Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, January 3
DeKalb, IL
6 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
4-7,1-0MAC
67
at
49
Northern Illinois
6-6,0-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
16
17
16
18
67
NIU
8
18
10
13
49
Strong Rebounding leads Eastern Michigan over Northern Illinois 67-49
1/3/2024 9:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tayra Eke and Treasure Thompson both record double-doubles in the win
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw four players reach double-digits in points and three in rebounds in the 67-49 road victory over Mid-American Conference foe, Northern Illinois University, Wednesday, Jan. 3.
Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU), ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City West), and Treasure Thompson (Joilet, Ill./Bolingbrook/LSU) each grabbed double-digit rebounds to help lead Eastern Michigan while both Eke and Thompson coupled their double-digit rebounds with double-figure points.
The Eagles (4-7, 1-0) had four players score in double figures, led by Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside), who had 13 points. Eke (11pts/11reb) and Thompson (10pts/10reb) each added a double-double while Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette) chipped in as well with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Led by Thompson's five offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 17 boards that resulted in 12 second-chance points.
EMU's defense held Northern Illinois to only 11.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 26.7 percent from the field.
How It Happened
After playing to a 2-2 tie early in the game, Eastern Michigan went on an 8-0 run with 9:04 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Myles, to take a 10-2 lead. The Eagles then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 16-8 advantage. Eastern Michigan did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Green and White kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 9:03 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo./Belton), to increase its lead to 21-10. The Huskies cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 33-26 advantage heading into halftime. The Eagles saw non-starters score 11 of its 17 total points off the bench in the quarter.
EMU continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Myles, to expand its lead further to 45-33 with 2:32 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Eagles added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 49-36 edge. Eastern Michigan scored four fast break points in the quarter.
The visiting Eagles kept widening that lead, expanding it to 57-42 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Thompson's layup, to grow the lead to 64-42 with 3:01 to go in the contest. The Huskies narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 67-49 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 18 points in the paint in the final quarter.
Game Notes
» Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton recorded her third consecutive career win in her third game as Interim Head Coach after debuting against IUPUI, Dec. 15. Additionally, the conference victory marked the first MAC win under Blanton's guidance.
» The Green and White led the Huskies 33-26 after the first half of play. It marked just the second time this season in which the Eagles led their opponent after halftime. Last season, EMU led its opponent after 30 minutes of play in 14 contests, going 11-3 in said games.
» Eastern out-rebounded NIU, 54-35. It marked the sixth contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 4-2 in such games. Additionally, the 54 boards mark the most rebounds collected by the Eagles this season, topping their previous season-high of 49 against IUPUI, Dec. 15.
» Eastern Michigan saw two players reach double-doubles in the same contest for the second time this season and the first since Eke and Myles both recorded the feat in the victory over SIUE, Nov. 18. The Green and White had two double-double performances in the same game four times last season, the most by any EMU team since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the feat in five games.
» Thompson's 10 points and 10 rebounds was good for the junior's first career double-double.
» Eke's double-double marked the seventh of her career and moves the junior to 15th all-time in career double-doubles.
» Along with her team-leading double-double, Eke connected with a shot from beyond the three-point line to mark her first career triple. Additionally, the junior blocked four NIU shots for her 17th career contest with three or more blocks.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan opened its 43rd Mid-American Conference slate with a win over NIU. After the victory, the Green and White are 21-22 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 15 of the last 20 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2002-03 season, the most recent of which was a close 68-67 victory over Miami University a season ago, Jan. 4.
» The last time the Eagles were victorious against a conference foe was in the final regular season contest of the 2022-23 season. In that game, EMU defeated Ohio University, 74-64, in Athens, Ohio, March 4.
» The last time the Green and White topped the Huskies was early in the 2022-23 season when the Eagles beat the Huskies, 66-61, in overtime, Jan. 21. Overall, EMU continues to lead the all-time series 40-22.
» The Eagles are currently on a three-game win streak with wins over IUPUI (84-74), Saginaw Valley (69-44), and NIU (67-49). The last time EMU saw three consecutive wins was last season when the team defeated Wright State (66-54), Hillsdale (76-61), and MAC foe Miami University (68-67) in a row.
