Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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Austin, Skanes Lead Eastern to 68-67 Win Over Miami
1/4/2023 8:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles open MAC play with close victory behind a pair of double-double performances
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eagle pair of Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) and Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) both recorded double-doubles to help lead the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team over the Miami RedHawks 68-67 in the Mid-American Conference opener Wednesday night, Jan. 4, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The double-doubles by Austin, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Skanes, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds, led the Eagles (9-3, 1-0) in the contest. Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side) earned a career-high 18 points (4-9 3FG) in the victory.
Led by Skanes' seven offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 15 boards that resulted in 15 second chance points.
How It Happened
Eastern struggled out of the gate, falling behind 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. EMU kept the RedHawks from increasing their lead before going on a 12-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Ortega Y Gasset-LIU), to take a 27-20 lead. Miami cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 30-24 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan was strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 22 points.
Eastern Michigan surrendered its halftime lead in the third quarter, however the Eagles went on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West), to grab a 49-42 lead with 2:37 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the RedHawks had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 56-52 edge. EMU played well near the basket, scoring 20 of its 26 points in the paint.
The Eagles then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Eastern took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Despite trailing by five in the first quarter, the Eagles rallied in the second, building a six-point lead by halftime in the contest against Miami, Jan. 4. It marked the seventh game in which the Eagles have led their opponents heading into halftime this season and just the second time doing so after trailing in the first. The last time the Eagles sparked a lead after a first-quarter deficit was in the 79-73 heartbreaker against the University of North Dakota, Dec. 4 when the Green and White tied its season-high 26 points in a single quarter to take a four-point lead over the Fighting Hawks.
» The Eastern offense converted on 29 field goals in the victory which ties the team's season-high previously set in a 71-56 win over the Lions of Lindenwood University, Nov. 7, when the Eagles also recorded 29 makes from the field.
» The team's seven turnovers against the RedHawks are the fewest of the season, topping the 10 recorded against Lindenwood, Nov. 7. It is the lowest mark for the Eagles since 2020 when the team turned over possession just six times in a win over Northern Illinois University, March 9.
» Austin's 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game counted for the sophomore's fourth career double-double. The accomplishment also marks her second consecutive double-double after Austin collected 11 points and 12 boards in the Eagles 76-61 victory over Hillsdale, Dec. 28.
» Two Eagles earned double-doubles in the victory over Miami, Jan. 4. It was the second consecutive game in which two Eagles recorded the feat in the same contest and just the third of the season. Earlier in the year, Eke tabbed her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 boards, while Skanes added her 25th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds against IUPUI, Nov. 23. Then, in EMU's victory over Hillsdale, Austin recorded her first double-double of the season while senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England-City of London Academy-Robert Morris) recorded 11 points and added 11 additional boards.
» Eke added two more blocks against Miami to bring her season total to 23 in 12 games, a team best. The Spaniard sits in first place in the conference in the category, averaging 1.9 rejections per game. The total was just two shy of her season high four set against Southern Indiana, Dec. 10.
» Smith recorded a career-high 18 points in the Eagles victory over the RedHawks. Her previous best of 16 came in Eastern Michigan's loss to James Madison University, Dec. 12. In 12 games so far this season, the freshman guard has notched 122 points for third best among the Eagles.
» Skanes matched her season high of 12 rebounds in tonight's win, set previously in EMU's 51-44 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 17. The Oklahoma native leads the Eagles in the category with 87 this season for sixth overall in the conference.
» Additionally, Skanes recorded four assists in the Eagles' victory to bring her season total to 24 for third best among the Eagles. The junior's performance marked her third straight game with four assists.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan opened its 42nd Mid-American Conference slate Wednesday, Jan. 4, versus Miami University. The Green and White are 20-22 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 14 of the last 20 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2003-04 season, the most recent of which was a 77-58 dismantling of Ball State a season ago, Dec. 2.
» Tonight's contest marked the 66th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Miami. EMU captured its 24th win over the Ohio institution. Additionally, EMU has won the last five battles and came out on top in seven of the last 10 games.
» The Green and White's 2022-23 campaign marks the 42nd season Eastern Michigan has competed as a member of the MAC. Playing a league schedule since the 1981-82 campaign, EMU headed into tonight's contest with a 300-391 record against conference opponents all-time. The 68-67 victory over the RedHawks, Jan. 4 marked the program's 300th conference win.
» After posting 14 points and 12 rebounds against Miami, Jan. 4, Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 27 of her 59 career games at EMU (46%), 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.
» Tonight's win was the first game since the 2019-20 season where the Eagles defeated their opponent by one singular point. On March 11, 2020, Eastern Michigan defeated second seeded Ball State by one point in the MAC Conference Tournament Quarterfinals, 64-63.
Up Next
Following the conference triumph against Miami, the Green and White will hit the road for the first time in 2023, traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on the Falcons of Bowling Green State University Saturday, Jan. 7. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
