Women's Basketball Travels to Indiana for Power-Conference Tilt Sunday Afternoon

Women's Basketball at Indiana
Dates/Times	Sunday, Dec. 14 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall \| Bloomington, Ind.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Record Book
Watch Live	B1G+
Live Stats	St atbroadcast
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Instagram	@emuwbb \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After four consecutive wins, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team looks to end its early-season non-conference slate with a power-conference win over the Hoosiers of Indiana University inside Assembly Hall Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m.

Fans can stream the game live on B1G+ and live stats are available on EMUE agles.com, where a post-game recap will be posted. Be sure to stay tuned 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. The Eagles surpassed their 2024-25 win total (two) just six games into the 2025-26 season, earning their third win over Robert Morris, 64-54, Nov. 26. 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.
» Senior Sisi Eleko is the only MAC player averaging a double-double this season as she is one of 20 players to do so nationally this season.
» Eastern is looking to win five consecutive games for the first time since it started the 2022-23 season 6-0.
» Senior Sisi Eleko was named MAC Player of the Week, Dec. 2, for the second time in her career as she averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game, leading EMU to a 2-0 week, Nov. 24-30.
» Eastern most recently captured a 74-72 win against Duquesne, Dec. 9, marking its first time winning four consecutive games since the 2022-23 season. Eastern dominated the paint, outscoring the Dukes 40-22 in the key as it was led by Sisi Eleko, who posted her sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
» 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.

LOOKING FOR POWER-CONFERENCE WIN
EMU aims to win its first game over a power-conference opponent since it beat Michigan at home in the 2015-16 season, 64-63, Dec. 23, 2015. A win against the Hoosiers would mark EMU's first "true" road win over a power-conference foe since it topped Michigan on the road, 69-60, Dec. 8, 2004.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE HOOSIERS
The Eagles and Hoosiers are meeting for the third time as Eastern holds a 0-2 all-time record against IU and a 0-1 mark when facing it at Assembly Hall.

LAST TIME AGAINST IU
Eastern and Indiana most recently met 20 years ago in Ypsilanti, in the 2005-06 season, a 70-64 win for Indiana, Dec. 7. The Eagles nearly overcame a 17-point deficit, pulling within three in the game's waning seconds.

ALL-TIME VS. THE BIG TEN
Eastern is 14-53 all-time against the current lineup of Big Ten Conference institutions, with most of those games being played against Michigan State (1-18) and Michigan (9-17). The Eagles have also played Illinois (0-5), Indiana (0-2), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), Northwestern (2-2), Ohio State (1-2), Purdue (0-3), Washington (0-2), and Wisconsin (1-0).

LAST TIME VS. THE BIG TEN
The Hoosiers are the second Big Ten team Eastern will face this season as it previously battled in-state foe, No. 23 Michigan State, dropping a 92-60 decision, Nov. 9. EMU's 60 points that day were the most it has scored against a top-25 team since it recorded 68 against No. 25 Gonzaga in a 77-68 loss in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, Dec. 20, 2020. The 60 points are the most against a power-conference foe since the Eagles notched 61 in an 89-61 loss to Wake Forest, Nov. 20, 2016, and the most against a Big Ten Conference member since Eastern topped Michigan, 64-63, Dec. 23, 2015.

FAMILIAR FOES
Eastern and Indiana have each faced Louisiana Monroe, as the Eagles dropped an 80-71 game in the season opener in Monroe, La., Nov. 3, while the Hoosiers topped the Warhawks, 98-54, Dec. 11. IU also bested MAC opponent, Western Michigan, 71-53, Dec. 3, whom the Eagles will matchup with at home, Jan. 31.

LAST TIME OUT
Eastern captured a fourth-consecutive win for the first time since the 2022-23 season and first time in 1,116 days with a 74-72 victory against Duquesne, Dec. 9. Eastern dominated the paint, outscoring the Dukes 40-22 in the key as it was led by Sisi Eleko, who posted her sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Eagles were aided by strong showings from Fernanda Ovalle (14 points, two rebounds, 2-for-4 3FG) and Brooklyn Thrash (12 points, four rebounds, 2-for-6 3FG). Also contributing was Ainhoa Cea, who scored nine points with seven assists and three rebounds. She shot efficiently from the field, going 4-for-5, including 1-for-1 from three-point range.

GOING FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE WINS
Eastern can win a fifth consecutive game for the first time since the 2022-23 season when it won its first six games of the season, Nov. 2-Dec. 1. Eastern's four-game winning streak ties for the longest active streak in the MAC with Bowling Green.

STRONG START
Eastern Michigan is looking for its first 7-3 start or better through the first 10 games of the season since it went 7-3 in its first 10 games of the 2022-23 campaign. That season ended with a first-round loss in the MAC tournament to Bowling Green, 70-36, March 8.

BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
Eastern Michigan came back to win from a fourth-quarter deficit against Duquesne, Dec. 9. Entering the fourth quarter down one, 59-58, the Dukes expanded their lead to as much as four, 62-58, before EMU came back to win, 74-72. The occurrence is the second fourth-quarter comeback in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era (2024-present) and the first since Eastern came back from a 10-point hole to win against Miami, 76-72, Feb. 22, 2025.

HOT AT HOME
After the 74-72 win over Duquesne, Dec. 9, Eastern is 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2022-23 season. Eastern most notably topped Robert Morris in its home opener, Nov. 26, who is receiving votes in the College Insider Mid Major poll, and is predicted to finish second in the Horizon League.

NUSSEIBEH STRONG START
Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh is seeking the second 7-3 start in her head coaching tenure. She last led a team to a 7-3 record through 10 games at Canisius in 2023-24. That season was highlighted by a first-round MAAC Tournament win over Manhattan, 58-55, March 14, and a 17-14 overall record, marking the Golden Griffins' most wins since the 2008-09 season.

MULTIPLYING WINS
Eastern has at least tripled its 2024-25 season total in a multitude of winning categories. EMU surpassed its 2024-25 win total (two) just six games into the 2025-26 season with three wins as they currently hold six, triple the amount of wins it had in 2024-25. Three of Eastern's six wins (Canisius, Nov. 7; St. Thomas, Nov. 14; Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30) have come on the road, tripling 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 sextupled (multiplied by six) its amount of non-conference wins from last season as it holds six after the win over Duquesne, Dec. 9, and had just one last season, a 72-60 comeback win over Xavier, Dec. 1, 2024. Eastern also tripled its home win total from last season (one) as it won its third home game of the season against Duquesne, Dec. 9. A win against the Hoosiers would quadruple the Eagles' 2024-25 road-win total (one) and septuple (multiply by seven) their non-conference win sum (one).

BOUNCE BACK
Nine games into the season, Eastern has yet to lose consecutive games, marking the longest start without consecutive losses to start a season since the 2018-19 Eagles went the first 10 games without consecutive losses. The stretch is the second-longest to start a season for Nusseibeh as her Canisius Golden Griffins went the first 19 games of the 2023-24 season without two straight losses.

MONEY FROM THE LINE
Eastern is shooting 80.7% (121-for-150) from the charity stripe this season, ranking first in the MAC and 11th in the country. Although just nine games in, EMU's 80.7% free-throw percentage would serve as the team's single-season program record and is roughly 8.0% better than the current single-season record, a 72.6% clip in the 1994-95 season. The Eagles have shot 81.0% or better from the free-throw line in six of nine games this season, as their season-best 90.9% (20-for-22) rate vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 26, ranks fourth in program history in single-game standings. Eastern has five student-athletes shooting at least 80% from the free-throw line this season in Sisi Eleko (87.5%), Fernanda Ovalle (85.7%), Brooklyn Thrash (85.7%), Oliwia Pelka (85.7%), and Peyton Hill (83.3%). By value, Eleko's 87.5% rate stands fourth in the conference and 43rd nationally. Thrash's 85.7% clip ranks sixth in the conference while Hill's 83.3% rate ranks first in the MAC by a freshman and is the fourth-best mark of any freshman in the nation. All marks stand as career highs by a significant margin. Eastern most recently shot 73.9% in the 74-72 win over Duquesne, Dec. 9.

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES WITH 74 PLUS POINTS
Eastern has scored 74+ points in consecutive games for the first time since the 2021-22 season when EMU scored 76 points in a win over Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13, before setting the program record with 133 points against Grace Christian, Nov. 18.

SEASON-BEST AND HISTORIC FT PCT
Eastern tied a season-best shooting 90.9% (20-for-22) from the free-throw line in the win over Robert Morris, Nov. 26. The figure ranks fourth on EMU single-season leaderboards and fourth in a single game in the MAC this season by value. Eastern previously shot 90.9% (10-for-11) from the charity stripe in a 77-39 road win at Canisius, Nov. 7.

LOCKDOWN D
Eastern has played well on defense to start the season. It ranks third in the MAC, allowing an average of 60.4 points per game as it is limiting foes to a 25.0% rate from three-point range and 40.9% clip from the field, numbers that rank second and sixth in the conference, respectively, while the 25.0% opponent three-point field goal percentage slots 29th nationally. The Eagles most recently allowed their best opponent three-point shooting percentage of the season, as Duquesne shot 36.8% (7-for-19) from beyond the arc, Dec. 9. Despite the three-point success, Eastern triumphed over Duquesne, 74-72.

