Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-0,0-0MAC
SIUE
0-2,0-0OVC
Defensive Effort Leads Eastern Michigan Over SIU-Edwardsville, 71-62
11/13/2022 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ZaNiya Nelson leads the Green and White with 18 points
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team held Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville to just 35.7 percent shooting from the field on the way to a 71-62 win against the Cougars on the road Sunday, Nov. 13 inside the First Community Arena in the Vadalabene Center located in Edwardsville, Ill.
The Eagles (2-0, 0-0 MAC) had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West), who had 18 points. Junior Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega y Gasset-Long Island) tacked on 13 points and two blocks off the bench and senior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) chipped in as well with 11 points.
Led by junior Ce'Nara Skanes' (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) three offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 11 second chance points.
EMU forced 26 SIU-Edwardsville turnovers while committing 19 themselves in the contest. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 25 points on the other end of the floor. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) led the way individually with four steals.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 10-6 advantage, Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run with 2:11 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Nelson, to increase its lead to 16-6, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. The Green and White did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring a perfect 16 of its 16 points close to the basket.
EMU kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 8:47 mark in the second period, highlighted by yet again another bucket from Nelson, to increase its lead to 26-6. The Cougars cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 37-18 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan forced five SIUE turnovers in the period and turned them into six points in exchange.
After intermission, Eastern held on to its advantage and owned a 53-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Eagles took advantage of six Cougar turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of takeaways.
Then, the Green and White kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Pineda's jumper, to grow the lead to 60-47 with 5:14 to go in the contest. The Cougars narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 71-62 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 18 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» To start, the Eagles won their second tip-off of the season with senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy-Robert Morris) in the mix. Additionally, this was the first time the tip-off victory directly resulted in a first-possession bucket. The most recent coming in a 66-53 deficit at Ohio, Feb. 14, 2022, when former Eagle Areanna Combs nailed a jumper to start the game. In today's contest, Pineda opened the scoreboard directly after Ozzy-Momodu's collection, earning two from a layup initiated by a helper from Ozzy-Momodu.
» In the first quarter, the Eagles held the Cougars to just six points. The last time the Green and White held its opponent to less than 10 points in the first quarter was when the team did so at Miami University in an 80-69 victory, Jan. 29, 2022.
» Nelson led the Eagles with a game-high 18 points. The sophomore was 8-13 (.615) from the field with a 2-5 (.400) free throw average in the victory. Additionally, her 18 points against the Cougars defense sets as a career record for the Oklahoma native, topping her previous 12 versus Detroit Mercy University, Nov. 13, 2021.
» The Eagles held the Cougars to only 35.7 percent shooting from the field in the victory. It is the second time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. The first coming against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7, when the Eagles kept the Lions to a 38.2 percent shooting average. In both instances, Eastern has out-shot its competitors.
» Eastern Michigan tallied 16 total assists in the game. With the helpers evenly spread out, Austin led the way with four helpers. Her four in tonight's contest added with her seven against the Lions, Nov. 7, the sophomore tops the Eagles in assists with 11 total for the season. Additionally, her 11 this season account for approximately 21 percent of the Redford, Mich. native's 53 career assists.
» Sticking to a strong defensive plan, the Eastern Michigan defense forced 26 turnovers over the Cougars. The team is 2-0 in games where the defensive unit causes 20 or more turnovers thus far in the 2022-23 season.
» Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game. The Eagles were short three rebounds to tie its season best 16, set against Lindenwood, Nov. 7. Leading the Green and White in offensive rebounds in tonight's game was Skanes with three. Coupled with her previous two against Lindenwood, Nov.7, the junior has tabbed five total offensive boards, good for second on the team, trailing Eke by one.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan is 2-0 to begin the 2022-23 campaign. It marks the first time the team is 2-0 to begin a season since 2018-19, when the Green and White opened with wins against Cleveland State University and Illinois State University, respectively.
» Eastern is off to a 2-0 start for the 21st time in program history (1976-77 was the team's initial campaign). Seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro now has three 2-0 starts (2017-18, 2018-19, 2022-23).
» Eastern Michigan is now 1-0 in road contests to begin the 2022-23 season. The Eagles have emerged victorious in one other road debut under Castro, a 65-52 victory over Southern Illinois University, Nov 25, 2020.
» EMU's 71 points scored are the most for the program in a first road game victory since the 2013-14 season, when Eastern scored 84 points at Cleveland State in a 84-70 win, Nov. 17
Up Next
The Eagles begin their five home-game stretch inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with a meeting against Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Sat. Nov. 19. The contest is scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN+ with a 1 p.m. tipoff. Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUWBB and @EMUAthletics on Twitter for all of the latest EMU women's basketball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMUWBB.
