Women’s Hoops Heads to Kent State Wednesday

GAME #19: Women's Basketball at Kent State
Date	Wednesday, Jan. 29 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	M.A.C. Center (6,327)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (pdf)
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	n/a
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets for future home games

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will play its third road game in 11 days when the Eagles meet Kent State University Wednesday, Jan. 29, inside the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio. The game between the Eagles (1-17, 0-8 MAC) and Golden Flashes (13-7, 6-2 MAC) will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats while periodic updates will be posted on the team's official X account (@EMUWBB).

FREE THROWS
» Alumni Weekend will take place this weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, with events planned around EMU's game with Toledo. The Alumni Game (Jan. 31) and the Alumni Mixer (Feb. 1 at Aubree's) will bookend the game with the Rockets (2 p.m., Feb. 1).
» The pairings for the second half of the 2024-25 MAC/SBC Challenge were announced, Jan. 13, with the Eagles set to face Georgia State, Feb. 8, in Atlanta. The game will tip-off at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
» Sisi Eleko posted her 10th double-double of the season as the junior scored 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds at Ohio (Jan. 25). Eleko, who leads the MAC in double-doubles and ranks 16th nationally, is now tied for 13th on the program's all-time ledger (since 1999).
» Sisi Eleko is the only player in the MAC averaging a double-double as she ranks second in both points (19.0) and rebounds (10.2). She has scored 20+ points seven times and posted 12+ rebounds seven times following her 25 and 12 at Ohio (Jan. 25).
» Olivia Westphal continues to hit from deep as she scored three more three-pointers at Ohio to make it three consecutive games with at least three triples after scoring five at Central Michigan (Jan. 18) before adding four at home against Northern Illinois (Jan. 22). Westphal has made 3+ three-pointers in seven games this year, including her last three, while hitting for at least 2 in 15-of-17 games played.
» Olivia Smith recorded a career-high eight assists at Ohio (Jan. 25), a game that saw her tie her season-high of four in the first quarter alone. Her previous career high was seven assists, which she recorded in a game at Lindenwood, Dec. 7, 2023.
» Mackenzie Amalia continues to lead the nation with 38.4 minutes played per game. The Eagles currently have five players that rank in the MAC's top 25 in minutes played, including Sisi Eleko (4th: 33.6), Olivia Westphal (17th: 30.8), Brooklyn Thrash (20th: 30.1), and Olivia Smith (t-22nd: 29.2).
» The Eagles connected on seven three-pointers at Ohio (Jan. 25) to extend their current streak to 121 consecutive games with at least one made triple. The last time EMU was held without a three-pointer was Nov. 29, 2020, against UIC (0-of-15).

ALUMNI WEEKEND IS THIS WEEKEND!
The program will play host to Alumni Weekend this weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, with events planned before and after the Eagles' game with visiting Toledo. All alumni are welcome back and can sign up to play in the Alumni Game, Friday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. to open the weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 1, alumni are welcomed to watch the team's shoot around at 9 a.m. before cheering on the Eagles against the Rockets at 2 p.m. Following the game, all alumni are invited to Aubree's in Depot Town for the Alumni Mixer. To reserve your spot, e-mail Assistant Coach Kayla Jackson (kjack143@emich.edu) with your updated contact info along with if you plan to play in the Alumni Game and if you plan to attend the Alumni Mixer.

KNOW THE FOE: KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes enter Wednesday's game with a 13-7 record overall and stand 6-2 in the MAC, which ties them with Buffalo for second place behind Ball State (8-0). Kent State has won three consecutive games with the last two coming on the road in wins of 77-56 at Central Michigan (Jan. 22) and 77-63 at Miami (Jan. 25). Individually, Jenna Batsch paces the offense with 15.3 points per game while Mya Babbitt is averaging 12.5. Dionna Gray leads the team with 4.7 assists while Bridget Dunn is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game, which leads the MAC.

ALL-TIME VS. KENT STATE
The Eagles trail in the all-time series, 28-47, and have lost seven consecutive meetings to the Golden Flashes, including a 76-64 decision in Ypsilanti, Feb. 28, 2024. The Eagles are 8-27 all-time in Kent, Ohio, and have dropped three in a row, including a 66-57 decision inside the M.A.C. Center, Jan. 24, 2024. The last time Eastern downed KSU was also its last win at Kent as the Eagles scored a 74-69 win, Jan. 8, 2020.

THE STREAKS
The series between EMU and KSU has been a grouping of streaks. The Golden Flashes have won seven in a row and 13-of-14. Prior to that run, the Eagles had won 11 consecutive meetings and 15-of-18. That run was preceded by KSU taking 19 in a row.

GLASS CLEANERS
The EMU at KSU game will feature the top two rebounders in the MAC as Kent State's Bridget Dunn leads the way with 10.4 boards and Sisi Eleko is second at 10.2. The duo also has collected the most total rebounds in the league with Dunn bringing down 208 to Eleko's 184. Eleko holds the edge in offensive rebounding as she ranks third with 2.9 (52 total) while Dunn is 17th at 1.4 (28 total).

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 121 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season, after scoring seven at Ohio, Jan. 25. The longest streak in that period is 281 games, which started with seven makes at Northern Illinois, Jan. 31, 2002, and ended with no makes in the MAC Tournament, March 11, 2011, against Toledo. The second longest streak lasted 157 games and started Dec. 9, 2014, until no makes halted the streak, Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.

FROM DOWNTOWN
Eastern is averaging 7.4 made three-pointers per game, which ranks fourth in the MAC. With its seven made triples at Ohio (Jan. 25), Eastern has connected on 7+ triples in seven consecutive games and 12-of-18 games this season.

