Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-1,0-0MAC
North Dakota
5-3,0-0Summit League
Eastern Michigan Rallies Late; Falls to North Dakota, 79-73
12/4/2022 2:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Natalia Pineda led the Eagles with 19 points
Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team took a 60-59 advantage into the fourth quarter, but could not hang on and fell 79-73 to the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks Sunday, Dec. 4, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Eagles (5-1) had four players score in double figures, led by senior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson), who had 19 points and three blocks. Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) added 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals while freshman Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side) chipped in as well with 15 points and three steals. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) rounded out the group with 11 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
The Eastern Michigan offense was strong from deep, making eight threes on 33 attempts. Pineda hit five treys for the Eagles in the contest.
Eastern Michigan forced 18 North Dakota turnovers while committing 17 themselves in Sunday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 16 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Nelson's three steals led the way for Eastern Michigan.
How It Happened
After trailing 11-8, Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run with 3:53 left in the first quarter to take a 13-11 lead. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 19-17.
The Eagles then cut the Fighting Hawks lead to 27-26 before going on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three from Smith, to take a 32-27 lead. UND cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 43-39 advantage heading into halftime.
North Dakota then took a 57-55 lead following intermission before Eastern Michigan went on another 5-0 run, punctuated by another basket from Smith, to grab a 60-57 lead with 1:01 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Fighting Hawks had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 60-59 edge. EMU knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 17 total points.
North Dakota then erased the Eastern Michigan lead in the game's final quarter for a 79-73 comeback victory. Eastern Michigan got up and down the court quickly in the quarter, scoring three fast break points.
Game Notes
» With the Eagles 73 points in the contest, EMU has scored at least 70 points in all six games this season. Last year, EMU hit that number just nine times in 27 total games and had its longest stretch of three consecutive games of the sort just once. The six consecutive 70+ points for the Eagles surpasses last season's longest streak.
» Coming back from an injury, sophomore Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) appeared in her second game of the season, playing a career-high 19 minutes. The Missouri native was a perfect 1-for-1 from the field, and drew three personal fouls, earning two points on four free-throw attempts. Her four total scores sets as a season-high for Lewis, and was shy two from her career high six, set against Grand Canyon University, Nov. 19, 2021.
» Nelson scored 16 points in the game for Eastern Michigan, the third most in a game in her career (21 vs. FAMU, Nov. 19, and 18 at SIU-E, Nov. 13) . The effort was the third time this season she has scored 16 or more points with her 79 season points leading the Green and White. Additionally, her nine rebounds in the contest marked as a career high for the sophomore, topping her eight against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7. This was the fourth game of the season in which the sophomore has recorded double-digit points, tying the four games she recorded in double-digits within the 2021-22 season. Nelson dished out four assists against the Fighting Hawks topping her previous career-high two assist at Ball State University, Mar. 5, and improves her season total by 200% going from two prior to the game to six.
» Smith also had a good game for Eastern Michigan, scoring 15 points and dishing out two assists with three steals. The 15 points in the game is the second time this season she has scored double digits in points, and marks as the freshman's career-high, topping her 13 against Lindenwood University, Nov. 7.
» Pineda was 5-of-8 from the three-point range in the game to mark the fourth time in her career she has scored at least four triples in a contest with the last coming Nov. 27, 2019, on a 4-of-9 shooting performance at home against the University of Michigan. Today's career-high performance also marks just the second time she has hit four or more treys in a home game as her first two games of four makes both came on the road during the 2018-19 season (Nov. 27, 2018, at Purdue University Fort Wayne and Jan. 9, 2019, at Kent State University). Pineda finished the game with a career-high 19 points, topping her previous high 17 set against FAMU, Nov. 19. She was also a perfect 2-for2 from the charity stripe, registered five boards, two blocks, and dished out three helpers.
» Eastern Michigan found success from beyond the arc, knocking down eight treys in the game. The eight three's ties with the eight made against North Dakota State University, Dec. 1 for a season high. Additionally, the Green and White have made five or more buckets from beyond the three-point line in all but one game this season, scoring only two at SIU-E, Nov. 13.
» Eastern Michigan has now dominated the turnover battle, 115-97, this season. The Green and White forced 18 Fighting Hawks turnovers while committing 17 themselves. The team is now 4-1 in games where the opponent turns the ball over more times than Eastern.
» EMU had four players in double digit points against UND's defense. It was the sixth consecutive game in which the team has registered three or more players in double-figures. Additionally, it was the fourth contest with four players in double-digits.
Historical Notes
» With five made three-point baskets on the day, Pineda is the first Eagle to hit for five or more in a game since former Eagle Danielle Rainey drained five at home against Northern Illinois University, Jan. 22, 2022. Rainey also accomplished the feat earlier that season with five against Grace Christian University, Nov. 18, 2021.
» The game was the third all-time meeting between the Eagles and the Fighting Hawks. UND leads the all-time series, two games to one.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan continues its home stretch Saturday, Dec. 10, by playing host to the Screaming Eagles of the University of Southern Indiana with a 1 p.m. tip. The game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+ will be played inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
