Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 17
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-17,2-10MAC
52
vs
61
Northern Illinois
12-12,5-7MAC
1
2
3
4
F
NIU
22
9
7
23
61
Eastern Mich.
11
10
19
12
52
Women's Hoops Falls to NIU Despite Third-Quarter Push
2/17/2024 2:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Austin led with 19 points in setback
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw three players combine for 39 points in the 61-52 setback to Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois University Saturday, Feb. 17, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Lachelle Austin's (Redford, Mich./Wayne Memorial) 19, Tayra Eke's (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU) 12, and Treasure Thompson's (Joliet, Ill./ Bolingbrook/ Louisiana State) eight combined to score 39 of Eastern Michigan's 52 total points.
The Eagles (6-17, 2-10) had two players score in double figures, led by Austin's 19 points. Eke paired her 12 points with eight rebounds and two blocks, while Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette) added seven points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) pulled down five offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Eastern Michigan, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into eight points.
The Green and White's defense held Northern Illinois to only 34.8 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles fought back in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 31-21 by halftime.
Northern Illinois continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 34-23 advantage before EMU went on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a three from Austin, to trim its deficit to 34-33 with 4:04 to go in the third. The Eagles kept the rally going and took control on a Thompson layup with nothing left on the clock for a 40-38 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 19 total points.
NIU then erased the Eastern Michigan lead in the game's final quarter for a 61-52 comeback victory. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Austin's 19 points in the setback to NIU, Feb. 17 marked her fifth season game with double-digit points and the 30th of her career. Additionally, the junior has posted 19 or more tallies in three contests this season and 10 in her three-year career.
» Included in her 19 points, Austin connected on three of her eight attempts from beyond the yard. It was just the second time this season the junior has posted three makes from the three-point line and the seventh of her career after collecting five as a sophomore.
» Capaldi earned her fifth collegiate start in the game with NIU, Feb. 17, after doing so for the first time against WMU, Jan. 31. The Michigan native has earned a made three-pointer in four consecutive games as she went 1-of-4 in the setback.
» Capaldi was a huge contributor to EMU's rebounds as the sophomore collected a career-high nine rebounds to top her previous personal-best of four, set on two separate occasions with the last coming at Buffalo, Feb. 3.
» Myles chipped in with three assists against the Huskies defense, Feb. 17, marking her seventh game at Eastern with three or more helpers in a single contest and the 22nd of her career. The grad student has helped on three or more shots in three consecutive games, marking the first time in her career with the feat.
» Myles' 13 boards against NIU, Feb. 17, marked the Ohio native's eighth contest with double-digit rebounds at Eastern and the 25th of her career. She has posted double-digit rebounds in four consecutive games. The four back-to-back games with double-figure rebounds mark the first for the graduate student, having previously collected the feat in three straight games twice in her career.
» Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside) connected on a shot from beyond the arc, going 1-of-7 from the three-point line in the contest versus the Huskies, Feb. 17. It was the 19th 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).
» Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 12th time this season after posting two against the Huskies, Feb. 17. The last time she produced more than a single block in a game was when she posted two against the University of Akron, Feb. 7. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
» EMU won the blocking battle against the Huskies, 4-1. It was the 12th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent and the first since they went 5-2 against the Zips, Feb. 7. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
Historical Notes
» After her eight rebounds against NIU, Feb. 17, Eke sits just 44 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just 8 blocks away from her career milestone 150.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play as it prepares to take a midweek trip to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face the Broncos of Western Michigan Wednesday, Feb. 21. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start.
Lachelle Austin's (Redford, Mich./Wayne Memorial) 19, Tayra Eke's (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU) 12, and Treasure Thompson's (Joliet, Ill./ Bolingbrook/ Louisiana State) eight combined to score 39 of Eastern Michigan's 52 total points.
The Eagles (6-17, 2-10) had two players score in double figures, led by Austin's 19 points. Eke paired her 12 points with eight rebounds and two blocks, while Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette) added seven points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) pulled down five offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Eastern Michigan, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into eight points.
The Green and White's defense held Northern Illinois to only 34.8 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan struggled out of the gate, falling behind 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles fought back in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 31-21 by halftime.
Northern Illinois continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 34-23 advantage before EMU went on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a three from Austin, to trim its deficit to 34-33 with 4:04 to go in the third. The Eagles kept the rally going and took control on a Thompson layup with nothing left on the clock for a 40-38 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 19 total points.
NIU then erased the Eastern Michigan lead in the game's final quarter for a 61-52 comeback victory. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Austin's 19 points in the setback to NIU, Feb. 17 marked her fifth season game with double-digit points and the 30th of her career. Additionally, the junior has posted 19 or more tallies in three contests this season and 10 in her three-year career.
» Included in her 19 points, Austin connected on three of her eight attempts from beyond the yard. It was just the second time this season the junior has posted three makes from the three-point line and the seventh of her career after collecting five as a sophomore.
» Capaldi earned her fifth collegiate start in the game with NIU, Feb. 17, after doing so for the first time against WMU, Jan. 31. The Michigan native has earned a made three-pointer in four consecutive games as she went 1-of-4 in the setback.
» Capaldi was a huge contributor to EMU's rebounds as the sophomore collected a career-high nine rebounds to top her previous personal-best of four, set on two separate occasions with the last coming at Buffalo, Feb. 3.
» Myles chipped in with three assists against the Huskies defense, Feb. 17, marking her seventh game at Eastern with three or more helpers in a single contest and the 22nd of her career. The grad student has helped on three or more shots in three consecutive games, marking the first time in her career with the feat.
» Myles' 13 boards against NIU, Feb. 17, marked the Ohio native's eighth contest with double-digit rebounds at Eastern and the 25th of her career. She has posted double-digit rebounds in four consecutive games. The four back-to-back games with double-figure rebounds mark the first for the graduate student, having previously collected the feat in three straight games twice in her career.
» Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside) connected on a shot from beyond the arc, going 1-of-7 from the three-point line in the contest versus the Huskies, Feb. 17. It was the 19th 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).
» Eke recorded multiple blocks in a single game for the 12th time this season after posting two against the Huskies, Feb. 17. The last time she produced more than a single block in a game was when she posted two against the University of Akron, Feb. 7. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
» EMU won the blocking battle against the Huskies, 4-1. It was the 12th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent and the first since they went 5-2 against the Zips, Feb. 7. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
Historical Notes
» After her eight rebounds against NIU, Feb. 17, Eke sits just 44 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just 8 blocks away from her career milestone 150.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play as it prepares to take a midweek trip to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face the Broncos of Western Michigan Wednesday, Feb. 21. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start.
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Team Stats
NIU
EMU
FG%
.348
.286
3FG%
.294
.227
FT%
1.000
1.000
RB
46
44
TO
9
9
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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