Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
6-3,0-0MAC
James Madison
9-2,0-0Sun Belt
Women's Hoops Setback by 78-43 Loss to James Madison
12/20/2022 5:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Rookie Olivia Smith goes 4-of-6 from the three; collects 16 points
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team took a tough hit, dropping a 78-43 game to the James Madison University Duke's in its first contest of the 27th Hawk Classic hosted by Saint Joseph University inside Hagan Arena located in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 20.
Freshman Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Southside) led the Eagles (6-3) with 16 points. Sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega y Gasset-Long Island) tacked on two points, seven rebounds and two blocks and sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) chipped in with her own set of two points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Led by Eke's four offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan was successful in crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards that resulted in six second chance points. Eastern Michigan's defense did a great job disrupting JMU shots in the contest, coming away with six blocks. Eke's two rejections led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
After falling behind, 14-5, Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run with 3:18 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Smith, to narrow its deficit to 14-10. JMU answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Eagles down, 18-10, entering the second quarter.
JMU kept adding to that lead, building a 20-10 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Okalhoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-FIU), to narrow its deficit to 20-15. JMU responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Eagles trailing, 36-26, heading into halftime.
Eastern Michigan's deficit continued to grow after halftime, and the Eagles faced a 61-33 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter.
The Green and White could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 78-43. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 10 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Playing 37 minutes of the game, Smith drained four treys on eight attempts in today's contest with James Madison. The four makes marks as the rookie's career high, topping her three treys set on two different occasions (vs. Lindenwood University, Nov. 7; vs. the University of North Dakota, Dec. 4). Additionally, her team-leading 16 points tops her previous high of 15 set against North Dakota, Dec. 4.
» The Eastern Michigan bench came alive by adding 28 points to its scoring output. The 28 points are the most recorded off the bench this year, which tops the 22 scored by substitutes against Lindenwood, Nov. 7.
» Eastern Michigan faced a 36-26 halftime deficit in the loss. Just the fourth time trailing after 20 minutes this season, the 10-point disadvantage is the largest halftime deficit the Eagles have faced this year with the previous being seven against the University of Southern Indiana, Dec. 10.
» With six blocks in the contest, the Green and White have tallied 55 total blocks in the 2022-23 campaign (6.1 per game), placing the Eagles atop the conference and eighth in the nation. Moreover, the Eagles have recorded five or more blocks in every game this season.
» Both Nelson and Eke led the Green and White with two rejections each. Added with her 16, Eke continues to hold the top spot in the league in blocks per game with 2.25 and in total blocks with 18.
Historical Notes
» Smith's four makes from the three-point line is the first to be done by a freshman since Nelson did so against Detroit Mercy University, Nov. 13, 2021.
» The 28 bench points is the most since Feb. 26, when the bench scored 28 points in the 75-51 home loss, one season ago. In that year, the bench had scored 28 or more points on just three occasions, vs. Toledo (28), at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 23 (28), and vs. Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021 (80).
» In their second meeting with the Dukes, the Eagles are 0-2 against the Sun Belt Conference member. In both instances, the teams have met in tournaments located in neutral sites with the first meeting happening in Cancun, Mexico in the Caribbean Challenge, Nov. 27, 2008.
Up Next
The Green and White will take on the Wright State University Raiders at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 21, to end its time at the 27th Hawk Classic. Following the St. Joe's Classic, the team will enjoy a week off for a holiday break before hosting Hillsdale College, Saturday, Dec. 28, with a 7 p.m. tip-off inside the George Gervin GameABove Center. The contest is set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
