Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-9,1-5MAC
Northern Illinois
5-9,2-4MAC
Women's Basketball Falls Short to Northern Illinois, 85-76
1/22/2022 4:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Areanna Combs led Eastern with 23 points in 40 minutes played
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Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell at home to Northern Illinois, 85-76, today, Jan. 22, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Eagles (4-9, 1-5 MAC) had three players score in double figures, led by redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)), who had 23 points and four assists. Classmate Danielle Rainey (Washington D.C.-Vista Ridge (Florida)) tacked on 17 points, knocking down 5-of-10 from deep while redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) added 12 points and an assist.
On the defensive end, Skanes pulled down eight total rebounds, five of which were off the offensive glass. Additionally, the redshirt sophomore rejected three of the Huskies' shots and recorded two steals. Rainey led the way in steals with three.
Eastern Michigan forced 21 Northern Illinois turnovers while committing only nine themselves. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor.
How It Happened
After playing to a 7-7 tie early in the game, Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run with 6:31 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Combs, to take a 12-7 lead. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 27-22. The Eagles continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 48-36 halftime deficit.
EMU's deficit continued to grow after halftime, as the Eagles faced a 70-52 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 10-of-16 points in the paint.
The Green and White narrowed its deficit to 76-63 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Combs' jumper, to shrink NIU's advantage to 76-70 with 2:44 to go in the contest. Northern Illinois responded and outscored the Eagles the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 85-76.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan lit it up from three-point land, knocking down nine treys in the game. That number ties for the second-most in a game this season, and the most for the team against a Division I opponent.
» Rainey's five threes tied a personal-best while a member of the Green and White. She also hit five triples against Grace Christian, Nov. 18. Her two five-three efforts are single-game highs for deep shots made in a game for Eastern this season.
» EMU dominated the turnover battle, forcing 21 Northern Illinois giveaways while committing only nine.
» The Eagles were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team. The six rejections ties EMU's single-game season-high, a number which it has now hit in four games.
» Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» The Green and White got a team-high eight rebounds from Skanes.
» After shooting 1-of-12 from three-point range against WMU, Jan. 19, it only took Rainey one quarter to hit multiple three-pointers against NIU. Rainey was 2-of-3 from deep in the first quarter against the Huskies. It is the 11th time in 13 games this season she had connected on multiple three-pointers. She ended the contest against NIU with a total of five three-point baskets, which marks the most she has made in a single game this season.
» Rainey ended the first half with 14 points, which ties her highest-scoring half, which she originally set against FIU, Nov. 27. She holds the second-highest points in a half for the season, next to Combs, who notched 15 points in the second half against Youngstown State on Nov. 11.
» Rainey recorded a career-high two blocks.
» Combs led the Eagles' offense by scoring 23 points. It is the third time this season Combs has scored at least 20 points and the 22nd time in the guard's illustrious career wearing an EMU uniform.
» With three blocks in today's contest, Skanes tied her career-high in blocks with three. The multiple-block effort was Skanes' 10th such effort in her Eastern Michigan career.
» 48 points is tied for the most points Eastern has allowed in a half of any game on the season. The Green and White also allowed 48 points in the second half at Oklahoma on Dec. 7.
» The Eagles had three players score in double-digits on the afternoon, marking the ninth such occurrence in the 2021-22 season. The Eagles now have an overall record of 4-5 in those games.
Historical Notes
» Despite the loss, the Eagles lead the all-time series against Northern Illinois, 38-20. The teams will meet again, Feb. 23, in Dekalb, Ill.
Up Next
The Eagles stay at home and will face the Falcons of Bowling Green State University on Monday, Jan. 24. Tipoff in Ypsilanti is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed and ESPN3 and listened to on WEMU (89.1 FM).
