Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, December 14
Bloomington, Ind.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-4,0-0MAC
67
at
74
Indiana
10-2,0-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
15
19
18
15
67
Indiana
18
20
14
22
74
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Women's Hoops Drops Hard-Fought Road Test at Indiana
12/14/2025 3:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eastern fought wire-to-wire as it entered the fourth quarter tied at 52 apiece and led the Hoosiers at one point in the second quarter
Photo Gallery | Highlights | Postgame Audio
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team gave Indiana University all it could handle as the Eagles dropped a tight 74-67 contest inside Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14.
Eastern fought wire-to-wire as it entered the fourth quarter tied at 52 apiece and led the Hoosiers at one point in the second quarter.
The Eagles were paced by a gritty showing from Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), who notched her seventh double-double of the year with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) scored a season-high 16 points while Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) and Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) aided with 11 and 12 points, respectively. Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) stuffed the stat sheet, grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds with six assists and five points.
How it Happened
The Hoosiers struck first, drilling a three-pointer from the wing as IU got out to an early 7-0 lead before Ovalle drilled a corner three from Cea to get EMU on the board. Eleko added two points from the free-throw line to the EMU total as IU held a 9-5 lead at the media timeout. Eastern cashed in a pair of triples to close the quarter down 18-15 as both Oliwia Pelka (Sosnowiec, Poland/Virtus Eirene Ragusa (Italy) and Cea converted from deep, with Cea's coming at the buzzer.
Eastern fought back to tie the game at 25 apiece after another triple from Pelka in the middle stages of the second quarter. Eastern stood toe-to-toe with the Hoosiers in the frame, taking a one-point lead (32-31) off a Thrash three-pointer with 1:58 to go in the first half. Eastern entered the half down four, 38-34, as Eleko held a season-high 15 rebounds at halftime.
Eastern continued its scrappy play into the second half, trailing Indiana by just two, 48-46, at the third-quarter media timeout. Eastern tied the game once again with one minute to go in the third as Cea nailed a transition floater, knotting the score at 52 apiece.
The Hoosiers drilled a three-pointer to open the final quarter of play, regaining a 55-52 lead. After a few more buckets, the score remained 58-54 for over two minutes of game time. Indiana went on a 7-2 run to make the score 68-59, before Ovalle nailed a triple to put EMU back within six, 68-62. The teams traded baskets the remainder of the game as it ended in a 74-67 Indiana win.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 6-4 (0-0 MAC) and Indiana's went to 10-2 (0-1 B1G).
» Eastern outrebounded its opponent (39-31) for the eighth time this season as it has done so in 8-of-10 games. Eastern also had more second-chance points (8-6), bench points (8-6), and fast-break points (23-14) than the Hoosiers.
» Eastern has outrebounded both of its power-conference opponents this season as it grabbed 39 boards to IU's 31, after outrebounding Michigan State, 31-30, Nov. 9.
» Eastern had four players (Ovalle [16], Eleko [15], Hill [12], Thrash [11]) score double-digit points for the third time this season, losing for the first time when doing so.
» Sisi Eleko recorded a MAC single-game high 18 rebounds in the game, marking the most from the senior this season. The total was one shy of tying her career high of 19 at Buffalo, Nov. 6, 2023.
» Sisi Eleko's 18 rebounds are the sixth-most by value in the nation this season in a single game and the fifth-most in program history.
» Sisi Eleko's 15 points and 18 rebounds marked her seventh double-double of the season, tying for the most in the MAC and second-most in the nation. The outing marked the 21st double-double of her EMU career. She has secured a double-double in 55% (21-of-38) of her games as an Eagle.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her 10th consecutive double-digit scoring game of the season as she posted 15 points. Eleko is up to 77 double-digit scoring games in her career.
» Fernanda Ovalle secured a season-best 16 points. The performance marks her third time this season and 12th time in her career scoring 10+ points. Ovalle has put up 10+ points in three of her previous four games.
» Ainhoa Cea grabbed 10 rebounds for the first time as an Eagle and fourth time in her NCAA tenure. Cea's 10 boards are the second-most from a MAC guard in a single game this season. She last grabbed 10 or more boards as a member of Lipscomb in a triple-double performance at Morehead State, Nov. 17, 2024, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with 15 points, and 10 assists.
» Brooklyn Thrash tied a season best with five rebounds. She has had five rebounds three times this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU's 67 points are the most against a power-conference foe since the Eagles notched 81 in an 85-81 loss to TCU in the Postseason NIT, March 19, 2016, and the most against a Big Ten Conference member since Eastern fell to Michigan, 89-75, Dec. 11, 2013.
» Eastern's seven-point margin of defeat is its slimmest against a power-conference and Big Ten Conference opponent since it lost a road contest at Illinois by six points, 72-66, Dec. 1, 2018.
» The loss snapped EMU's four-game winning streak, the longest since the 2022-23 season when it won its first six games of the season. The streak tied for the longest active winning streak in the conference.
» The game marked the third between the Eagles and Hoosiers. Eastern holds a 0-3 all-time record against IU and a 0-2 mark when facing it at Assembly Hall.
» Eastern is now 14-54 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 (0-3), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), Northwestern (2-2), Ohio State (1-2), Purdue (0-3), Washington (0-2), and Wisconsin (1-0).
» Sisi Eleko is now 10 double-doubles away from tying Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the program's all-time record.
» Sisi Eleko's 18 rebounds are the most from an Eagle in a single game since Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) set the program's single-game record with 23 in a 65-59 win against Tarleton State, Dec. 21, 2020.
