Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
13-11,5-8MAC
Akron
15-9,6-7MAC
Women's Basketball Fights Back, Falls to Akron, 72-70
2/15/2023 9:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ozzy-Momodu records career-high 26 points and earns third double-double of the season
AKRON, Ohio(EMUEagles.com)-- Senior Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu (London, England.-City of London Acadmey-Robert Morris) and sophomore Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain.-IES Ortega Y Gasset-LIU) each recorded double-doubles, but the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell short in the tail end of the contest to the University of Akron Zips, 72-70, on the road Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The Eagles (13-11, 5-8 MAC) had three players score in double figures, led by Ozzy-Momodu, who put together her third double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) added 19 points, four assists, and two steals and Eke helped out with her fifth double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Ozzy-Momodu pulled down eight offensive rebounds to pace the offense that racked up 14 boards and turned them into 15 second chance points.
Eastern Michigan's defense held Akron to only 19 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Zips did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with five offensive rebounds and managed five second chance points while Eastern Michigan cleared 29 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 15-5, Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run with 4:08 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Ozzy-Momodu, to narrow its deficit to 15-10. Akron answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Eagles down 21-12 entering the second quarter.
The Green and White continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 35-25 halftime deficit.
Following halftime, EMU kept the Zips from growing their lead before going on a 6-0 run to trim its deficit to 41-37 with 4:36 to go in the third. Akron countered and stretched its lead to 56-50 heading into the fourth. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 25 points in the paint.
The Eagles narrowed its deficit in the fourth quarter, but could not get over the hump, losing 72-70. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 20 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Ozzy-Momodu scored 26 points on 12 rebounds for Eastern. The double-double was the 13th of her career and the third of the season after previously doing so against Lindenwood University (18 points, 11 rebounds), Nov. 7 and again against Hillsdale College (11 points, 11 rebounds), Dec. 28. Additionally, it was Ozzy-Momodu's eighth game of the season in which the senior has gone over the double-digit mark in terms of scoring.
» With her 26 points in the contest, Ozzy-Momodu has set a career-high, topping her previous 23 set against Wagner, Feb. 10, 2020.
» Austin recorded two triples in the game, Feb. 15. It marked the sixth consecutive contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and the 16th this season. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings.
» Eke scored 11 points on 12 rebounds to earn her fifth career double-double. All five double-double performances have been accomplished in an Eastern Michigan uniform. Additionally, with her 11 points, Eke has recorded double-digit games eight times at EMU.
» Junior Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-Florida International) provided a team-leading five assists to the Eastern offense which marks the junior's seventh contest with four or more helpers.
» EMU had three players in double-digit points against the Zips, Feb. 15 highlighted by Eke's 11, Austin's 19, and Ozzy-Momodu's 26. The trio's 56 collective points accounted for 80 percent of the team's scoring output. Additionally, It was the 16th game in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures. Last season, the Green and White accomplished the feat in 17 outings.
» Prior to Wednesday's set of games, the Eagles were in a three-way tie for the No.5 spot in the Mid-American Conference standings with both Akron and Western Michigan, who all sported 5-7 conference records. After both Eastern's and Western's losses on the night, the Eagles have sole possession of the No. 6 spot, holding the tie-breaker over WMU.
Historical Notes
» Two Eagles earned double-doubles in the loss to Akron, Feb. 15. Eastern Michigan has had two double-double performances in the same game four times this season, the most by any EMU team since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the feat in five games. EMU has twice seen multiple double-double performances in a game five times in a season (2006-07, 2011-12), which is the program's record.
» Skanes is on pace to reach the 1,000-point plateau in 2023 with 970 points. Already a 1,000-point collegiate scorer (1,220, including 250 at Florida International in 2018-19), Skanes would become Eastern Michigan's 25th 1,000-point scorer if she can hit the mark (30 points away). Areanna Combs (2019-22) was the last player to eclipse the milestone, finishing her career in the No. 15 spot for all-time scoring at EMU (1,257).
Up Next
EMU will remain on the road as the team will take the court next with the University of Toledo, Saturday, Feb. 18. The contest is slated for 2 p.m. and will broadcast on ESPN+.
