Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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WBB Erases 20-Point Deficit for First Win, 72-60, over Xavier
12/1/2024 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eastern trailed, 45-25, at the half before outscoring the Musketeers, 47-15, in the second
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team secured its first win of the season as the Eagles, who trailed by 20 at halftime, outscored visiting Xavier University, 47-15, in the second half to claim a 72-60 win over the Musketeers (4-3) inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Dec. 1. The Eagles (1-5), who drained a season-best 13 three-point baskets, including 8-of-13 in the second half, recorded the first win for Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh, who is in her first season with the program.
How It Happened
The Eagles struggled out of the gate and trailed by 12 (23-11) at the end of the first quarter, a stanza in which the Musketeers shot 71.4 percent from the floor, including 75.0 percent from three. The visitors extended their lead to 20 points at halftime (45-25) as Xavier shot 70.4 percent in the opening 20 minutes while the Eagles were held to just 32.0 percent.
In the second half, however, the tables turned in a big way as Eastern opened the third quarter on an 18-1 run that saw the third ended with the Eagles on a 24-3 run to grab a 49-48 lead, their first of the season when entering the fourth quarter. In the final period, the Eagles continued their hot play as they scored 23 more points to Xavier's 12 to turn the 20-point halftime deficit into a 12-point victory. The win marked the first time since Dec. 15, 2023, when the Eagles trailed by 10+ points before eventually winning the game after defeating Indiana University at Indianapolis, 84-74 in overtime.
Game Notes
» The win for the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak to open the season while also recording the first victory for Sahar Nusseibeh as the team's head coach.
» Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) finished the game with 23 points and seven rebounds to recorded 20+ points in back-to-back games for the third time in her career and the first time as a member of the EMU program. Eleko, who last accomplished the feat with Canisius in road games against St. Peter's (24 points) and Rider (20), scored 21 points in the second half after recording just two in the opening 20 minutes of play. Eleko, who entered the game ranked sixth nationally in scoring, tallied 20+ points for the 12 time in her career and the fourth time in six games with the Eagles.
» Prior to the game, Sisi Eleko had made multiple three-point baskets in the same game just four times, including the four she made at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 26. With two triples against Xavier, Eleko marked the first time in her career she has made multiple three-pointers in back-to-back games. She also has made at least one three-pointer in four consecutive games, tying the longest streak of her career.
» Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) finished the game with 16 points, including four made three-point baskets, while adding six rebounds and three steals. She tied her career high, which she scored against Binghamton, Nov. 20, 2022, while playing for Canisius, and surpassed her season high of 15 points scored against Alabama A&M, Nov. 9. Additionally, the four makes from beyond the arc doubled her career high of two recorded nine times, including against AAMU earlier this year.
» Mackenzie Amalia (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk/Canisius) scored 10 points while dishing out a team-high eight assists in the game. Amalia, who tied her season high with four rebounds as well, tied a career high with one block (vs. Fairfield, March 15, 2024, with Canisius) while reaching double-digit scoring for the second time in as many games after scoring 13 at Detroit Mercy.
» Eastern Michigan saw three players finish with double-digit points in the same game for the first time this year with Sisi Eleko (23), Brooklyn Thrash (16), and Mackenzie Amalia (10) hitting the mark. The previous five games this season saw two players score 10+ in each game.
» Jada Williams (Williamstown, N.J./Gloucester Catholic/St. Peter's) made her Eastern Michigan debut as the transfer from St. Peter's came into the game in the second quarter and made an immediate impact. In the six minutes she played, Williams scored on a post move and drained both of her free throw attempts for four points, marking her first points since Nov. 15, 2023, at Illinois. Williams, who also added one rebound and one steal, last played in a game Nov. 19, 2023, at Marquette, before an injury sidelined her until the game with Xavier.
» Elena Cabello (Malaga, Spain/IES Mediterraneo) made her first career start for the Eagles after appearing in 23 games during the 2022-23 season and all five this season. Cabello, who missed the 2023-24 season with an injury, scored eight points, which tied her career high set Feb. 18, 2023, at Toledo, while tying a career high with two made three-point baskets, which she had done three times previously.
Historical Notes
» With the win, the Eagles improved to 1-5 overall while the Musketeers fell to 4-3.
» The win for Eastern also is the first for Sahar Nusseibeh as the program's head coach. Nusseibeh was 32-60 in three seasons leading the Canisius program before taking over at EMU for the 2024-25 season.
» EMU is now 2-0 all-time against Xavier after winning the first meeting, 51-44, Dec. 17, 2022, in Cincinnati.
» The Eagles improved to 6-9 all-time against the current members of the Big East Conference.
» The last time the Eagles trailed by 10+ points in a game and came back to win was nearly one year ago as the Eagles came back to defeat IU Indy, 84-74 in overtime, Dec. 15, 2023, on the road.
Up Next
The Eagles will have a two-week break in competition for the end of the fall semester and next take the court Sunday, Dec. 15, against the No. 3/No. 3 University of Notre Dame. The Eagles and Fighting Irish are set to meet in South Bend, Ind., in a 2 p.m. game that will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
