Head coach Fred Castro released the 2019-20 schedule for EMU women’s basketball on Sept. 4. This also marks coach Castro’s fourth year as the head coach.
Eastern Michigan’s schedule opens up play with the Eagles playing Michigan State in East Lansing on Nov. 5. The last game between the two teams was on Nov. 16 of 2014, where EMU lost 69-61. EMU’s last victory against the Spartans was a 66-59 win, back in 2000 at a neutral court in Grand Rapids.
The first home game will be on Nov. 8 against the Olivet College Comets, a Division-III school in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Eagles then take a six-day break before they travel to play Youngstown State on Nov. 16 in Ohio. Three straight home games follow that trip, against South Missouri State on Nov. 19, then Southern Illinois on Nov. 23 and finally against University of Michigan on Nov. 27.
December will end the rest of non-conference play for EMU. They play Binghamton University in Vestal, New York on Dec. 1. Eastern then travels the next weekend to play Wichita State on Dec. 7. Purdue-Fort Wayne comes to Ypsilanti to play on Dec. 10 for the last EMU out-of-conference home game. The Eagles then play at the University of Illinois-Chicago and then at Detroit Mercy on Dec. 21.
Eastern takes a couple of weeks off for the holiday season and heads right into conference play at the beginning of 2020. The Eagles open up the new year on Jan. 4 against Bowling Green at the Convocation Center. Eastern beat the Falcons last year in the only matchup between the two. Then the Eagles go on the road for two straight games against Kent State on Jan. 8 and Ball State on Jan. 11.
Miami (OH) comes to play the Eagles on Jan. 15, who were second in the MAC East division last year. Shortly after, EMU will play the third place team in the MAC East in University of Buffalo on Jan. 18. A two-game home stand follows that with a matchup against the defending MAC champions in Central Michigan on Jan. 22. Then it is the Eagles taking on Northern Illinois on Jan 25. The next week has two trips to Ohio, one against Toledo and the next against Akron.
The rest of February will put the Eagles deep into the schedule and a possible spot for MAC Tournament positioning. Eastern Michigan plays Ohio (Feb. 5), Western Michigan (Feb. 8), Bowling Green (Feb. 12), Akron (Feb. 15), Ball State (Feb. 22), Northern Illinois (Feb. 26) and Toledo (Feb. 29). The Eagles will play Western Michigan on March 4 at home, then ending the regular season away at Central Michigan on March 7. The MAC Tournament will start March 9.
