Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-14,2-7MAC
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Western Michigan
9-10,4-5MAC
Eastern Michigan Falls to Western Michigan
1/31/2024 9:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Myles led with 13 points
Box score (PDF) | Highlight Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw a 16-point performance from the bench, but fell, 76-49, to the Western Michigan University Broncos at home Wednesday, Jan. 31, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Eagles (5-14, 2-7 Mid-American Conference) had two players score in double figures, led by Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette), who had 13 points and eight rebounds. Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU) tacked on 10 points and Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich./Wayne Memorial) added six points and four steals.
Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Western Michigan, 31-27, in Wednesday's game, led by Myles' eight boards. The Eagles also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and scored six second chance points.
EMU forced 14 Broncos turnovers. The Eagles turned those takeaways into nine points on the other end of the floor. Austin's four steals led the way for the Eagles.
How It Happened
The Green and White started out the scoring by going on a 5-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Eke, to take an early lead with 7:44 left in the first quarter. The Eagles then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 16-9.
The Eagles continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 33-16 halftime deficit.
Eastern Michigan came out of halftime on fire, going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Eke, to trim its deficit to 33-22 with 8:02 to go in the third. Western Michigan countered and stretched its lead to 56-34 heading into the fourth. The Green and White played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 18 points in the paint.
EMU could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 76-49. The Eagles took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 15 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Sophomore Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) earned her first collegiate start in the game with the Broncos, Jan. 31. The Michigan native posted four points, two assists, and one steal in 18 minutes of play.
» Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside) connected on one shot from beyond the arc in the contest versus WMU, Jan. 31. It was the 15th 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).
» Austin recorded four steals in the game, marking just the second time this season she has collected three or more in a single game and the 15th of her career. The last time the junior recorded the feat was when she earned three against the University of Toledo, Jan. 6.
» Olivia Westphal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park/Duquesne) drained a single three in the contest with WMU, Jan. 31. The junior has recorded a single make from beyond the three in four consecutive games for the first time in her career. It was her 16th made triple as an EMU Eagle and the 22nd of her career.
» EMU won the blocking-battle against the Broncos, 3-1. It was the ninth time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
» Eastern out-rebounded WMU, 31-27, Jan. 31. It marked the 10th contest the Eagles have collected more boards than its opponent, going 5-5 in such games.
Historical Notes
» After her four rebounds against the Broncos, Jan. 31, Eke sits just 72 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just 13 blocks away from her career milestone 150.
» Wednesday's match-up marked the 95th meeting between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. Despite the loss, EMU leads the all-time series, 53-42.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play as it opens the February schedule with a meeting in Buffalo, N.Y. The Eagles will take on the Bulls of the University at Buffalo, Saturday, Feb. 3.
