Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, November 26
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Robert Morris
Photo by: Jeffery Barnes/Walt Middleton Photography
Women's Hoops Eyes Wednesday Afternoon Season Opener Against Robert Morris
11/24/2025 7:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball, General
The Eagles and Colonials will tipoff at 1 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center
| Women's Basketball vs. Robert Morris | |
| Dates/Times | Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Record Book |
| Watch Live | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | Stat Broadcast |
| @EMUWBB | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emuwbb | @emuathletics | |
Fans can purchase tickets at emueagles.evenue.net/list/WB and can stream the game live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler on the call. Live stats are available on emueagles.statbroadcast.com and a post-game recap will be posted to EMUEagles.com following each game and fans can stay posted to EMU women's basketball social media @EMUWBB on X, @emuwbb on Instagram, and EMU Women's Basketball on Facebook.
QUICK NOTES
» Eastern is entering the second year of the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era. EMU posted a 2-27 (1-17 MAC) record in 2024-25.
» Senior Sisi Eleko was named Preseason All-MAC First Team after earning second-team honors following the 2024-25 regular season that saw her lead the MAC in double-doubles (14) and rebounds per game (10.1) while ranking second with 17.9 points per game.
» The Eagles have matched their 2024-25 win total (two) just five games into the 2025-26 campaign as they have the opportunity to surpass it with a win over the Colonials.
» EMU and Robert Morris are meeting for just the second time and first time in Ypsilanti. EMU leads the all-time series, 1-0, after a 65-60 season-opening neutral-site win over the Colonials in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 28, 1987.
» Eastern most recently dropped a 67-52 game at Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19. Sisi Eleko recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Eagles out rebounded their opponent for the third time this season.
» Eastern is playing its 50th home-opening game. It holds a 36-13 record in home openers and is looking to win its home opener for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
» Eastern returns just Sisi Eleko and Brooklyn Thrash from the 2024-25 squad as it totals 13 newcomers, six of which came via the transfer portal.
» Eastern has nine international players on the roster, tying for the fourth-most in the nation and most in the MAC. Wagner has the most with 13.
HOME OPENER NOTABLES
Eastern is playing its 50th home-opening game Wednesday afternoon. Overall, it is 36-13 when playing the first home game of the season. Eastern is 1-4 in its last five home openers after a streak of 19 consecutive home-opening wins from the 2000-01 season till the 2019-20 campaign, the longest home-opening winning streak in program history.
LAST YEAR'S HOME OPENER
Eastern fell in a highly-contested 75-71 game against Texas State in the first leg of the 2024-25 MAC-SBC Challenge, Nov. 4. Eastern took a 36-30 lead into halftime before growing its lead to 17 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter, but a barrage of points for the Bobcats saw the visitors bring the third to close with EMU ahead, 58-56. In the fourth, both teams went back and forth, but the hosts were unable to climb back ahead before the final buzzer as TSU won, 75-71.
Individually, Sisi Eleko recorded a career high with 28 points off 68.7% shooting to go with nine rebounds. Olivia Westphal also had a career day on the court as the junior opened the game 5-of-5 from three and finished the game with a career-high 20 points. Mackenzie Amalia dished a career-best 12 assists, the most from an Eagle since Desyree Thomas dished 13 in the 2012 season.
Eastern saw two of its players score 20+ points in the same game for the first time in nearly six years as Sisi Eleko scored 28 points and Olivia Westphal added 20. The last time the feat was accomplished was Jan. 23, 2019, when Corrione Cardwell and Courtnie Lewis both scored 20 points in a MAC contest at Western Michigan.
NUSSEIBEH IN HOME OPENERS
Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh is 3-1 in home-opening games as a collegiate head coach and 0-1 in her EMU tenure. Nusseibeh won all three home-opening contests as the head coach at Canisius (2021-24). Her most recent home-opening win came against Saint Francis (Pa.), Nov. 11, 2023, as the Golden Griffins won, 78-62. Sisi Eleko recorded what was a career-high 24 points with 10 rebounds for the fifth double-double of her career.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE COLONIALS
The Eagles and Colonials are meeting for just the second time Wednesday afternoon. EMU leads the all-time series, 1-0, after a 65-60 season-opening neutral-site win over the Colonials in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 28, 1987. Wednesday's game marks the first between Eastern and Robert Morris in 38 years.
