Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, December 20
Edinburg, Texas
5 p.m. ET
Eastern Michigan University
1-8,0-0MAC
52
vs
67
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
7-4,0-1Southland
1
2
3
4
F
A&M-Corpus Christi
18
12
19
18
67
Eastern Mich.
22
4
12
14
52
Photo by: Karen Carrazco/UTRGV
WBB Falls to TAMUCC at UTRGV Holiday Classic
12/20/2024 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eleko posts her sixth double-double of the year while Amalia chips in 11
EDINBURG, Texas (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team received another strong showing from Sisi Eleko by way of her sixth double-double of the season, but it was not enough as the Eagles dropped a 67-52 decision to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in their final game of the UTRGV Holiday Classic in Edinburg, Texas, Dec. 20. The Eagles (1-8) started off hot with six three-pointers in the first quarter, but turnovers plagued EMU as the Islanders (7-4) scored 26 points off those miscues.
How It Happened
Both teams came out hot, but the Eagles had the hotter hand as they were 6-of-10 from three to take a 22-18 lead through one. Mackenzie Amalia (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk/Canisius) was 3-of-5 from behind the arc, including making the first two shots of the game from deep, while Eleko (Montreal Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), Olivia Westphal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park/Duquesne), and Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) each drained one triple in the frame.
The second quarter saw both teams struggle to find their shot early on with the Eagles being held to 20 percent shooting (2-of-10) and committing 11 turnovers while scoring four points. The Islanders, who recorded nine steals in the frame, went on a 10-0 run to close out the half for a 30-26 lead at the break.
In the third, Eleko posted four points while five of the team's 12 points came from the free throw line. Smith drained a three-point bucket with Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo./Belton) cleaning up a missed shot for a layup to cap the scoring with the Eagles trailing, 49-38.
The fourth quarter opened with the Eagles on a 5-0 run with Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) laying the ball in before hitting a corner three-pointer to cut into the deficit to six. But the Islanders went on an 11-0 run of their own to push their advantage to 17 with just under five minutes remaining in the game with the Eagles unable to erase the deficit, falling, 67-52.
Game Notes
» Sisi Eleko made it back-to-back games and six overall with a double-double as she scored 19 points and added 14 rebounds in the game. The MAC leader in both categories, Eleko added one steal and one block in the game with four of her 14 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. Eleko has scored 10+ points in all nine games this year on the way to recording her 24th career double-double.
» Mackenzie Amalia had the hot hand to open the game as she was 3-of-4 shooting from three in the first quarter before finishing the game with 11 points and team-high six assists. Amalia has now scored 10+ points in four consecutive games, the longest streak of her career.
» Olivia Westphal continued to hit from deep as she splashed home two three-pointers, marking the ninth game in a row she has made multiple triples. Additionally, she has scored 22 three-pointers through eight games played this year, leaving her one shy of equaling her season total of 23 (in 28 games) from 2023-24.
» Midway through the first quarter, Olivia Smith drained a three-pointer on the wing to bring her career total to 502 points. She finished the game with nine points (508) while adding three rebounds and two assists.
» The Eagles finished 9-of-25 from behind the arc to extend their current streak to 113 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The last EMU failed to drain a long-distance shot came Nov. 29, 2020, when Eastern finished 0-of-15 from three-point range at home against UIC.
» With their nine made three-pointers, Eastern extended its streak to 10 consecutive games with 5+ made triples dating back to the 2023-24 season finale, March 9, 2024, against visiting Bowling Green.
Historical Notes
» With the loss, the Eagles fell to 1-8 on the year while the Islanders improved to 7-4.
» Texas A&M-Corpus Christi holds a 1-0 lead in the all-time series after winning the first meeting.
Up Next
Following the holiday break, the Eagles will return to action Dec. 28 when they play host to the Tommies of the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in a 2 p.m. game inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network with Tom Helmer on the call.
How It Happened
Both teams came out hot, but the Eagles had the hotter hand as they were 6-of-10 from three to take a 22-18 lead through one. Mackenzie Amalia (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk/Canisius) was 3-of-5 from behind the arc, including making the first two shots of the game from deep, while Eleko (Montreal Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), Olivia Westphal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park/Duquesne), and Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) each drained one triple in the frame.
The second quarter saw both teams struggle to find their shot early on with the Eagles being held to 20 percent shooting (2-of-10) and committing 11 turnovers while scoring four points. The Islanders, who recorded nine steals in the frame, went on a 10-0 run to close out the half for a 30-26 lead at the break.
In the third, Eleko posted four points while five of the team's 12 points came from the free throw line. Smith drained a three-point bucket with Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo./Belton) cleaning up a missed shot for a layup to cap the scoring with the Eagles trailing, 49-38.
The fourth quarter opened with the Eagles on a 5-0 run with Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) laying the ball in before hitting a corner three-pointer to cut into the deficit to six. But the Islanders went on an 11-0 run of their own to push their advantage to 17 with just under five minutes remaining in the game with the Eagles unable to erase the deficit, falling, 67-52.
Game Notes
» Sisi Eleko made it back-to-back games and six overall with a double-double as she scored 19 points and added 14 rebounds in the game. The MAC leader in both categories, Eleko added one steal and one block in the game with four of her 14 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. Eleko has scored 10+ points in all nine games this year on the way to recording her 24th career double-double.
» Mackenzie Amalia had the hot hand to open the game as she was 3-of-4 shooting from three in the first quarter before finishing the game with 11 points and team-high six assists. Amalia has now scored 10+ points in four consecutive games, the longest streak of her career.
» Olivia Westphal continued to hit from deep as she splashed home two three-pointers, marking the ninth game in a row she has made multiple triples. Additionally, she has scored 22 three-pointers through eight games played this year, leaving her one shy of equaling her season total of 23 (in 28 games) from 2023-24.
» Midway through the first quarter, Olivia Smith drained a three-pointer on the wing to bring her career total to 502 points. She finished the game with nine points (508) while adding three rebounds and two assists.
» The Eagles finished 9-of-25 from behind the arc to extend their current streak to 113 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The last EMU failed to drain a long-distance shot came Nov. 29, 2020, when Eastern finished 0-of-15 from three-point range at home against UIC.
» With their nine made three-pointers, Eastern extended its streak to 10 consecutive games with 5+ made triples dating back to the 2023-24 season finale, March 9, 2024, against visiting Bowling Green.
Historical Notes
» With the loss, the Eagles fell to 1-8 on the year while the Islanders improved to 7-4.
» Texas A&M-Corpus Christi holds a 1-0 lead in the all-time series after winning the first meeting.
Up Next
Following the holiday break, the Eagles will return to action Dec. 28 when they play host to the Tommies of the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in a 2 p.m. game inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network with Tom Helmer on the call.
Team Stats
TA&MCC
EMU
FG%
.518
.373
3FG%
.333
.360
FT%
.600
.625
RB
30
33
TO
16
24
STL
16
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
S/Y
/ Women's BasketballM/F
/ Women's Basketball
Y/M
/ Women's BasketballS/Y
/ Women's Basketball
M
/ Women's BasketballW/Y
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of Aug. 4, 2025
Sunday, August 10
Inaugural Bowling with the Eagles Event
Friday, August 08
Women's Basketball Practice Highlights Week of July 28, 2025
Friday, August 08
2025 Women's Basketball Alumni Panel
Wednesday, July 30