Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
15-14,7-11MAC
Ohio
6-23,4-14MAC
Austin and Skanes lead Eastern Michigan past Ohio 74-64
3/4/2023 3:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles earn a berth into the tournament in the No. 7 seed
ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) scored 25 points, while Ce'Nara Skanes (Okalhoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West-FIU) added 21 en route to a 74-64 victory over the Ohio University Bobcats on the road Saturday, March 4, in Athens, Ohio.
The win secured a spot for Eastern Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference tournament held March 8-11 inside the RocketMortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Eagles (15-14, 7-11) had three players score in double figures, led by Austin, who had 25 points, six rebounds and four assists. Skanes added her 31st career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain-IES Oretega y Gasset-LIU) chipped in as well with 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Led by Eke's four offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 14 boards that resulted in 11 second chance points.
The Eagles defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday's game, forcing 15 Ohio turnovers while committing 14. Those takeaways turned into 16 points on the other end of the floor. Eke's three steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
How It Happened
After falling behind 16-15, Eastern Michigan went on an 8-0 run with 1:30 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Skanes, to take a 23-16 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. The Eagles capitalized on six Ohio turnovers in the period, turning them into six points on the other end of the floor.
Ohio fought back to tie the game at 32-32 before EMU went on another 8-0 run starting at the 1:27 mark in the second period, this time highlighted by a bucket from Austin, to take a 40-32 lead. Eastern scored five of its 17 total points in the period on second chance opportunities created by pulling down five offensive rebounds.
The team continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by another basket from Austin, to expand its lead further to 55-42 with 3:44 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Bobcats had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 60-48 edge. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 20 points in the paint.
The Eagles then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» With its 23 points in the opening stanza against the Bobcats, March 4, the Green and White finished the 2022-23 regular season having scored at least 15 points in the opening quarter of a contest 16 times (55 percent) with five of those games being in the 20+ point range. The team recorded three separate first quarter scores of 22 with today's 23 points marking the team's season high. Additionally, it marked the 15th game where the Eagles have led its opponent after the first 10 minutes of play.
» The Eagles did a great job holding its lead over Ohio, March 4, as the team headed into the locker room with a 40-32 halftime lead. It was the 14th time that EMU has led its opponents at the half this season improving from last season's eight. After today's win/loss, the team finished the 2022-23 regular season 11-3 in games when the Eagles are leading at the half.
» EMU saw three players score in double-digit figures against the Bobcats, March 4, highlighted by Skanes' 21, Austin's 25, and Eke's 12. The group's 58 collective points accounted for 78 percent of the team's scoring output with Austin's 25 points representing 34 percent. Additionally, it was the 20th game this year in which the team has registered three or more players in double figures, topping last season's 17.
» Austin recorded a team-leading 25 points. It marked the 24th contest in which the sophomore has dropped double-digit points and the 10th leading the Green and White in scoring. Additionally, her nine made field goals marked as a career high, recording eight in three previous occasions.
» Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.-South Side) connected on one shot from beyond the three-point line in the game against Ohio, March 4. It marked her 50th season make from the three-point line, and maintained her team-leader status in made triples.
» Skanes has added the three-point shot to her repertoire this season and continued to do so as she connected on a single triple in the game against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked her 14th contest with a single made three. Moreover, the Oklahoma City native has knocked down 24 three-pointers in the 2022-23 season after hitting just one in her previous campaigns.
» This season, five Eagles have put up 20-plus scoring performances for the Green and White. After dropping 21 against Ohio, March 4, Skanes leads the team with five contests recording 20 or more points setting a season high 26 against WMU, Feb. 11. Following Skanes is Austin, who collected 25 points against the Bobcats improving her record to four games recording the feat, with the 25 today being her highest.
» With both Austin and Skanes entering the 20-point plateau against Ohio, March 4, it marked the first time this season in which the Eagles have recorded two or more players with 20 or more points in a single game. The last time the feat was accomplished was Jan. 23, 2019, when former Eagles Corrione Cardwell and Courtnie Lewis dropped 20 points each at Western Michigan.
» With her 21 points in the win over OU, March 4, Skanes has now been in the double-digit plateau in 20 games this season and 57 in her career, the most by any current Eagle. Last year, she dropped double figures in 18 total games, the second best on the team behind Areanna Comb's 22 on the season.
» Austin led the team in triples, contributing two from the arc against the Bobcats, March 4. It marked the 19th contest in which the sophomore has registered a made three-pointer and her eighth of the season leading the team. Last year, Austin recorded a made three in just 14 outings, leading the Green and White in just three.
» In just her ninth game collecting at least one block, Austin added a single stop to the team's total three blocks with Eke accounting for the other two.
» The Eagles held the Bobcats to only 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting from the field in the game, March 4. It was the 15th time this season the team has kept its opponent from shooting above 40 percent from the field. Eastern has out-shot its competitors in all instances but three. The Green and White are 11-4 in games where its competitors shoot less than 40 percent from the field. Additionally, the Eagles are 14-1 when shooting better than its foe.
Historical Notes
» Today's matchup marked the 67th meeting between EMU and Ohio. Despite the win in favor of EMU, the Bobcats lead the all-time series, 39-28. Additionally, the team picked up Head Coach Fred Castro's third victory over the Bobcats.
» After posting 21 points and 11 rebounds against Ohio, March 4, Skanes has recorded double-doubles in 31 of her 75 career games at EMU (41%), 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.
» EMU has registered a total of 123 blocks in the 29 games played (4.2 blocks per game). A season ago, the Green and White earned 88 blocks in 27 games (3.3 blocks per game). Not only did the Eagles surpass the previous season's total in almost half the amount of games, but they are on pace to have the most successful blocking average in program history with only MAC tournament play left in the 2022-23 season.
Up Next
As the regular season comes to an end, the Eagles will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for the 2023 MAC tournament held inside the Rocke tMortgage Fieldhouse, March 8-11.
2023 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 -- Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Buffalo, 11 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Northern Illinois* (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 2 Bowling Green vs. No. 7 Eastern Michigan* (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 3 Ball State vs. No. 6 Akron* (ESPN+)
Friday, March 10, 2023 -- Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 10 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner* (ESPN+)
Saturday, March 11, 2023 -- MAC Championship
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 11 a.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
*Minimum 30 minutes between completion of prior game in the session