ALL-TIME VS. THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Eastern is no stranger to the Horizon League as the game between EMU and RMU will be the 99th against current HL institutions with the Eagles holding a 55-43 advantage. Eastern most recently faced Purdue Fort Wayne on the road, Nov. 19, a game that resulted in a 67-52 win for PFW. EMU faced two HL teams last season in Purdue Fort Wayne and Detroit Mercy, dropping the game against the Mastodons, 94-49, Nov. 21, and the tilt against the Titans, 72-61, Nov. 26. The games marked the first occurrence in program history of the Eagles facing HL opponents in consecutive outings.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK AGAINST THE HL
Eastern is facing a Horizon League opponent in three consecutive games for the first time in program history, also marking the first time it has faced a Horizon League opponent in consecutive games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Eagles faced Purdue Fort Wayne last season, Nov. 21, before battling Detroit Mercy, Nov. 26, dropping both games. This season, EMU faced PFW, Nov. 19, will face Robert Morris, Nov. 26, followed by a game at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30.
HOME OPENER VS. THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Eastern is facing a current member of the Horizon League in its home opener for the 11th time Wednesday. It is 6-4 when matching up with a Horizon League foe in its first home game of the season. EMU has dropped the last two home openers against the Horizon League, most recently falling to Detroit Mercy, 68-38, Nov. 6, 2023, after dropping a 70-67 decision to Youngstown State, Nov. 9, 2021. Eastern is facing Robert Morris in its home opener for the first time in program history as EMU previously won three straight home openers against the Horizon League, beating Cleveland State, 90-71, Dec. 4, 1987, Wright State, 65-49, Dec. 3, 1988, and Detroit Mercy, 88-63, Dec. 4, 1989.
LAST TIME OUT
Eastern dropped a 67-52 road contest at Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19, dropping its record to 2-3 (0-0 MAC).
» EMU out-rebounded the Mastodons, 34-31, marking the third time the Eagles have out-rebounded their opponent this season. EMU has out-rebounded its foe in three of five games in the 2025-26 campaign.
» Eastern shot over 80% from the free-throw line (88.9%/8-for-9) for the fourth time this season as it has done so in 4-of-5 contests. Eastern ranks first in the MAC and seventh in America in free-throw percentage as it is shooting 83.8% through five games.
» Eastern's most lucrative offensive quarter was the fourth, scoring 19 points off 43.8% (7-for-16) shooting with a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the free-throw line. Its best defensive quarter was the first, holding the Mastodons to just six points on 23.1% (3-for-13) shooting, including a 0-for-5 clip from three-point range.
» Eastern's largest lead of the game was five points (11-6) at the end of the first quarter as it led for 8:37 of game time. PFW's largest lead was 15 points with the final score of 67-52. The Mastodons led for 69% of the game.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Her three double-doubles lead the MAC and rank as the second-highest total in the nation this season. Her 14 points scored mark her fifth double-digit scoring outing this season as she has made the mark in all five of EMU's games thus far, and her 11 rebounds are her third time with 10 or more this season.
» Sisi Eleko shot 50% or better from the floor for the second time this season and 12th as an Eagle.
» Peyton Hill had a career-high six rebounds.
» Peyton Hill was perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6) for the third time this season as she has missed just one free throw all year. Hill stands second in the conference by value with a 95.7% conversion rate from the free-throw line. Her clip is the best of any MAC freshman as it stands fourth nationally by value and the second highest of any freshman in the country.
» Paula Balada scored the first points of her collegiate career with a triple in the second quarter. The freshman finished with six points and one rebound as she was 2-for-4 from three-point distance.
» Ainhoa Cea matched a career high with 40 minutes played as she played from start to finish for the second time this season after previously doing so at Louisiana Monroe, Nov. 3. Cea leads the MAC with 37.2 minutes per game, ranking fourth nationally by value.
MONEY FROM THE LINE
Eastern is shooting 83.8% (49-for-59) from the charity stripe as a team this season, ranking first in the MAC and seventh in the country. Although just five games in, EMU's 83.8% free-throw percentage would serve as the team's single-season program record. The Eagles have shot 83.3% or better from the free-throw line in all but one game this season as its season-best 90.9% (10-for-11) clip at Canisius, Nov. 7, ranks third in the MAC by value. EMU's 83.3% (20-for-24) rate at Louisiana Monroe, Nov. 3, ranks inside the program top 20 in single-game standings. Eastern has five student-athletes shooting at least 80% from the free-throw line this season in Peyton Hill (95.7%), Sisi Eleko (86.7%), Fernanda Ovalle (83.3%), and Brooklyn Thrash (80%). Hill's 95.7% clip ranks second in the MAC, fourth nationally, and is the second-best mark of any freshman in the nation. Eleko's 86.7% rate stands 12th in the conference.
