DETROIT (12/4/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team opens a stretch against the Mid-American Conference, starting Wednesday in a road contest at Eastern Michigan. Opening tip in the contest is set for 7 p.m. and the game may be seen live via ESPN-Plus for a monthly subscription fee.

The Titans (2-5) have played one MAC foe already this season, hosting Miami (Ohio) earlier this season and also play Western Michigan (Dec. 9), Bowling Green (Dec. 17) and Toledo (Dec. 21) later this month to close out the non-conference slate before Horizon League play begins.
 

Game 8 // Detroit Mercy (2-5) vs. Eastern Michigan (3-2)
Dates / Time	Wednesday, Dec. 5 // 7:00 PM ET
Location / Tickets	Ypsilanti, Mich. (Convocation Center) // Tickets
Live Stats	Sidearm Stats
Live Stream	ESPN+
Social Media	Twitter (In-game Tweets): @Detroit_WBB | Facebook | Instagram
All-Time Series	Titans lead, 15-12 // Last Meeting: EMU 78, Titans 76 (12/17/18)

Quick Hits
• Detroit Mercy and Eastern Michigan are meeting for the 28th time in women's basketball. The Titans currently lead the all-time series, 15-12, which includes an 8-5 edge in road games.

• The Titans recorded 16 steals against Omaha in their last game, which was the most since Detroit Mercy had 16 steals at Wright State on Jan. 31, 2009. Junior Zoey Oatis had five steals individually, which was the most since the 2015-16 season.

• Senior guard Brittney Jackson -- with three 3-pointers made against Omaha -- moved into a tie-for-16th all-time in the career ranks with her 95 triples.

• Detroit Mercy ranks No. 1 in the Horizon League in 3-point FG defense (24.3). Individually, freshman Paige Bellman ranks second in steals (2.1 per game) and tied-for-fifth in blocks per game (1.0) in the Horizon League.

Last Time Out
The Titans totaled their most steals in a game since 2009, swiping 16 against Omaha on Thursday, but the Titans fell 51-42 on Field Trip Day from Calihan Hall. Detroit Mercy brought in 21 schools and 3,106 kids and fans for the fourth annual Field Trip Day game.

The Titans earned a 24-17 halftime lead behind nine first-half steals, but Omaha scored 34 second-half points for the victory. Zoey Oatis established a new career-best with five of the 16 steals, while Jess Bicknell added four thefts. Brittney Jackson hit three 3-pointers and had a team-best nine points. Lexey Tobel had eight points and eight rebounds, while Oatis had eight points, five rebound and the five steals.

It was the third game of 10 or more steals for the Titans already this season through seven games. Paige Bellman, with her three steals, notched her fifth mutliple steal contest of the 2018-19 season.

Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan is 2-0 against the Horizon League this year, winning games over Cleveland State (69-63) and UIC (52-38) at home. EMU is coming off a 72-66 loss at Illinois on Saturday and enters the game at 3-2 overall. The Eagles are 3-0 at home this season.

Three players are scoring in double figures through five games for EMU, including Danielle Minott, who averages a team-best 16.0 points per game. Courtnie Lewis and Corrione Cardwell both average 13.8 ppg. Lewis leads the team with 13 treys, while Minott pulls down 8.0 caroms per game. Jenna Annecchiarico has a team-high 22 assists, averaging 4.4 per contest.

As a team, Eastern Michigan is averaging 9.6 steals per game and 3.0 blocks per contest.

Series History
The Titans and Eastern Michigan are meeting for the 28th time in women's basketball. The Titans hold a 15-12 series lead, including an 8-5 edge on the road.

The two teams have met in each of the past 12 seasons entering Wednesday's game, dating back to the 2006-07 campaign. Detroit Mercy and EMU have had several close battles, including three overtime contests in the past 10 and five decided by four points or less.

Titans Net 16 Steals Against Omaha
Detroit Mercy netted nine first-half steals and 16 total for its most in a game since 2009 during a home contest against Omaha on Nov. 29. Four players had multiple swipes in the contest, including Zoey Oatis notching a career-best five. It was the most by a Titan since Rosanna Reynolds had five steals against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 6, 2016. Freshmen Jess Bicknell (four steals), Paige Bellman (three) and Sophia DiMilia (two) all had multiple steals for the Titans. Bellman has five games of multiple steals through her first seven games as a Titan.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy plays at home Sunday, hosting another in-state foe Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. game from Calihan Hall. It's CYO Day from Calihan Hall as well as Dollar Sundays as fans gain entrance into the game for just $1 with hot dogs and fountain drinks also just $1 each.