Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-2,0-0MAC
Southern Indiana
4-4,0-0OVC
Eagles Fall to Southern Indiana, 66-60
12/10/2022 3:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tayre Eke posts her third double-double of the season
Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team came up short against the University of Southern Indiana, falling 66-60 to the Screaming Eagles Saturday, Dec. 10, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) led the Eagles (5-2) with 19 points, two steals and three blocks. Sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega y Gasset-LIU) added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds along with her four blocks, while redshirt junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) added 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace the Eagles, grabbing 12 total boards and turning them into six second chance points.
Eastern Michigan forced 21 Southern Indiana turnovers, which led to 19 points. Austin paced the Eagles with two robberies.
How It Happened
After falling behind 4-2, Eastern Michigan went on a 7-0 run with 7:16 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from senior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson), to take a 9-4 lead. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 15-11.
USI kept adding to that lead, building a 22-17 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three from Pineda, to tie the game at 22. Southern Indiana then took control, taking a 31-24 lead into the half.
Southern Indiana continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 33-24 advantage before Eastern went on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Austin, to trim its deficit to 33-32 with 6:57 to go in the third. The Eagles kept the rally going and took control on a Austin free throw with 00:36 left for a 47-45 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 23 points in the paint.
Southern Indiana then erased the Eastern Michigan lead in the game's final quarter for a 66-60 comeback victory. Eastern Michigan took advantage of seven Southern Indiana turnovers in the quarter, scoring eight points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan faced a 31-24 halftime deficit in today's contest. Just the second time trailing after 20 minutes this season, the seven-point disadvantage was also the most for the team in a game this season. The Eagles trailed North Dakota State University by one, 30-29, after one half of play, Dec. 1 before outscoring the Bison by 19 in the second half to secure a 73-55 win.
» Eastern used a season-high 23 third-quarter points to retake control of the game, 47-45, after 30 minutes of action in today's contest. It was the first time with 20+ points in the third frame this season for EMU, and the most third-quarter points for EMU since dropping 26 on Northern Illinois University during the 2021-22 campaign, Feb. 23.
» The Green and White outscored USI 23-14 (nine-point margin) in the third quarter of its game with the Screaming Eagles. It was the largest third-quarter scoring margin in favor of the Eagles since it outpaced Florida International University by 11, Nov. 27, 2021.
» EMU had four players in double digit points against USI. It was the seventh consecutive game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures and the fifth with four players in double digits.
» The Green and White have tallied 42 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (6.0 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and 17th nationally. Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in every game this season, tallying four Screaming Eagles stops. Eke currently holds the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.1 and in total blocks with 15. Her four blocks against USI are the most by an Eastern Michigan player since Becca Turney recorded five versus Ferris State University, Nov. 16, 2016.
» Eke's 14 points and 14 rebounds led her to her third career double-double, earning all three in an Eastern jersey. Additionally, the Spaniard's 14 rebounds tops her previous career high of 11, set Nov. 23 against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
» Eastern Michigan tallied seven steals in the game. It is the team's seventh consecutive contest with five or more robberies. Additionally, Austin's two steals against USI gives her 15 on the season, ranking third in the MAC.
» Skanes drilled a pair from beyond the arc in today's contest. The Oklahoma native topped her career high one three-pointer made set against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1.
Historical Notes
» As a squad, the Eagles blocked a total of 10 shots on Saturday afternoon. It has been 19 years since EMU has accomplished that feat, totaling 10 rejections versus the University of Akron, January, 7, 2004. Additionally, the Eagles were just one block shy of tying the program's record in the modern statistical era (since 1998-99), when the 2003-04 team blocked 11 shots at Michigan State, Nov. 28, 2003.
» Eastern's setback marks the first loss to an Ohio Valley Conference member this season. The Green and White previously defeated Lindenwood, Nov. 7, and SIUE, Nov. 13. In the past, Eastern Michigan has faced six other OVC members and holds a 6-4 all-time record against the conference. Two of the four previous year's victories came against Southeast Missouri State University (2019, 2020), while the other two were set against Eastern Illinois University (1983), and Morehead State University (2006), respectively.
Up Next
The Eagles will hit the road to take on the Xavier University Musketeers on Dec. 17, for a scheduled tip-off of 1 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on FloSports and can also tune into WEMU 89.1 FM.
