Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
6-18,2-11MAC
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Western Michigan
11-13,6-7MAC
Myles Records Double-Double in 65-55 Setback to Western Michigan
2/21/2024 9:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Eagles take on Miami Saturday
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell to Mid-American Conference member and in-state rival, Western Michigan University, 65-55, despite a strong third-quarter showing, Feb. 21, inside University Arena.
In addition to a double-double from Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette), the Eagles (6-18, 2-11) were led by Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich./Wayne Memorial), who put up eight points and three steals, and Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU), who tacked on nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Eastern Michigan grabbed 35 rebounds in Wednesday's game compared to Western Michigan's 34, led by Myles' 10 boards. The Eagles also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 15 rebounds into 16 second chance points.
Eastern Michigan forced 18 Western Michigan turnovers while committing 17 themselves in Wednesday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 15 points on the other end of the floor. Austin's three steals led the way for EMU.
How It Happened
After falling behind 12-3, Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run with 4:35 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside), to narrow its deficit to 12-8.
Western Michigan answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Eagles down 21-14 entering the second quarter. The Eagles continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 39-16 halftime deficit.
After intermission, the Green and White cut its deficit to 46-27 before going on an 8-0 run to trim its deficit to 46-35 with 2:06 to go in the third. Western Michigan countered and stretched its lead to 48-36 heading into the fourth. EMU played well near the basket, scoring 16 of its 20 third-quarter points in the paint.
WMU kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 49-36 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Smith's three, to shrink the deficit to 49-41 with 7:58 to go in the contest. The Broncos responded and outscored the Eagles the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 65-55. EMU took advantage of seven Western Michigan turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Myles recorded her 17th career double-double and the seventh in an Eastern jersey with her 12 points and 10 rebounds against the in-state rivals, Feb. 21.
» Smith's 11 points in the setback to Western Michigan, Feb. 21, marked her eighth season double-digit outcome and the 18th of her two-year career.
» Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) earned her sixth collegiate start in the game at Western Michigan, Feb. 21, after doing so for the first time against WMU, Jan. 31. The sophomore contributed three rebounds, one assists, and five points for the Eagles.
» Myles' 10 boards against WMU, Feb. 21, marked the Ohio native's ninth contest with double-digit rebounds at Eastern and the 26th of her career. She has posted double-digit rebounds in five consecutive games. The five straight games with double-figure rebounds marks the first for the graduate student in her five-year career.
» Austin recorded three steals in the game against WMU, Feb. 21, marking just the fourth time this season she has collected three or more in a single game and the 17th of her career. The last time the junior recorded the feat was when she earned three against the University of Akron, Feb. 7. Additionally, her three picks was one short of her career-high four, which she has set for in four different occasions.
» Smith connected on two shots from beyond the arc, going 2-of-5 from the three point line in the contest versus the Broncos, Feb. 21. It was the 20th 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 13th time this season after posting two against the Broncos, Feb. 21. The last time she produced more than a single block in a game was when she posted two against Northern Illinois, Feb. 17. Last season, the junior recorded the feat in 17 contests.
» EMU won the blocking-battle against the Broncos, 5-2. It was the 13th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
Historical Notes
» After her seven rebounds against WMU, Feb. 21, Eke sits just 37 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just 6 blocks away from her career milestone 150.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play on the road as it travels to Oxford, Ohio, Saturday, Feb. 24, to face MAC foe, Miami University. The contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
