. The game is the Women’s National Invitation Tournament equivalent to the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen.
The Eagles (24-12) are coming off of a 63-54 comeback win over the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Syracuse (24-9) will be fresh off a 63-50 victory over St. Bonaventure University.
So far this season, the Orange are averaging 70 points on 41 percent shooting while holding their opponents to 56.4 points and a .350 field-goal percentage. The team is shooting 29.9 percent from the three-point arc and 71.2 percent from the free-throw line, averaging 17 free throws. The Orange outrebound their opponents, on average, 45.2-31.7. The team has been committing 18.3 turnovers while falling to a minus 0.4 turnover margin.
The Eagles are averaging 67.7 points with a .389 field-goal percentage. They hold their opponents to 59.7 points on .364 shooting. They have been shooting 29.5 percent from the perimeter and 66.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Eagles outrebound their opponents 41.1-to-39.8 while committing 16.6 turnovers with a plus 4.2 turnover margin.
The Eagles will need to watch out for Kayla Alexander, who leads the Orange in scoring with an average of 14.7 points and seven rebounds. Iasia Hemingway completes Syracuse’s double-trouble as she also averages in double-digits with 10.0 points and 7.4 rebounds. The Orange also are 19-2 at home.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have a triple threat with three players averaging in double digits and one following closely behind. Tavelyn James leads the team with 17.5 points per game while Cassie Schrock adds 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. Sydney Huntley-Rodgers adds 11.3 points for the trio, and Paige Redditt averages 9.2 points. The Eagles are 9-4 on the road.
There will be a viewing party held in the food court of the EMU Student Center at 7 p.m.
The winner of this game will advance to the Elite Eight of the WNIT. It will go on to play Toledo on Sunday at the John F. Savage Arena in Ohio.