Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
9-7,1-4MAC
Kent State
11-5,3-2MAC
Ozzy-Momodu Records 22 Points in Setback at Kent State
1/18/2023 8:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
It was the London, England native's best game in an EMU uniform
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw a 33-point performance from the bench, but fell, 79-66, to the Kent State University Golden Flashes on the road Wednesday, Jan. 18.
The Eagles (9-7, 1-4 MAC) had two players score in double figures, led by senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, Eng.-Southwark-Robert Morris), who had 22 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) added 10 points and three steals and Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) added seven points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Led by Skanes' four offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards that resulted in three second-chance points.
Eastern Michigan forced 16 Kent State turnovers. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 16 points on the offensive end of the floor. Austin's three steals led the way for EMU.
How It Happened
Eastern struggled out of the gate, falling behind 24-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Kent State kept adding to that lead, building a 32-20 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three from rookie Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Southside), to narrow its deficit to 32-25. Kent State responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Eagles trailing 38-29 heading into halftime.
The Golden Flashes continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 46-31 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 10-0 run to trim its deficit to 46-41 with 5:55 to go in the third. Kent State countered and stretched its lead to 62-47 heading into the fourth. The Green and White played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 18 points in the paint.
KSU kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 70-53 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Ozzy-Momodu's layup, to shrink the deficit to 70-59 with 3:45 to go in the contest. Kent State responded and outscored the Eagles the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 79-66. The Eagles took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 19 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» With her 22 points in the game, Ozzy-Momodu is just the fourth Eagle to record 20 or more points in a single game this season. Sophomore ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) and Austin have each recorded one, while Skanes has had two 20+ point games this season. Additionally, it was Ozzy-Momodu's second time recording the feat.
» A total of eight players scored all of Eastern's points in the loss to Kent State, Jan. 18. With this effort, it was the seventh game this season in which the Eagles have had eight different players score in a single game with the highest being nine Eagles against James Madison University, Dec. 20. Last season, the Green and White shared the scoring among eight or more Eagles in 11 of the 27 outings. The team is en route to topping last season's numbers.
» Eastern Michigan dropped 33 bench points in tonight's contest. That total is the highest for the team this season. Its previous best output was 28, which it recorded against James Madison, Dec. 20. The 33 bench points are the most for the team since it recorded 34 bench points in a game at Kent State, Jan. 8, 2020.
» Ozzy-Momodu recorded a game-high 22 points against the Golden Flashes (33.3% of EMU's points). That total is the senior's EMU career-high and the second-best total of her career. She previously scored 23 points against Wagner College, Feb. 10, 2020, during her time with Robert Morris University. Her 11 field goals in tonight's game count as a career-high, topping her nine against Wagner.
» Averaging 58.3 points per contest prior to the game, the Eagles' 66 points against the Golden Flashes tops the team's scoring average. Additionally, it is the team's 12th contest in which the offense has produced 60 or more points. EMU is 8-4 in games where the Eagles score 60 or more points.
» After a 10-point performance in tonight's contest, Austin has now recorded double figures in consecutive games. It marks the third stretch of two or more games this season in which she had dropped 10+ points. She has twice hit the mark in four consecutive contests. Her three such stretches this season is a career-best single season mark for the second-year Eagle. Austin had two stretches of consecutive games with 10+ during her freshman campaign.
» Eastern Michigan has been no stranger to lopsided games this year in terms of scoring margin. In Eastern's nine wins, the Eagles have upended their competition by an average of 11.7 points per contest. Meanwhile, the team's seven setbacks have come by an average of 16 points. Just one game this season has been decided by five or fewer points (vs. Miami, Jan. 4). Last season, four games were decided within that margin.
» Eastern Michigan finished the contest with 10 total assists in tonight's contest. It marked the 11th time this season that the Green and White have notched 10+ helpers (69%). The number is a noticeable improvement over last season's clip. EMU recorded 10 or more assists in just 10 total games last year (37% of its total contests).
Historical Notes
» Tonight's matchup marked the 72nd meeting between Eastern Michigan and Kent State. After tonight's outcome, KSU leads the all-time series, 43-28. EMU holds its second-longest win streak against a MAC member with eleven straight against KSU from 2010-16. The program's longest win streak over a league member was when the Green and White defeated its in-state rival Central Michigan University 16 games in a row from 2001-08.
Up Next
The Green and White return home in time to host a doubleheader with the men's basketball team who will also face the Huskies of Northern Illinois University, Saturday, Jan. 21. The women's game starts at 1 p.m. with the men following at 3:30 p.m.
