Women's Basketball Welcomes Defiance in Doubleheader Action with Men's Hoops Friday

Women's Basketball vs. Defiance
Dates/Times	Friday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Tickets	Purchase Here
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Record Book
Watch Live	ESPN+
Live Stats	St atbroadcast
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Instagram	@emuwbb \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Looking for its first three-game win streak since the 2023-24 season, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is set to face the Yellow Jackets of NAIA Defiance College Friday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m., inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.

Fans can purchase tickets here and stream the game live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler on the call. Live stats are available on emueagles.com, where a post-game recap will also 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 have surpassed their 2024-25 win total (two) just seven games into the 2025-26 season with four wins. 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.
» Eastern is looking to win three consecutive games for the first time in 701 days, dating back to the 2023-24 season. A win against the Yellow Jackets would mark the first winning streak in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era.
» 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 64-55 win at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, marking its first time winning consecutive games since the 2023-24 season. Peyton Hill led EMU with a career-best 21 points off 7-for-10 shooting. Sisi Eleko aided with 15 points and eight 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.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE YELLOW JACKETS
The Eagles and Yellow Jackets are meeting for the fifth time Friday. EMU holds a perfect 4-0 record against Defiance dating back to the first meeting 47 years ago, a 79-53 road win for Eastern, Jan. 6, 1978. Eastern and Defiance are facing off for the first time in nearly 45 years as the Eagles last met the Yellow Jackets on the hardwood Dec. 11, 1980, a tilt that resulted in a 83-63 win for the Green and White. Eastern has won all four matchups by at least 10 points as it wins by an average of 21.5 points when facing DC, with its largest margin of victory being 26 points in the 79-53 series opener, Jan. 6, 1978.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE NAIA
Eastern is facing an NAIA school for the 13th time in program history as it holds a perfect 12-0 record against the association. Its five-game series against Defiance is its longest against an NAIA opponent, and the Eagles win by an average of 42.25 points when facing NAIA foes. EMU's largest margin of victory against an NAIA opponent was 85 points, 120-35, over Marygrove, Nov. 30, 2013. Defiance holds the Eagles the closest of all NAIA teams, having kept the score within 20 points three separate times, Eastern's slimmest margin of victory against an NAIA opponent.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE NAIA
The game against Defiance is EMU's first against an NAIA school in nearly 10 years as it last grabbed a 104-45 win at Madonna, Dec. 18, 2015. Eastern's last time taking on an NAIA foe at home was also against Madonna, Dec. 9, 2014, a 88-68 win for the Eagles.

LAST TIME OUT
Eastern captured a second-consecutive win for the first time since the 2023-24 season with a 65-54 road victory at Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30. Freshman Peyton Hill 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 added 15 points and controlled the glass with a game-high eight rebounds.

» 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 outrebounded the Titans, 41-27, marking the sixth time the Eagles have outrebounded 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 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.
» 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. 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 tied a season high with five rebounds.

DOUBLE HEADER IN YPSI
The Eagles' game against the Yellow Jackets is just the first of the day inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center as the EMU men's team faces NAIA Cleary University shortly after the conclusion of the women's contest. The day marks the first of two doubleheaders for the EMU basketball programs, as they will both host games, Dec. 30, with the women taking on Bowling Green, 5 p.m., and the men facing UMass shortly after the final buzzer of the women's game.

FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT
EMU is ringing in the holiday season in Ypsilanti, while recognizing the work of the EMU Faculty & Staff and their efforts over the fall semester.

GOING FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS
Eastern can win a third consecutive game for the first time in over one season as it last captured three straight wins in the 2023-24 season over IU Indy, Dec. 15, Saginaw Valley State, Dec. 29, and Northern Illinois, Jan. 3. By Friday, Dec. 5, it will have been 701 days since EMU won three consecutive games.

STRONG START
Eastern Michigan is looking for its first 5-3 start or better through the first eight games of the season since it went 6-2 in its first eight games of the 2022-23 campaign. The Eagles are also looking to start 2-0 at home for the first time since 2022-23.

NUSSEIBEH STRONG START
Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh is seeking the second 5-3 start in her head coaching tenure. She last led a team to a 5-3 record through eight games at Canisius in 2023-24, turning that into a 7-3 start in the first 10 games. That season ended in 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 doubled its 2024-25 season total in a multitude of winning categories. EMU has already surpassed its 2024-25 win total (two) just seven games into the 2025-26 season with four wins. Three of Eastern's four 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 quadrupled its amount of non-conference wins from last season as it holds four after the win over Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, and had just one last season, a 72-60 comeback win over Xavier, Dec. 1, 2024. A win over the Yellow Jackets would double the Eagles' 2024-25 home-win total, and quintuple their non-conference win sum.

BOUNCE BACK
Eight games into the season, Eastern has yet to lose consecutive games, marking the longest start without consecutive losses to start a season since the Eagles went the first 10 games without consecutive losses to start the 2018-19 campaign. 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 82.1% (87-for-106) from the charity stripe this season, ranking first in the MAC and ninth in the country. Although just seven games in, EMU's 82.1% free-throw percentage would serve as the team's single-season program record and is nearly 10% better than the current single-season record, a 72.6% clip in the 1994-95 season. The Eagles have shot 83.3% or better from the free-throw line in five of seven 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 four student-athletes shooting at least 80% from the free-throw line this season in Peyton Hill (89.5%), Sisi Eleko (87%), Brooklyn Thrash (82.4%), and Fernanda Ovalle (80%). By value, Hill's 89.5% clip ranks fourth in the MAC, ninth nationally, and is the second-best mark of any freshman in the nation. Eleko's 87.0% rate stands seventh in the conference.