Up Next
The Green and White will continue conference play as it prepares to play host to the University of Toledo Rockets, Saturday, Jan. 6, as the first part of a double-header with the men's team.
Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU), ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City West), and Treasure Thompson (Joilet, Ill./Bolingbrook/LSU) each grabbed double-digit rebounds to help lead Eastern Michigan while both Eke and Thompson coupled their double-digit rebounds with double-figure points.
The Eagles (4-7, 1-0) had four players score in double figures, led by Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside), who had 13 points. Eke (11pts/11reb) and Thompson (10pts/10reb) each added a double-double while Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette) chipped in as well with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Led by Thompson's five offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 17 boards that resulted in 12 second-chance points.
EMU's defense held Northern Illinois to only 11.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 26.7 percent from the field.
How It Happened
After playing to a 2-2 tie early in the game, Eastern Michigan went on an 8-0 run with 9:04 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Myles, to take a 10-2 lead. The Eagles then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 16-8 advantage. Eastern Michigan did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Green and White kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 9:03 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo./Belton), to increase its lead to 21-10. The Huskies cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 33-26 advantage heading into halftime. The Eagles saw non-starters score 11 of its 17 total points off the bench in the quarter.
EMU continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Myles, to expand its lead further to 45-33 with 2:32 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Eagles added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 49-36 edge. Eastern Michigan scored four fast break points in the quarter.
The visiting Eagles kept widening that lead, expanding it to 57-42 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Thompson's layup, to grow the lead to 64-42 with 3:01 to go in the contest. The Huskies narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 67-49 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 18 points in the paint in the final quarter.
Game Notes
» Interim Head Coach Ke'Sha Blanton recorded her third consecutive career win in her third game as Interim Head Coach after debuting against IUPUI, Dec. 15. Additionally, the conference victory marked the first MAC win under Blanton's guidance.
» The Green and White led the Huskies 33-26 after the first half of play. It marked just the second time this season in which the Eagles led their opponent after halftime. Last season, EMU led its opponent after 30 minutes of play in 14 contests, going 11-3 in said games.
» Eastern out-rebounded NIU, 54-35. It marked the sixth contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 4-2 in such games. Additionally, the 54 boards mark the most rebounds collected by the Eagles this season, topping their previous season-high of 49 against IUPUI, Dec. 15.
» Eastern Michigan saw two players reach double-doubles in the same contest for the second time this season and the first since Eke and Myles both recorded the feat in the victory over SIUE, Nov. 18. The Green and White had two double-double performances in the same game four times last season, the most by any EMU team since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Eagles recorded the feat in five games.
» Thompson's 10 points and 10 rebounds was good for the junior's first career double-double.
» Eke's double-double marked the seventh of her career and moves the junior to 15th all-time in career double-doubles.
» Along with her team-leading double-double, Eke connected with a shot from beyond the three-point line to mark her first career triple. Additionally, the junior blocked four NIU shots for her 17th career contest with three or more blocks.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan opened its 43rd Mid-American Conference slate with a win over NIU. After the victory, the Green and White are 21-22 all-time in league openers dating back to 1981-82. EMU has won 15 of the last 20 MAC-opening tilts going back to the 2002-03 season, the most recent of which was a close 68-67 victory over Miami University a season ago, Jan. 4.
» The last time the Eagles were victorious against a conference foe was in the final regular season contest of the 2022-23 season. In that game, EMU defeated Ohio University, 74-64, in Athens, Ohio, March 4.
» The last time the Green and White topped the Huskies was early in the 2022-23 season when the Eagles beat the Huskies, 66-61, in overtime, Jan. 21. Overall, EMU continues to lead the all-time series 40-22.
» The Eagles are currently on a three-game win streak with wins over IUPUI (84-74), Saginaw Valley (69-44), and NIU (67-49). The last time EMU saw three consecutive wins was last season when the team defeated Wright State (66-54), Hillsdale (76-61), and MAC foe Miami University (68-67) in a row.
Up Next
The Green and White will continue conference play as it prepares to play host to the University of Toledo Rockets, Saturday, Jan. 6, as the first part of a double-header with the men's team.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
FG%
.410
.267
3FG%
.278
.111
FT%
.750
.652
RB
54
35
TO
20
16
STL
11
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
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