Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-4,0-0MAC
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Purdue Fort Wayne
3-2,0-0Horizon
WBB Drops Home Contest to Purdue Fort Wayne
11/21/2024 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eleko posted her third consecutive double-double while Smith scored 12
Box Score (pdf) | Postgame Presser
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell at home to visiting Purdue University Fort Wayne, 94-49, Nov. 21, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The Eagles (0-4) were paced by Sisi Eleko, who posted 15 points and 11 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double, and Olivia Smith, who chipped in a season-high 12 points. The Mastodons (3-2) saw four players reach double-digit scoring totals, including Lauren Ross, who scored a game-high 18 points.
How It Happened
The guests came out hot in the opening quarter as an 8-0 lead turned into a 21-11 advantage at the break. Eleko (Montreal Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) led the way with seven points while Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) and Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) added two points each.
In the second quarter, the visitors hit 64.7 percent of their shots while the Eagles were limited to 15.4 percent as a 30-9 quarter gave PFW a 51-20 lead at halftime.
Following intermission, the Mastodons built their advantage to 80-35. Eleko collected six more points and three more boards to bring her game totals to 13 points and 10 rebounds to record her third double-double of the season. In the same stanza, freshman Chelsea Bishop (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc), who made her debut in the game, drained a three-pointer for her first collegiate points.
The final quarter saw both teams post 14 points for the final 94-49 score. Smith scored seven of her 12 points in the final 10 minutes while rookie Olivia DiFranco (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) tallied her first collegiate points with a corner three.
Game Notes
» Sisi Eleko led Eastern Michigan on offense with 15 points and added 11 rebounds to record her third consecutive double-double. She currently leads the MAC in double-doubles while ranking tied for 22nd on the program's all-time double-double list (since 1999-00).
» Olivia Smith finished with her first double-digit scoring output of the season as she tallied 12 points, including two made three-pointers after hitting on just two from behind the arc in the previous three games. She also finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line to tie a career high for both makes and attempts that she had accomplished three times prior with the most recent instance coming Jan. 3, 2024, at Northern Illinois.
» Chelsea Bishop made her collegiate debut and recorded three points and three rebounds in 13 minutes played. Her first collegiate points came on a three from the wing in the third quarter.
» Freshman Olivia DiFranco, who played in her second collegiate game, also recorded her first collegiate points as she drained a corner three. DiFranco added on rebound and one blocked shot in the game.
Historical Notes
» The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-4 overall on the year while the Mastodons improved to 3-2.
» The loss also is the first in the series for the Eagles after having won the previous three games against the Mastodons.
» Eastern Michigan is now 55-41 all-time against the current members of the Horizon League.
Up Next
The second of back-to-back games against a member of the Horizon League awaits the Eagles, Nov. 26, when they travel to Calihan Hall in Detroit to take on the University of Detroit Mercy. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can listen live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and through The Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer on the call.
