Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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Lindenwood
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Eagles Down Lindenwood Lions in Season Opener, 71-56
11/7/2022 7:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ozzy-Momodu registers first double-double of 2022-23
Postgame Press Conference | Photo Gallery
Highlight Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team trumped the Lindenwood University Lions, 71-56 in its season home-opener inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Monday, Nov. 7.
The Eagles (1-0) registered three players with double-digit points, led by senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy-Robert Morris), who tallied a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds in her debut as an Eagle. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) added 16 points, seven assists and three steals while freshman Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side) contributed 13 points off the bench.
Eastern Michigan pulled down 46 rebounds in the victory compared to Lindenwood's 30, led by Ozzy-Momodu's 11 boards. The Eagles also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 16 rebounds into 14 second chance points. Additionally, the Green and White's defense held the Lions to only 38.2 percent shooting from the field.
How It Happened
After falling behind 5-4 early in the first quarter, Eastern Michigan went on an 8-0 run with 7:39 left, culminating in a bucket from sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West), to take a 12-5 lead. The Eagles then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 19-16 advantage. Eastern did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 19 points close to the basket.
The Green and White kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 9-0 run starting at the 2:35 mark in the second period, highlighted by a shot from junior Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega y Gasset-Long Island), to increase its lead to 36-24, a score that would hold until halftime. Eastern Michigan dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 17 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, the Eagles continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 44-29 before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Smith, to expand its lead further to 51-29 with 4:06 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lions had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 55-40 edge. Eastern played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 19 points in the paint.
The Eagles kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) layup, to grow the lead to 64-45 with 4:56 to go in the contest. The Lions narrowed the margin a bit before the end of the game, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 71-56 win. Eastern Michigan got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring seven of its 16 total points.
Game Notes
» A number of Eastern players made their debut with the Eagles in tonight's win including Smith, Eke, and Ozzy-Momodu. The three accounted for 40 points in 72 total minutes of play.
» Ozzy-Momodu recorded the Eagles' sole double-double of the night, the 11th of her career and first in an Eastern jersey. The transfer student led the Green and White in points with 18 and 11 rebounds and was the only member of the team to be perfect from the free throw line (4-4).
» Three Eagles reached double digit points in the victory over Lindenwood: Austin (16), Ozzy-Monodou (18) and Smith (13). The last time the Green and White recorded three or more players in double-digit scoring was at Ball State, March 5, 2022, when Austin, Skanes, and Nelson each registered 10 or more points.
» Austin spent the entirety of the first half on the floor for the Eagles, recording six assists and 10 points. The Redford, Mich. native finished the night with seven helpers in 32 minutes of play.
» The Eagles trailed the Lions just once in the first half and outscored the visiting team 36-24 in the first 20 minutes of competition. The Green and White continued their control over the game in the second half, grabbing an additional 35 points to cap off the win.
» EMU dominated the offensive glass, 16 offensive boards to the Lion's five, which resulted in 14 second chance points for the Eagles.
» The EMU defense won the turnover battle, forcing twice as many turnovers as Lindenwood, 20 to 10. Eastern Michigan forced 20 or more turnovers in just six games in the 2021-22 season.
» Eastern Michigan blocked nine shots tonight. That number is tied for seventh in the all-time record book for most blocks in a single-game inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The nine blocks are the third highest overall with the top-spot being 12.
» The Eastern bench notched 22 points for the Eagles, which accounted for almost 32 percent of the team's total points.
Historical Notes
» In 46 seasons, the Green and White have now compiled a 32-15 record in season openers. Additionally, the Eagles have won nine of their last 11 lid lifters, including eight in-a-row between 2008-09 and 2018-19.
» Tonight's opener marks the seventh time in the last 10 years that EMU has started the season on its home court. The Eagles are now 7-1 in those games with the only loss coming last season against Youngstown State University, which defeated the Green and White, 67-70, Nov. 9.
» Eastern Michigan now holds a 36-11 all-time record in home-opening contests.
» The Eastern Michigan women's basketball program now sits just one win away from 200 total wins inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center since it opened for play in the 1998-1999 season.
Up Next
The Green and White will continue its non-conference slate with a meeting in Edwardsville, Ill. as the Eagles take on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars Sunday, Nov. 13. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with a 1 p.m. tip-off.