RETURNING FROM THE ROAD
The game against Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19, completed a five-game road trip for the Eagles, its longest streak of consecutive road games since it played six straight in the 2023-24 campaign, Nov. 24-Dec. 13. The road trip marked EMU's first time opening the season with five straight road games since the 1996-97 season.
LOCKDOWN D
Eastern has played well on the defensive end of the court to start the season. It ranks fifth in the MAC, allowing an average of 63.8 points per game as it is limiting foes to a 25.6% rate from three-point range and 41.4% clip from the field, numbers that rank third and eighth in the conference, respectively.
Eastern has held two opponents (Canisius, 39; St. Thomas, 41) to 41 points or less this season for the first time since 2019-20, when it held Olivet to 38 points in a 95-38 victory, Nov. 8, before besting Purdue Fort Wayne, 64-40, Dec. 10. The Eagles most recently held Purdue Fort Wayne to 31.3% (5-for-16) from beyond the arc, Nov. 19.
EVEN THROUGH SIX?
Eastern Michigan is looking for its first 3-3 start or better through the first six games of the season since it went a perfect 6-0 in its first six games of the 2022-23 campaign.
DOUBLING UP
Eastern has doubled its 2024-25 season total in a multitude of winning categories. Both of Eastern's two wins (Canisius, Nov. 7; St. Thomas, Nov. 14) have come on the road, doubling the amount of road victories from last season as it won just one game away from Ypsilanti, a 76-72 win at Northern Illinois, Feb. 22. Eastern has also doubled its amount of non-conference wins from last season. It holds two after the win over St. Thomas, Nov. 14, and had just one last season, a 72-60 comeback win over Xavier, Dec. 1, 2024. A win over the Colonials would surpass the Eagles' 2024-25 win total and match their home-win total as they won just one home game last season with the victory over Xavier.
SISI STILL GOT IT
Sisi Eleko has picked up where she left off from the 2024-25 season. Named Preseason First Team All-MAC, Eleko has scored at least 10 in all five games this season as she is one of two MAC players, along with UMass' Yahmani McKayle to rank inside the top five in points per game, rebounds per game OR assists per game, and minutes per game. Eleko currently averages 16.0 points (fifth in the MAC), 10.0 rebounds (second), and 33.4 minutes per game (fourth). Additionally, Eleko is one of two MAC players currently averaging a double-double. The other is Bree Salenbien of Ball State who currently averages 16.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
ELEKO PROGRAM DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Sisi Eleko's 17 double-doubles are tied for second on the program's all-time list (since 1997) with Olivia Fouty (2010-14) and Sarah VanMetre (2003-07). She needs one more to become the sole owner of the No. 2 spot and 14 more to tie Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the most in program history (31). Eleko most recently had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a 52-41 win against Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19.
ELEKO DOUBLE-DOUBLE RATE
Sisi Eleko has secured her 17 EMU double-doubles at an astonishing rate as it took Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) 120 games to hit the mark, which stands second in program history, while Olivia Fouty (2010-14) did it in 103 games. Eleko has blown by that rate, securing her 17th double-double in just 33 games as an Eagle. All-time program double-doubles leader, Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23), grabbed 17 double-doubles 36 games into her EMU career and finished her tenure with 31. Moreover, Eleko has recorded a double-double in 51.5% (17-of-33) of her games as an Eagle while Skanes did so in 41.3% (31-of-75) of her career games.
ELEKO IN THE NATIONAL STANDINGS
Sisi Eleko has three double-doubles on the season, a figure that leads the MAC and ranks third nationally by value. Her 8.4 defensive rebounds per game also lead the conference and rank 10th nationally while she slots second in the MAC in total rebounds per game (10.0), checking in at No. 31 in America.
ELEKO PRESEASON ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
Senior Sisi Eleko was named Preseason All-MAC First Team, Oct. 21. The 2024-25 All-MAC Second Team selection led the MAC with 14 double-doubles last season and was the only player to average one in the conference. She also paced the conference with 10.1 rebounds per game, becoming the only MAC player to average double-digit boards, and slotted second with 17.9 points per game.
