Game Notes vs. Eastern Michigan

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DETROIT -- The Detroit women's basketball team will look to go into the Holiday weekend on a three-game winning streak as the Titans play their fourth in-state rival in the month of December with a road trip to Western Michigan on Thursday. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., at University Arena.

Detroit has won two in a row and three of its last five, defeating Eastern Michigan in overtime on Tuesday, 70-69. Sophomore Senee Shearer kept up her hot shooting by nailing 7-of-15 from the field, with four 3-pointers, as the second-year guard netted a career-high 23 points for the second-straight game. Senior Jalesa Jones had a season-high 18, connecting on 11-of-12 from the free throw line, while freshman Shareta Brown recorded 14 points, six boards and two blocks.

In her last three games, Shearer is tallying 20.3 points per game on 22-for-41 shooting (53.6%), including 12-of-29 (41.4%) from three-point range.

The Titans started their winning streak on Sunday with a 90-60 decision over IPFW at home.

Western Michigan is 3-7 on the season, but lost its preseason All-MAC selection in senior Miame Giden to a season-ending injury. Through five games, she was leading the team in scoring (11.8) and rebounding (7.8). Senior Maria Iaquaniello now leads the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game, while sophomore Corie Buchanan is tallying 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

Fans that can't make it up to Kalamazoo to cheer for the Titans can follow all the action for free via live stats or by following the Titans on Twitter. A live web stream of the event is also available with a paid subscription.

THE DETROIT-WMU SERIES
The Titans can even the overall series with Western Michigan, 13-12, with the Broncos winning four of the last five meetings. WMU had a four-game winning streak snapped last season, when the red, white and blue downed the Broncos, 66-53, at home.

UDM is 8-5 at home against WMU, but 3-8 in Kalamazoo. The Titans have also lost their last four on the road in the series, with the last win coming on Dec. 18, 1996, 67-61.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan is coming back from a two-game tournament in California, where the Broncos lost to host Long Beach State (76-56) and defeated UT-Arlington (67-63).

Overall, WMU enters the game at 3-7 with losses to Horizon League schools Cleveland State (72-66, OT) and Youngstown State (80-55), while beating Milwaukee (69-63).

Senior Miame Giden was leading the team in scoring (11.8) and rebounding (7.8) through five games before suffering a season-ending injury. Senior Maria Iaquaniello now tops the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game, while sophomore Corie Buchanan is tallying 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

The Broncos have seven newcomers to go with seven returning letterwinners and two starters from last year's 9-21 squad.

LAST TIME VS. WMU
A balanced offensive attack and a ferocious defensive effort was on display as the Detroit women's basketball earned a 66-53 victory over Western Michigan at home last season.

Yar Shayok recorded her 11th career double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, going 9-of-17 from the field. Jalesa Jones had 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Detroit outrebounded the Broncos, 42-29, in the game, while forcing 18 WMU turnovers. UDM held Western Michigan to just 26% from the field in the first half, while Detroit hit 7 of its first 11 shots ending the game at 46% shooting.
The Titans started the game on a 12-2 run in the first four minutes and opened up to 24-8 advantage with 7:48 remaining in the first half before taking a 32-17 lead into the locker room.

The Titans saw the Broncos cut the lead to 12 (38-26) five minutes into the second stanza, but Detroit did not let them get any closer that time pushing its advantage to as many as 19 again on two occasions, the latest at 47-28.

Western Michigan had one final run left cutting the Titan lead to nine, 56-47, with 5:16 left remaining but back-to-back baskets by Shayok and Tayler Langham once again gave the red, white and blue a double-digit lead.

AGAINST THE MAC
The Titans are 72-61 all-time against current teams from the Mid-American Conference.

Since head coach Autumn Rademacher took over the reins as the Titan leader in 2008, Detroit is 6-5 against the league – and 5-2 in its last seven games.

EN FUEGO
Sophomore Senee Shearer has been a scoring machine in the last three games, posting career highs with 15 against Michigan and 23 in back-to-back games versus IPFW and Eastern Michigan.

Prior to these last three games, Shearer's only career double-digit game was a 13-point effort at IPFW last season, while her season high was just seven at UTSA.

In the last three games, Shearer is 22-for-41 (53.7%) from the field and 12-of-29 (41.4%) from three-point range, while averaging 20.3 points per game.

Prior to that, Shearer was 7-of-33 (21.2%) on the season and 0-of-14 from three.

Even deeper, through her first 35 collegiate games, she was just 26-of-114 (22.8%) from the field and 6-of-56 (10.7%) from behind the arc.

DEFENSE TOO
Sophomore Senee Shearer has not just seen her offense pick up, but she is also coming off a great defensive effort where she had a career-high five steals and two blocks against IPFW.

JONES NETS SEASON HIGH
Senior Jalesa Jones scored a season-high 18 points against Eastern Michigan her last time out. Jones attempted only six shots in the game - hitting three of them - but was a career-best 11-of-12 from the free throw line.

Jones has two career 20-point games with her career high of 21 against St. Joseph's last season.

Her season high to that point was eight on the road versus Indiana State and Michigan State.

GETTING TO THE LINE
After attempting just four free throws against Michigan, the Titans have turned it around with 46 trips to the line in their last two games.

UDM was 10-of-14 against IPFW and posted a season high in makes (21) and attempts (32) in the overtime victory over Eastern Michigan.

On the year, Detroit is averaging 16.7 free throws per game, connecting on 70.1% (129).

100 WINS VS. THE GREAT LAKES STATE
The Titans posted their 100th career victory with a 70-69 win against Eastern Michigan their last time out.
Overall, UDM is 100-63 against its' stately foes, and 6-4 in its last eight games against in-state rivals, with the only losses coming to Michigan and Michigan State.

FREE TICKETS TO NEW YEAR'S EVE CONTEST
Come spend New Year's Eve with the Titans as all fans who attend the Noon game against Valparaiso will get in FREE.

Come cheer on Detroit it a Horizon League battle against the Crusaders.

GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Titans tallied a season-best 90 points against IPFW on Dec. 18, shooting a school record 65.5% in the process. UDM connected on 38-of-58 shots, including 22-of-29 (75%) in the second half.

The 90 points (53 in the second half) were the most by Detroit since posting 90 in a winning effort at Milwaukee last season and the most UDM has scored at home since a 94-67 victory against Cleveland State on Jan. 12, 2002.

It is also the second most by a Horizon League team this season following Youngstown State's 91 it had against IPFW.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW IT'S A NEW SCHOOL RECORD
Detroit posted a field goal percentage above 60% for the second time this season, but the latest was a new school record.

The Titans shot 65.5% (38-of-58) against IPFW, establishing a new school record over the previous mark of 62.0% (31-of-50) that UDM had against Western Michigan on Dec. 30, 1997.

The 65.5% is also the top mark in the Horizon League this season ahead of UDM's 61.8% it shot at Ball State.

TOUGH SCHEDULE TO START
The Titans' first 11 opponents of the season have combined for a 62-53 (.539) record so far with eight teams sporting marks of .500 or better.