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Skanes, Eke Record Double-Doubles in 71-49 victory over IUPUI
11/23/2022 3:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Skanes notches 25th double-double of career in win
Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Redshirt junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) and sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Oretga y Gasset-LIU) each recorded double-doubles to help lead the Eastern Michigan women's basketball team past the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars 71-49 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center Wednesday.
The Eagles (4-0) had three players score in double figures, led by sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich-Wayne Memorial), who had 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Skanes added a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Eke claimed her own with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Eastern Michigan out-rebounded IUPUI 45-31 in Wednesday's game, led by Eke's 11 boards.
The Eastern Michigan defense was a problem for the Jaguars in Wednesday's game, forcing 17 IUPUI turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 22 points on the offensive end of the floor. Skanes' two steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan started out the scoring by going on an 11-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Skanes, to take an early lead with 5:54 left in the first quarter. The Eagles then added one point to that lead and entered the quarter break with a 19-7 advantage. The Green and White did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 19 points close to the basket.
The Eagles built that first quarter lead to 22-9 before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 8:06 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 27-9. The Jaguars cut into that lead, but Eastern Michigan still enjoyed a 35-19 advantage heading into halftime. The team dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 16 points in the paint
After intermission, Eastern Michigan held on to its advantage and owned a 49-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Green and White played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 14 near the basket.
Eastern Michigan kept widening that lead, expanding it to 58-40 before going on yet another a 5-0 run, finished off by Austin's three, to grow the lead to 63-40 with 4:10 to go in the contest. The Jaguars narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 71-49 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 22 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Two Eagles earned double-doubles in today's victory. Eke tabbed her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 boards, while Skanes added her 25th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Additionally, it was the first time two Eagles recorded double-doubles in the same contest since the Green and White fell to the University of Delaware, Nov. 26, 2019. Former Eagle, Areanna Combs recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds in that game with Skanes dropping 11 points and 10 boards.
» Three Eagles scored 10+ points in the contest with IUPUI, Nov. 23 including Austin with 19, Skanes with 17, and Eke with 15. Additionally, at least three Eagles have hit the mark in each game this season. Last season, Eastern got 10+ points from three or more players in 17 of its 27 contests (63%), and double-digit points totals from four or more players in just six contests (22%).
» Eastern Michigan led IUPUI, 19-7, at the end of the first quarter, Nov.23. Eastern has now held a lead of 10 points in three consecutive contests. The last time EMU led opponents by 10+ points after the first quarter in consecutive games was during the 2019-20 campaign, when Eastern built first-quarter leads of 15 and 17 points in consecutive games against Olivet College, Nov. 8, and Youngstown State University, Nov. 16, respectively.
» The Eagles built a 16-point lead by halftime in today's victory. It marked four consecutive games to begin the season in which the Eagles have led by 10+ points after 20 minutes of play. Additionally, the 16-point lead is the second highest halftime lead this season with the most being 19 against SIUE, Nov. 13.
» The Eagles held the Jaguars to just seven points in the first quarter. The last time the Green and White held its opponent to less than 10 points in the first quarter was in the 71-62 victory over SIUE, Nov. 13 when the Cougars scored just six points in the first 10 minutes of play. With today's win, the Green and White have held its opponent to under 10 in the first 10 twice in four games. Last season, the Eagles accomplished the feat just twice in 27 games.
» With the Green and White's 71 points in today's contest, Eastern has scored 70+ points in all four games this season. Last year, EMU hit that number just 10 times in 27 total games, and had a stretch of three consecutive games of the sort just once.
» The Eagles defense has done a great job at limiting its opponents to below 70 in the 2022-23 season thus far. The only opponent to reach 70 against the Eagles was the FAMU Rattlers in the 77-70 victory for the Green and White, Nov. 19.
» Eke recorded her team and Mid-American Conference leading 10th block of the season behind three stops today. Eke has now recorded at least one block in four straight contests, the best streak by an Eagle since Skanes tallied a block in five straight games between Jan. 19-29 against Western Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Akron and Miami University, respectively.
» In her second year as an active member of the team in 2021-22, Skanes became the program's all-time leader in double-doubles with 23 following a 21-point, 10-rebound effort at Miami, Jan. 29. After posting 17 points and 11 rebounds against IUPUI, Nov. 23, the forward has now recorded double-doubles in 25 of her 52 career games at EMU (48%), the best percentage of anyone on the 2022-23 roster. Prior to the most recent season, former Eagles Sarah VanMetre and Olivia Fouty tied for the most double-doubles in EMU history with 17.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan is 4-0 to begin the 2022-23 campaign. It marks the first time the team is 4-0 to begin a season since 2013-14, when the Green and White opened with six straight wins. It is the program's 6th 4-0 start since its inception prior to the 1976-77 season.
» EMU's 4-0 start is just the first for seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro. It is the best start of a season during his tenure topping the teams consecutive 2-0 starts in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
» Today's meeting with the Jags marks just the third contest between the two schools. The Green and White now lead IUPUI, 2-1 in the all-time series record. Prior to today's 71-49 victory for Eastern, both EMU and IUPUI held a win over the other, dating back to the first contest, Nov. 23, 1999.
Up Next
After a week-long Thanksgiving break, the Eagles will continue their home stretch Thursday, Dec. 1, when they play host to the North Dakota State University Bison inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