HISTORIC OPPONENT SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Eastern held Canisius to 16.7% shooting in a 70-39 win, Nov. 7, its lowest opponent field goal percentage since at least the 2002 season. It marks the first time Eastern has held an opponent under 19% shooting since it held NAIA Rochester to an 18.2% clip in a 108-24 win, Dec. 9, 2009.
STRONG START: PEYTON HILL
Peyton Hill is the first EMU freshman to record double-digit points in her first four NCAA games, Nov. 3-14, since at least 2004. She's the first freshman to do so in any four consecutive games since Aalyiah Stanley did so in the 2019-20 season, scoring double-digits in four of the last five games of the season, Jan. 11-22.
AT THE LINE FOR EASTERN: PEYTON HILL
Freshman Peyton Hill has missed just one free throw this season as she is 22-of-23 (95.7%) from the line, the second-best mark in the conference, best from a freshman, best from any MAC player that has shot at least 10 free throws, and the second-best mark nationally from a freshman. Overall, Hill's 95.7% clip ranks fourth in the nation by value and will break the program's single-season record if it is maintained. The single-season record is currently held by Kelly Helbler, who shot 91.1% (82-of-90) in the 1989-90 season. The 95.7% rate would also serve as the second-best in MAC single-season history per the MAC record book should it hold.
BIG FRESHMAN DEBUT: PEYTON HILL
Freshman Peyton Hill had a strong performance in her first collegiate game, scoring 15 points while shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line with four assists and three rebounds against Louisiana Monroe, Nov. 3. Hill's 15 points were the most from an EMU freshman in their NCAA debut since Courtnie Lewis scored 18 in her NCAA debut against Florida A&M, Nov. 10, 2017.
BELIEVE'S BIG DEBUT
Freshman Believe Tshibangu erupted for 14 points and nine rebounds off 7-for-7 shooting in just 14 minutes in the 70-39 win over Canisius, Nov. 7. Her nine rebounds in an NCAA debut are the most from an Eagle in their first NCAA game since Tori Easley grabbed 10 in her collegiate debut against Kent State – Tuscarawas, Nov. 14, 2014. Tshibangu is the first Eagle to post a 14-point/nine-rebound stat line in an NCAA debut since at least the 2011-12 season. Additionally, Tshibangu's nine rebounds are the third-most in a single game from a MAC freshman this season as Buffalo's Meg Lucas leads the MAC with 14 single-game rebounds after previously totaling 11.
AINHOA'S ASSISTS
Senior Ainhoa Cea has distributed the ball effectively in her first five games as an Eagle. Cea has dished at least five dimes in four of her first five games with her highest total being nine at St. Thomas, Nov. 14. Cea's nine assists against the Tommies are the fourth-most in a single game in the MAC. Cea's 5.6 assists per game rank third in the conference and 37th nationally while her 28 total dimes slot third in the MAC and 54th in the country. The senior's 5.6 assists per game average is the highest from an Eagle since Cassie Schrock averaged 5.9 in the 2010-11 season. Schrock dished 220 assists that season, setting an EMU program record.
AINHOA'S MINUTES
Ainhoa Cea has handled significant minutes on the court as she slots first in the MAC and fourth in America averaging 37.2 minutes per game. Cea's 37.2 minutes per game are a career high and stand roughly 8.4 minutes more than her previous career high of 28.8 MPG. She most recently tied a career best, playing the full 40 minutes for the second time this season against Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19, after playing wire-to-wire in the season opener at Louisiana Monroe, Nov. 3.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Ainhoa Cea is 12 points away from 500, 112 assists from the same total, and 111 rebounds away from 500. Fernanda Ovalle needs 225 points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 175 rebounds to reach 1,000, is 177 points from 1,500, and needs 13 double-doubles to reach 50 in her NCAA tenure. Furthermore, Eleko needs 14 total double-doubles to tie for the most in program history and 15 to be the sole record owner.
SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 137 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season. 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 lasted 157 games and started Dec. 9, 2014, until no makes halted the streak, Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern travels to Detroit, Mich., for a game against the University of Detroit Mercy Titans Sunday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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 Eagles on Instagram @emuwbb and @emuathletics
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