Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-3,0-0MAC
Detroit Mercy
1-5,0-0Horizon
Women's Basketball Earns Positive Record with 64-55 win at Detroit Mercy
11/30/2025 3:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball, General
Eastern is 4-3 on the season and has a positive record for the first time in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era
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DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team earned its fourth victory of the 2025-26 season, defeating the University of Detroit Mercy, 64-55, inside Calihan Hall Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30.
Eastern is now 4-3 on the season and possesses a winning record for the first time in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era (2024-present) and first time since the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season.
Freshman Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) led the Eagles with a career-high 21 points off a blistering 70% shooting from the field, including 50% (1-for-2) from three-point range. Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) added 17 points and controlled the glass with a game-high eight rebounds. Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) scored 12 points with a season-best three rebounds. Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) contributed with seven rebounds, six points, four assists, and three steals.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan started the game hot once again, going on a 6-0 run to set the tone early. After the early advantage, EMU ended the first with a 14-13 advantage. The Eagles did most of their first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 14 points close to the basket.
Eastern kept its first-quarter lead intact before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 9:06 mark in the second quarter to increase its lead to 24-13. The Eagles proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 32-20 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan scored six of its 18 total points in the period on second chance opportunities, created by pulling down five offensive rebounds.
Eastern Michigan continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Oliwia Pelka (Sosnowiec, Poland/Virtus Eirene Ragusa (Italy), to expand its lead further to 45-37 with 31 seconds to go in the third. The Eagles entered the fourth quarter with a 45-39 edge.
The Eagles coasted to the win from there, increasing their margin of victory by outscoring the Titans, 19-16, in the fourth quarter. Eastern Michigan took advantage of seven Detroit Mercy turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off takeaways. The game ended in a 64-55 victory for EMU.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 4-3 (0-0 MAC) and Detroit Mercy's went to 1-5 (0-0 Horizon League).
» Eastern led 32-20 at the half and won the game, 64-55, marking its fourth win when leading at halftime as EMU is a clean 4-0 when doing so this season.
» EMU out-rebounded the Titans, 41-27, marking the sixth time the Eagles have out-rebounded their opponent this season. EMU has outrebounded its foe in six of seven games in the 2025-26 campaign, producing a 4-2 record.
» Eastern shot 43.9% (25-for-57) from the field including 22.2% (4-for-18) from three-point range and 62.5% (10-for-16) from the free-throw line. Detroit Mercy shot 41.5% (22-for-53) from the field, 20% (3-for-15) from the three-point line, and 57.1% (8-for-14) at the free-throw line.
» Eastern led for 96.4% (38:33) of the game as its largest lead was 14 points (34-20) with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter.
» Eastern's most lucrative offensive quarter was the fourth, scoring 19 points with an 8-for-10 showing from the free-throw line. Its best defensive quarter was the second, holding the Titans to just seven points on 16.7% (2-for-12) shooting, including a 1-for-4 clip from three-point range and 2-for-6 mark from the free-throw line.
» EMU held its opponent below 45.0% shooting (41.5%) for the fourth time this season, producing a 4-0 record when doing so. Eastern also outshot its foe for the third time this season as it is 3-0 when it accomplishes the feat.
» Eastern had at least three players (Hill [21], Eleko [15], Ovalle [12]) score double-digit points for the sixth time this year. EMU is 4-2 when at least three players score 10+ points.
» Peyton Hill had her sixth double-digit scoring outing of the year with a career-high 21 points. She is the first EMU freshman to score 10+ points in six of her first seven games since at least 2008-09. Hill leads all MAC freshmen in scoring this season, averaging 13.7 points per game. Hill also set a career best shooting 70% from the field, including 50% from three-point range (1-for-2).
» Peyton Hill's 21 points tie for the most from a MAC freshman this season.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her seventh consecutive double-digit scoring game of the season as she posted 15 points to go with a game-high eight rebounds. Eleko is up to 74 double-digit scoring games in her career.
» Fernanda Ovalle notched her second game with 10+ points this season as she scored 12 off 5-for-11 shooting. She also secured a season-high three rebounds.
» Ainhoa Cea grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and totaled three steals, marking her second time with three or more steals this season. She previously had a season-best four steals in the 52-41 win at St. Thomas, Nov. 14.
» Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) tied a season high with five rebounds.
Historical Notes
» The meeting marked the 33rd all-time between the Eagles and Titans. Eastern holds a 16-17 all-time record when facing UDM and an 8-8 mark when facing it at Calihan Hall. The programs met for the third consecutive season, the longest stretch since they met in 14 straight campaigns from 2006-07 until 2019-20. The matchup took place in Detroit for the second consecutive season for the first time in the series' history.
» The game against the Titans marked EMU's 100th against the current membership of the Horizon League. Eastern now holds a 57-43 record when facing it. Additionally, the Eagles faced a HL opponent for the third consecutive game for the first time in program history.
» The game against UDM marked EMU's 343rd against an in-state opponent. Overall, Eastern is 173-170 all-time against teams from the Mitten State. The series with the Titans (33 games) is the third-longest between EMU and an in-state foe, and the longest between a non-conference in-state opponent.
» Ainhoa Cea now needs six more points to reach the 500-points milestone. She would be the second Eagle this season to do so along with Brooklyn Thrash, who accomplished the feat at Michigan State, Nov. 9.
» With the win, Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time in 697 days, dating back to the 2023-24 season. Eastern also has a winning record for the first time since the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season as it finished with a 15-14 record and is now 4-3 in 2025-26.
» Peyton Hill's 21 points are the most from an EMU freshman since Aaliyah Stanley scored 24 points in a 68-59 win at UIC, Dec. 18, 2019.
Up Next
Eastern returns to Ypsilanti to face NAIA Defiance College Friday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets here and stream the game 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
