Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
6-2,0-0MAC
Xavier
7-4,0-3Big East
Women's Hoops earns 51-44 win over Xavier on fourth-quarter comeback
12/17/2022 3:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ce'Nara Skanes records 26th career double-double
Press Conference
CINCINNATI, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fought back from a 32-29 deficit after the third quarter to knock off the Musketeers 51-44, thanks to a solid defensive showing on the road Saturday, Dec. 17 inside the Cintas Center located on the campus of Xavier University for its second road win of the 2022-23 season.
Junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) put together her 26th career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles (6-2). Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) also tacked on nine points and three steals while sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) chipped in with four points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Eastern Michigan defense held Xavier shooters to only 23.8 percent from the field, including 22.2 percent from three-point range.
How It Happened
The Eagles started off strong, putting together a 13-6 lead heading into the second quarter. Eastern Michigan did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 13 points close to the basket.
The Eagles could not maintain their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 17-16.
Eastern Michigan's deficit continued to grow after halftime, and the Eagles faced a 32-29 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan took advantage of three Xavier turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of those takeaways.
EMU came out of the third quarter break clicking on all cylinders, going on an 8-0 run, finished off by Skanes' three, to seize a 37-32 lead with 8:25 to go in the contest. The Eagles kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 51-44 win. Eastern Michigan got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring six of its 22 total points.
Game Notes
» Skanes opened the contest with a bucket from beyond the arc to give the Green and White an early lead. The Oklahoma native has recorded a made three-pointer in three consecutive games, earning one against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1 and two against Southern Indiana University, Dec. 10. Prior to this season, the junior had only made one trey in her career. Today she was a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
» Austin committed three robberies in the victory. She has had a steal in every contest she has appeared in this season, but one. Additionally, the sophomore's 2.5 steals per game ranks third in the Mid-American Conference and 66th in the nation.
» The Eagles held the Musketeers to just six points in the first quarter of the 51-44 victory, Dec. 17. The last time the Green and White held its opponent to under 10 points in the first quarter was in the 71-49 victory over IUPUI, Nov. 23, when the Jaguars scored just seven points in the first 10 minutes of play. With today's game, the Green and White have held its opponent to under 10 in the first 10 minutes three times in eight games. Last season, the Eagles accomplished the feat just twice in 27 games.
» The Green and White have tallied 49 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (6.0 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and 8th nationally. Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in every game this season tallying seven against the Musketeers.
» Sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega Y Gasset-LIU) led the Eagles with three rejections. She continues to hold the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.14 and in total blocks with 15.
» Eastern's 51 points in the contest is the lowest number of tallies the team has recorded this season. However, the Musketeers' 44 points are also the lowest number of points EMU has allowed.
» Eastern Michigan held Xavier to only 23.8% shooting from the field. It is the fourth time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. In all instances, Eastern has out-shot its competitors.
Historical Notes
» After posting 18 points and 12 rebounds against Xavier, Dec. 17, Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 26 of her 55 career games at EMU (47%), 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.
» In their first meeting with the Musketeers, the Eagles are 5-9 against Big East Conference members, earning three victories over Butler University, and one over Creighton University in previous seasons. Moreover, Xavier tabs as just the sixth Big East member the Green and White have faced in its 47 seasons.
» Eastern Michigan is 2-0 in road games to begin the 2022-23 season. The last time the Green and White started its season with two back-to-back road wins was in the 2020-21 campaign when the Eagles defeated Southern Illinois University, 65-52, Nov. 25, and Ball State University, 77-58, Dec. 2, respectively. In that year, EMU extended its road record to 3-0, beating Southeast Missouri University, 63-49, Dec. 6, before falling to Bowling Green on the road, 71-64, Dec. 11.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will continue on the road, taking a trip to Philadelphia, Pa. as the team will take part in the Saint Joe's Tournament hosted by Saint Joseph's University. The Eagles are scheduled to face James Madison University Tuesday, Dec. 20 before playing the winner of the Saint Joseph's and Wright State contest the next day, Wednesday, Dec. 21.
