Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-15,2-8MAC
Buffalo
12-8,6-4MAC
Women's Hoops Defeated by Buffalo Bulls
2/3/2024 9:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Myles earns double-double in setback
Box score (PDF)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team saw a 20-point performance from the bench, but fell 75-63 to the University at Buffalo on the road Saturday, Feb. 3, inside Alumni Arena.
The Eagles (5-15, 2-8) had two players score in double figures, led by Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/Illinois/Marquette), who had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Treasure Thompson (Joliet, Ill./Bolingbrook/Louisiana State) added 17 points and six rebounds and sophomore Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) added nine points.
Led by Myles' five offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 13 second chance points.
How It Happened
After falling behind 13-9, EMU went on a 5-0 run with 1:27 left in the first quarter to take a 14-13 lead. Buffalo then responded to tie things up at 14-14 heading into the second quarter. Eastern Michigan did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 14 points close to the basket.
The Bulls then took control in the second quarter and the Eagles entered halftime behind 38-21.
Buffalo continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 53-32 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 9-0 run to trim its deficit to 53-41 with 50 seconds to go in the third. The Eagles continued to reduce the Buffalo lead, shrinking it to 55-44 by the end of the third quarter. The Green and White played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 23 third-quarter points in the paint.
Buffalo kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 62-46 advantage before Eastern Michigan went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Olivia Smith's (Fort Wayne, Ind./Southside) three, to shrink the deficit to 62-52 with 4:46 to go in the contest. Buffalo responded and outscored the Eagles the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 75-63. The visiting Eagles took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 19 fourth-quarter points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Myles recorded her 14th career double-double and the fourth in an Eastern jersey with her 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulls, Feb. 3. The last time the graduate student recorded a double-double was when she posted 16 points and 11 boards against Ohio, Jan. 20.
» Myles' 17 points marks the seventh contest this season with double-digit points and the 32nd of her career. Additionally, Myles has posted 16 or more points in a single contest for the third time in her career. Her career-high stands at 23 against Merrimack College, Dec. 10, 2019, as a part of the Fighting Illini.
» Capaldi earned her second collegiate start in the game with the Bulls, Feb. 3, after doing so for the first time against WMU, Jan. 31. The Michigan native posted a personal best nine points in a career-high 31 minutes of play as well as helped on career-high four assists.
» Thompson found herself in the starting five for the fourth time this season and just the fifth in her career at EMU. The junior posted a season-high 17 points at Buffalo, Feb. 3, marking just the second time in her career with 17 or more points in a game, three shy of her career-high 20 set against Grace Christian, Nov. 18, 2021.
» Additionally, Thompson provided three assists in the loss to UB, Feb. 3. It was the second time Thompson had posted three or more helpers in a single game this season and just the third of her career after providing her career-high seven against Grace Christian, Nov. 18, 2021.
» Smith connected on two shots from beyond the arc in the contest versus Buffalo, Feb. 3. It was the 16th 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).
» Olivia Westphal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park/Duquesne) drained a single three in the contest with UB, Feb. 3. The junior has recorded a single make from beyond the three in five consecutive games for the first time in her career. It was her 17th made triple as an EMU Eagle and the 23rd of her career.
» EMU won the blocking-battle against the Bulls, 2-0. It was the 10th time this season the Eagles have out-blocked their opponent. Last season, the team recorded more blocks than its foe in 19 contests.
» Three Eagles assisted on a bucket three or more times in the loss to Buffalo, Feb. 3. The last time the Eagles recorded this sort of feat was when the team did so in the victory over Miami, Jan. 17.
Historical Notes
» After her five rebounds against the Bulls, Feb. 3, Tayra Eke (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset/LIU) sits just 67 boards away from her career milestone 500. Additionally, the junior is just 12 blocks away from her career milestone 150.
» The Eagles and the Bulls met for just the 33rd time in program history, the least versus any MAC foe. Prior to the game, the two schools held an even 16-16 all-time record against one another with the Bulls now holding the upperhand.
Up Next
Eastern will continue conference play as it readies to play host to the University of Akron Zips Wednesday, Feb. 7, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The contest is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