Up Next
Eastern enters Mid-American Conference play, beginning with a game against the defending MAC Champion, Ball State University, 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
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team gave Indiana University all it could handle as the Eagles dropped a tight 74-67 contest inside Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14.
Eastern fought wire-to-wire as it entered the fourth quarter tied at 52 apiece and led the Hoosiers at one point in the second quarter.
The Eagles were paced by a gritty showing from Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), who notched her seventh double-double of the year with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) scored a season-high 16 points while Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) and Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) aided with 11 and 12 points, respectively. Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) stuffed the stat sheet, grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds with six assists and five points.
How it Happened
The Hoosiers struck first, drilling a three-pointer from the wing as IU got out to an early 7-0 lead before Ovalle drilled a corner three from Cea to get EMU on the board. Eleko added two points from the free-throw line to the EMU total as IU held a 9-5 lead at the media timeout. Eastern cashed in a pair of triples to close the quarter down 18-15 as both Oliwia Pelka (Sosnowiec, Poland/Virtus Eirene Ragusa (Italy) and Cea converted from deep, with Cea's coming at the buzzer.
Eastern fought back to tie the game at 25 apiece after another triple from Pelka in the middle stages of the second quarter. Eastern stood toe-to-toe with the Hoosiers in the frame, taking a one-point lead (32-31) off a Thrash three-pointer with 1:58 to go in the first half. Eastern entered the half down four, 38-34, as Eleko held a season-high 15 rebounds at halftime.
Eastern continued its scrappy play into the second half, trailing Indiana by just two, 48-46, at the third-quarter media timeout. Eastern tied the game once again with one minute to go in the third as Cea nailed a transition floater, knotting the score at 52 apiece.
The Hoosiers drilled a three-pointer to open the final quarter of play, regaining a 55-52 lead. After a few more buckets, the score remained 58-54 for over two minutes of game time. Indiana went on a 7-2 run to make the score 68-59, before Ovalle nailed a triple to put EMU back within six, 68-62. The teams traded baskets the remainder of the game as it ended in a 74-67 Indiana win.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 6-4 (0-0 MAC) and Indiana's went to 10-2 (0-1 B1G).
» Eastern outrebounded its opponent (39-31) for the eighth time this season as it has done so in 8-of-10 games. Eastern also had more second-chance points (8-6), bench points (8-6), and fast-break points (23-14) than the Hoosiers.
» Eastern has outrebounded both of its power-conference opponents this season as it grabbed 39 boards to IU's 31, after outrebounding Michigan State, 31-30, Nov. 9.
» Eastern had four players (Ovalle [16], Eleko [15], Hill [12], Thrash [11]) score double-digit points for the third time this season, losing for the first time when doing so.
» Sisi Eleko recorded a MAC single-game high 18 rebounds in the game, marking the most from the senior this season. The total was one shy of tying her career high of 19 at Buffalo, Nov. 6, 2023.
» Sisi Eleko's 18 rebounds are the sixth-most by value in the nation this season in a single game and the fifth-most in program history.
» Sisi Eleko's 15 points and 18 rebounds marked her seventh double-double of the season, tying for the most in the MAC and second-most in the nation. The outing marked the 21st double-double of her EMU career. She has secured a double-double in 55% (21-of-38) of her games as an Eagle.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her 10th consecutive double-digit scoring game of the season as she posted 15 points. Eleko is up to 77 double-digit scoring games in her career.
» Fernanda Ovalle secured a season-best 16 points. The performance marks her third time this season and 12th time in her career scoring 10+ points. Ovalle has put up 10+ points in three of her previous four games.
» Ainhoa Cea grabbed 10 rebounds for the first time as an Eagle and fourth time in her NCAA tenure. Cea's 10 boards are the second-most from a MAC guard in a single game this season. She last grabbed 10 or more boards as a member of Lipscomb in a triple-double performance at Morehead State, Nov. 17, 2024, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with 15 points, and 10 assists.
» Brooklyn Thrash tied a season best with five rebounds. She has had five rebounds three times this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU's 67 points are the most against a power-conference foe since the Eagles notched 81 in an 85-81 loss to TCU in the Postseason NIT, March 19, 2016, and the most against a Big Ten Conference member since Eastern fell to Michigan, 89-75, Dec. 11, 2013.
» Eastern's seven-point margin of defeat is its slimmest against a power-conference and Big Ten Conference opponent since it lost a road contest at Illinois by six points, 72-66, Dec. 1, 2018.
» The loss snapped EMU's four-game winning streak, the longest since the 2022-23 season when it won its first six games of the season. The streak tied for the longest active winning streak in the conference.
» The game marked the third between the Eagles and Hoosiers. Eastern holds a 0-3 all-time record against IU and a 0-2 mark when facing it at Assembly Hall.
» Eastern is now 14-54 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 (0-3), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-1), Northwestern (2-2), Ohio State (1-2), Purdue (0-3), Washington (0-2), and Wisconsin (1-0).
» Sisi Eleko is now 10 double-doubles away from tying Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the program's all-time record.
» Sisi Eleko's 18 rebounds are the most from an Eagle in a single game since Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) set the program's single-game record with 23 in a 65-59 win against Tarleton State, Dec. 21, 2020.
Up Next
Eastern enters Mid-American Conference play, beginning with a game against the defending MAC Champion, Ball State University, 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
Team Stats
EMU
IND
FG%
.393
.448
3FG%
.269
.364
FT%
.667
.824
RB
39
31
TO
12
10
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's BasketballM/F
/ Women's BasketballY
/ Women's BasketballY/W
/ Women's Basketball
W/Y
/ Women's BasketballM
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Highlights at Indiana, Dec. 14, 2025
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