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 fourth in the MAC, allowing an average of 61.1 points per game as it is limiting foes to a 22.9% rate from three-point range and 40.1% clip from the field, numbers that rank second and seventh in the conference, respectively, while the 22.9% opponent three-point field goal percentage slots 14th nationally.

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 Robert Morris to 20% (3-for-15) from beyond the arc, Nov. 26.

CONSISTENT TRENDS
Eastern is 4-0 this season when holding opponents below a 44.9% clip from the field, as it has held its foes to 41.5% shooting or worse in its four victories. In losses, opponents are shooting at least 46.9%. The same goes for three-point shooting as Eastern's opponents are shooting 20% or worse in EMU wins and 31.3% or better in EMU losses. Eastern is also 4-2 when out rebounding its foe as it has done so in 6-of-7 games this season while holding a clean 4-0 mark when leading at halftime.

CRASHING THE GLASS
Eastern ranks fourth in the MAC with a +4.7 rebounding margin as opponents average 32.1 rebounds per game against EMU while it pulls down an average of 36.9 per contest. After getting outrebounded in the season-opener at Louisiana Monroe, 37-29, Nov. 3, Eastern has outrebounded its opponent in the last six games with its largest margin being +17 in the 70-39 win at Canisius, Nov. 7. EMU most recently outrebounded Detroit Mercy by 14 (41-27) in a 64-55 road victory. Led by Sisi Eleko (10.3 rebounds per game), EMU has four student-athletes that average at least four rebounds per game, including Believe Tshibangu (4.3), Ainhoa Cea (4.0), and Peyton Hill (4.0).

ELEKO MAC POTW
Senior Sisi Eleko was named MAC player of the week 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.

The senior's 19 points per game was the second-highest total from the previous week while her 53.6 field-goal percentage (15-for-28) stood fifth, although she had at least 15 more attempts than the four individuals that ranked above her. Additionally, 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 up 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 one of three MAC players currently averaging a double-double. Named Preseason First Team All-MAC, Eleko has scored at least 10 in all seven games this season as she is one of two MAC players to rank inside the top four in points per game, rebounds per game OR assists per game. Eleko currently averages 16.9 points (tied for first in the MAC), 10.3 rebounds per game (second by value), shoots 87% from the free-throw line (seventh), and averages 33.6 minutes per game (sixth).

ELEKO PROGRAM DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Sisi Eleko's 18 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 13 more to tie Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the most in program history (31). Eleko most recently had a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 64-54 win against Robert Morris, Nov. 26.

ELEKO DOUBLE-DOUBLE RATE
Sisi Eleko has secured her 18 EMU double-doubles at an astonishing rate, doing so in 34 games as it took all-time program double-doubles leader, Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23), 38 games to total 18 double-doubles, finishing her tenure with 31. Moreover, Eleko has recorded a double-double in 51.4% (18-of-35) of her games as an Eagle, while Skanes did so in 41.3% (31-of-75) of her career games.

ELEKO IN THE STANDINGS
Sisi Eleko has four double-doubles on the season, a figure that ranks second in the MAC and third nationally by value. Her 10.3 rebounds per game rank second in the conference and 25th nationally while she slots first in the MAC in defensive rebounds per game (8.6), checking in at No. 4 in America. Eleko also ranks 38th in the country with a 90.5% clip from the free-throw line, slotting sixth in the MAC.

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.

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, as 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 (six) 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 six of any seven-game stretch since Aalyiah Stanley did so in the 2019-20 season. Through seven games, Hill is averaging 13.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 89.5% from the free-throw line. Her 13.7 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 has missed just four free throws this season as she is 34-of-38 (89.5%) from the line, the fourth-best mark in the conference, best from a freshman, and the second-best mark nationally from a freshman. Overall, Hill's 89.5% clip ranks 19th in the nation by value and would stand second 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 seven games as an Eagle. Cea has dished at least five dimes in five of her first seven 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 5.4 assists per game rank fourth in the conference and 36th nationally while her 38 total dimes slot third in the MAC and 55th in the country. The senior's 5.4 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 second in America averaging 37.4 minutes per game. Cea's 37.4 minutes per game are a career high and stand roughly 8.6 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 six points away from 500 while needing 102 more assists and 99 rebounds to reach 500. Fernanda Ovalle needs 207 points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 153 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 145 to hit 500 as an Eagle. She is 139 points from 1,500 and needs 12 double-doubles to reach 50 in her NCAA tenure. Furthermore, Eleko needs 13 total double-doubles to tie for the most in program history and 14 to be the sole record owner.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 139 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, and ended Nov. 29, 2020 against visiting UIC, when no makes halted the streak.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern remains home for a game against Duquesne University Tuesday, Dec. 9, 12 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.

Women's Basketball Welcomes Defiance in Doubleheader Action with Men's Hoops Friday

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Players Mentioned

Ainhoa Cea

Sisi Eleko

Peyton Hill

Fernanda Ovalle

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Believe Tshibangu

Eastern Michigan Athletics