Eastern has held three opponents (Canisius, 39; St. Thomas, 41; Defiance, 44) to 44 points or less this season for the first time since 2018-19, when it held Illinois State to 41 points in a 50-41 win, Nov. 17, UIC to 38 points in a 52-38 victory, Nov. 27, and Northwood to 39 points in a 53-39 win, Dec. 30.

CONSISTENT TRENDS
Eastern is 6-0 this season when holding opponents below 44.9% from the field, as it has held its foes to 41.5% or worse in its six victories. In losses, opponents are shooting at least 46.9%. The same goes for three-point shooting as Eastern's opponents are shooting 26.3% or worse in five of EMU's six wins and 31.3% or better in all EMU losses. Eastern is also 5-2 when outrebounding its foe as it has done so in 7-of-9 games this season while holding a clean 6-0 mark when leading at halftime.

CRASHING THE GLASS
Eastern ranks fourth in the MAC with a +5.6 rebounding margin as opponents average 32.6 rebounds per game against EMU while it pulls down an average of 38.1 per contest. After getting outrebounded in the season-opener at Louisiana Monroe, 37-29, Nov. 3, Eastern has outrebounded its opponent in seven of the last eight games with its largest margin being +23 in the 96-44 win vs. Defiance, Dec. 5. Led by Sisi Eleko (10.4 rebounds per game, second in the MAC), EMU has three student-athletes that average at least four rebounds per game, including Believe Tshibangu (4.5) and Ainhoa Cea (4.1).

ELEKO MAC POTW
Sisi Eleko was named MAC player of the week, Dec. 2, after averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 53.6% from the field, leading the Eagles to wins over Robert Morris, who is receiving votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, and Detroit Mercy.

Eleko's 19 points per game was the second-highest average that week while her 53.6 field-goal clip (15-for-28) stood fifth, although she had at least 15 more attempts than the four individuals above her. Eleko shot 87.5% from the free-throw line (7-for-8), a figure that stood fourth in the conference while she checked in at fifth in rebounds per game (11.0).

Eleko started the week with a bang, securing her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 23 points with 14 rebounds against the Colonials, both of which were the second most in a single game in the conference last week, while her 23 points were the most in a double-double performance. She followed the performance by scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a win over UDM.

The honor marks the first of the season for the Eagles and the second of Eleko's EMU career. She earned the accolade last season after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, leading EMU to its first win in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 comeback victory over Xavier, Dec. 1, 2024.

SISI STILL GOT IT
Sisi Eleko has picked up where she left off from the 2024-25 season as she is the only MAC player currently averaging a double-double. Named Preseason First Team All-MAC, Eleko has scored at least 10 in all nine games this season as she is the only MAC player to rank inside the top two in points per game, rebounds per game OR assists per game. Eleko currently averages 17.9 points (first in the MAC), 10.4 rebounds per game (second in the MAC), shoots 87.5% from the free-throw line (fourth), and averages 32.6 minutes per game (ninth).

ELEKO PROGRAM DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Sisi Eleko's 20 double-doubles rank second on the program's all-time list (since 1997) as she recently passed Olivia Fouty (2010-14) and Sarah VanMetre (2003-07) to become the sole owner of the No. 2 spot. She needs 11 more to tie Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the most in program history (31). Eleko most recently posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 74-72 win against Duquesne, Dec. 9.

ELEKO DOUBLE-DOUBLE RATE
Sisi Eleko has secured her 20 EMU double-doubles at an astonishing rate, doing so in 37 games as it took all-time program double-doubles leader, Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23), 47 games to total 20 double-doubles, finishing her tenure with 31. Moreover, Eleko has recorded a double-double in 54.0% (20-of-37) of her games as an Eagle, while Skanes did so in 41.3% (31-of-75) of her career games.

ELEKO ELITE COMPANY
Senior Sisi Eleko is the only MAC player averaging a double-double this season as she is one of 20 players to do so nationally this season. Moreover, she is one of 13 players to do so that are not in a power conference.

ELEKO IN THE STANDINGS
Sisi Eleko has six double-doubles on the season, a figure that ranks first in the MAC and third nationally by value. The senior also paces the MAC in points per game, posting 17.8 per contest, just a hair shy of her career-best rate from last season (17.9). Her 10.4 rebounds per game rank second in the conference and 21st nationally, while she leads the MAC in defensive rebounds per game (8.3), checking in at No. 8 in America. Eleko also ranks 43rd in the country with an 87.5% clip from the free-throw line, slotting fourth in the MAC. Altogether, she ranks inside the MAC top-three in eight categories.

ELEKO PRESEASON ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
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. She was the only player to average one in the MAC. She paced the MAC with 10.1 rebounds per game, becoming the only MAC player to average double-digit boards, and ranked second with 17.9 points per game.