SHE'S HEATING UP...
After opening the season with 26 three-pointers in the first nine games of the year, Olivia Westphal was limited in her deep shots to open MAC play as she scored seven in the first five league games. She has since returned to her early season form as she had nailed 12 in the past three games, including four at Central Michigan (Jan. 18), a career-high-tying five at home against Northern Illinois (Jan. 22), and three at Ohio (Jan. 25). In the games with CMU and NIU, she made four or more triples in back-to-back games for the first time in her career and hit at least four three-pointers in the same game five times this year after having not done so in her previous two seasons.

WESTY HEADING NORTH
In her last three games, Olivia Westphal has tallied a career-high 42 points (14 at CMU; 17 vs. NIU; 11 at Ohio), surpassing the 41 she scored in the opening three games of the season. Westphal, who tallied 12 three-pointers in both of those three-game stretches, has now scored double-digit point totals in three-consecutive games for the first time in her career. She has now scored 10+ points in eight games this year after reaching the marker just five times over the past two seasons.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has made 45 three pointers in 17 games this year (2.6 per game), which is 22 more than her total from the 2023-24 season when she scored 23 three-pointers in 28 games (0.8). Additionally, Westphal has scored 2+ triples in 15-of-17 games played this year after she made 1+ three-point shots in 12-of-28 games last year. If she can maintain her current pace, Westphal could make at least 70 three-pointers this season, something that hasn't happened since the 2015-16 season when both Janay Morton (76) and Cha Sweeney (70) accomplished the feat.

SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko piled up 25 points and 12 rebounds at Ohio (Jan. 25) to record her league-leading 10th double-double, which also ranks her 16th nationally. Eleko, who is now tied for 13th with Tayra Eke (2022-24) and Areanna Combs (2019-22) on the program's all-time double-double list (since 1999), has tallied 30 in her career, which ties her for 30th on the NCAA's active players list, joining four other players.

ELITE COMPANY
Sisi Eleko also is on pace to do something done just two other EMU players have done in program history: average a double-double for the season. The first to do so was Felicia Hines, who tallied 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds during the 1984-85 season. Ce'Nara Skanes was the most recent entrant to the list as she averaged 16.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 season. Through the game at Ohio (Jan. 25), Eleko is averaging 19.0 points and 10.2 rebounds this season.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Three Eagles remain among the top 50 nationally in several statistical categories, led by Sisi Eleko, who holds rankings in four categories. Eleko is averaging 19.0 points (33rd) and 10.2 rebounds (23rd) while recording 184 total rebounds (37th) and 10 double-doubles (16th).

Mackenzie Amalia is also among the national top 50 in a pair of categories. She is currently the NCAA and MAC leader with 38.4 minutes played per game while her 5.2 assists per contest rank second in the MAC and 34th nationally. Additionally, Olivia Westphal is averaging 2.6 three-pointers per game to rank 29th nationally.

TRENDING UPWARD
With her strong start to the season, Sisi Eleko is already on pace to do something that hasn't happened in nearly 15 years: have an Eagle average 20.0 points for a season. EMU Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor inductee Tavelyn James was the last to do so when she averaged 20.7 points in 2009-10.

Additionally, Eleko's 10.2 rebounds are among the best in EMU history as well with only three players finishing the season averaging 10.0+ rebounds per game. Those players include Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-21) at 10.9, Felicia Hines (1984-85) at 11.7 (school record), and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) at 10.6.

MAJOR MINUTES
Mackenzie Amalia averages 38.4 minutes per game after playing the full 40 minutes in every MAC game this year she has been available for, which leads the NCAA. Amalia is one of five Eagles that rank in the top 25 of minutes played in the MAC, including Sisi Eleko in fourth (33.6), Olivia Westphal is 17th (30.8), Brooklyn Thrash is 20th (30.1), and Olivia Smith ranks tied for 22nd (29.2).

HAPPY TO HELP
Olivia Smith had a career day distributing the ball at Ohio (Jan. 25) as the junior handed out eight assists in the contest. Entering the game, she had a season best of four assists that came one game prior against Northern Illinois (Jan. 22) while her previous career-best was the seven dimes she dropped at Lindenwood, Dec. 7, 2023. Additionally, the 12 assists she has recorded over the past two games are the most she has posted in consecutive contests in career, surpassing the 10 she handed out in home games with Ball State (four), Feb. 8, 2023, and Western Michigan (six), Feb. 11, 2023.

FIRST TIMES
Six players have made their EMU debuts this year with Jada Williams the latest to join the list after playing six minutes against Xavier, Dec. 1. Previously, rookies Chelsea Bishop (Nov. 21) and Olivia DiFranco (Nov. 9) saw their first action while transfers Mackenzie Amalia, Brooklyn Thrash, and Sisi Eleko each started in the opener against Texas State (Nov. 4). Additionally, Elena Cabello entered the game against Texas State, which marked her first game action since March 8, 2023, against Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament, after sitting out all last season with an injury.

ON THE HORIZON
For the first time in 10 days, Eastern will return to action on its home court as the Eagles will play host to the University of Toledo Saturday, Feb. 2, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The game, which will tip off at 2 p.m. and air live on ESPN+, is part of Alumni Weekend and National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Additionally, the team will wear pink uniforms as part of its Play4Kay Game.

FOLLOW US
Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUWBB and @EMUAthletics on X for all the latest EMU women's basketball updates. Be sure to also follow the team on Instagram (@EMUWBB).

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Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Amalia

Chelsea Bishop

Elena Cabello

Olivia DiFranco

Tayra Eke

Sisi Eleko

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Olivia Westphal

Jada Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics