Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-10,2-3MAC
Miami
3-12,1-4MAC
Eastern Michigan Earns 53-48 Win Over Miami
1/17/2024 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles produce nine team blocks in the win tied for 8th all-time in a single game
Box Score (pdf)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fought back from a 34-32 deficit after the third quarter to beat the Miami University RedHawks, 53-48, helped by an impressive defensive performance at home Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU) put together a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eagles (5-10, 2-3 Mid-American Conference). Treasure Thompson (Joliet, Ill./Bolingbrook/Louisiana State) also tacked on six points, six rebounds, and three steals from the bench and Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette) cleaned up the glass with 12 rebounds.
Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Miami, 45-32, in Wednesday's game, led by Myles' 12 boards. The Eagles also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and scored five second chance points.
EMU's defense held the RedHawks to only 30.4 percent shooting from the field.
How It Happened
After falling behind, 5-3, EMU went on a 5-0 run with 6:28 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Eke, to take an 8-5 lead. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down, 14-8.
The Green and White continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 26-19 halftime deficit.
Eastern came out of halftime on fire, going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)), to tie things up at 26 with 7:08 to go in the third. The Eagles could not advance their rally further as the RedHawks took a 34-32 lead into the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 13 points in the paint.
Miami kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 37-32 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 13-0 run, finished off by Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich./Wayne Memorial) layup, to seize a 45-37 lead with 5:30 to go in the contest. The RedHawks narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 53-48 win. Eastern Michigan fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 21 points.
Game Notes
» Eke's 12 points and 11 rebounds against Miami was good for her fourth season double-double and the ninth of her career. The last time the junior posted double figures in both points and rebounds was two games prior when she posted 15 points and 12 rebounds against BGSU, Jan. 10. Additionally, her 12 points against the RedHawks marked the sixth consecutive game with double-digit points. It was the eighth of the season and the 21st of her career.
» Eke recorded six blocks in the win which tied the junior's career-high set against Army West Point, Dec. 1, 2021, as an LIU Shark. The six blocks was the third time this season Eke has recorded five or more stops in a single game.
» Eke recorded multiple blocks in the win for the ninth time this season and the fifth consecutive. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
» Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside) connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the conference win over the RedHawks, going 3-for-6 (.500). It was the 11th contest this season in which Smith has made a single three-pointer. Last season, the then-rookie led the team in triples recording a single make in 25 total games. Her longest streak of consecutive games with a made triple was 13 (Dec. 17, 2022- Feb. 1, 2023).
» Smith's three triples marked the third contest of the season in which the sophomore has recorded three or more made threes and the 11th of her career. She currently leads the Eagles with 21 made triples on the season.
» Three Eagles assisted on a bucket three or more times in the same contest. Smith provided a team-leading four assists, marking the third time this season with three or more helpers in one game. Additionally, it was Eke's fifth season contest with three or more assists and Austin's fourth.
» Cali Denson (Milwaukie, Ore./Milwaukie Academy of the Arts) was in the starting lineup for the 14th consecutive game after doing so for the first time in her career in the road game at Georgia Southern University, Nov. 11. Denson continues to be the only freshman this season to be in the starting five.
» EMU won the blocking-battle against Miami, 9-2. It was the sixth time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent and the third consecutive. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
» The Green and White's nine team blocks ties for eighth in EMU single-game history and is the most since Dec. 30, 2018, when the team posted nine against Northwood University.
» The victory marked the sixth time this season in which the EMU offense has produced six or more made triples. The team recorded their season high of eight at IUPUI, Dec. 15. Furthermore, it was the second-straight game in which the Eagles have made six three-pointers after doing so against CMU, Jan. 13.
» EMU allowed just 48 Miami points, tied for the lowest number of points scored of any MAC foe this season after holding Toledo to 48, marking just the fourth time the Eagles have kept their opponent under 50. The Green and White are 3-1 in said games.
» The Eagles shared the ball well, recording an assist on 78 percent of made baskets.
Historical Notes
» Tonight's matchup marked the 67th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Miami. Despite Eastern's victory, the RedHawks lead the all-time series, 42-25. However, EMU has won the last six battles and came out on top in seven of the last 10 games.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play as it prepares to travel to Ohio University, Saturday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m.