FRESHMAN POINTS: PEYTON HILL
Freshman Peyton Hill posted a career-high 21 points off a red-hot 7-for-10 shooting clip in the win at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30. Her 21 points tie for the most from a MAC freshman in a single game this season and the most from an EMU freshman since Aaliyah Stanley scored 24 points in a 68-59 win at UIC, Dec. 18, 2019. The game prior, she set career highs against Robert Morris, Nov. 26, scoring 17 points and matching a career best with six rebounds for the second consecutive game, after she originally grabbed six boards at Purdue Fort Wayne, Nov. 19.

FRESHMAN 10+ POINTS: PEYTON HILL
Peyton Hill has the most games with double-digit points of an EMU freshman (seven) since Olivia Smith recorded 10 in the 2022-23 season on her way to MAC Freshman of the Year honors.

STRONG START: PEYTON HILL
Peyton Hill is the first EMU freshman to record double-digit points in her first four NCAA games since at least 2004-05 and the first to do so in five of her first six since at least 2008-09. She's the first freshman to score 10+ in any four consecutive games and in seven of any nine-game stretch since Aalyiah Stanley did so in the 2019-20 season. Through nine games, Hill is averaging 12.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 83.3% from the free-throw line, 42.5% from the field, and 35.0% from three. Her 12.8 points per game are the most from a MAC freshman this season and her 89.5% free-throw percentage is the best from a MAC rookie.

AT THE LINE FOR EASTERN: PEYTON HILL
Freshman Peyton Hill is shooting 83.3% from the line, the ninth-best mark in the conference, best from a freshman, and the fourth-best mark nationally from a freshman. Overall, Hill's 83.3% clip would rank fifth in the program's single-season records if it is maintained. The record is currently held by Kelly Helbler, who shot 91.1% (82-of-90) in the 1989-90 season.

AINHOA'S ASSISTS
Senior Ainhoa Cea has distributed the ball effectively in her first nine games as an Eagle. Cea has dished at least five dimes in seven of her first nine 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 5.7 assists per game rank second in the conference and 25th nationally. The senior's 5.7 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. Cea has posted six or more dimes in three of her last four games. She most recently totaled seven in the win over Duquesne, Dec. 9.

AINHOA'S MINUTES
Ainhoa Cea has handled significant minutes on the court as she slots first in the MAC and 13th in America averaging 35.8 minutes per game. Cea's 35.8 minutes per game are a career high and stand 7.0 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.

PELKA FROM DOWNTOWN
Freshman Oliwia Pelka is shooting 37.0% from the three-point line, ranking 11th in the MAC and third among MAC freshmen. She made her NCAA debut against Louisiana Monroe, Nov. 3, shooting 3-for-4 from the three-point line as she made three or more three-point field goals for the second time in her career with a trio of triples in the win over Defiance, Dec. 5.

MULTIPLE IN THE TOP 10
Eastern has three players in the top 10 in the MAC in free-throw percentage: Sisi Eleko (4th - 87.5%), Brooklyn Thrash (6th - 85.7%), and Peyton Hill (9th - 83.3%). The Eagles also have two players who slot inside the conference top 10 in steals per game with Ainhoa Cea (3rd - 2.3) and Brooklyn Thrash (7th - 1.9). Three Eagles rank inside the top 10 leaderboards in minutes per game as well with Cea slotting first, averaging 35.8 minutes per game, Hill checking in at seventh with 32.7, and Eleko ranking ninth, posting 32.6. Overall, Eastern is the only school in the MAC to have multiple players rank inside the top 10 in three different statistical categories.

UPCOMING MILESTONES
Ainhoa Cea eclipsed the 500-point plateau with nine against Duquesne, Dec. 9, becoming the second Eagle to do so this season after Brooklyn Thrash accomplished the feat against Michigan State, Nov. 9. Fernanda Ovalle needs 185 points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 131 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 123 to hit 500 as an Eagle. She is 97 points from 1,500 and needs 10 double-doubles to reach 50 in her NCAA tenure. Furthermore, Eleko needs 11 total double-doubles to tie for the most in program history and 12 to be the sole record owner.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 141 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season. The longest streak in that period is 281 games, which began 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, and ended Nov. 29, 2020 against visiting UIC, when no makes halted the streak.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern enters Mid-American Conference play, beginning with a game against the defending MAC Champion, Ball State Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m., in Muncie, Ind. Fans can 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.

Women's Basketball Travels to Indiana for Power-Conference Tilt Sunday Afternoon

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Players Mentioned

Ainhoa Cea

Sisi Eleko

Peyton Hill

Fernanda Ovalle

Oliwia Pelka

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Believe Tshibangu

Eastern Michigan Athletics