Eagles Host Chippewas Wednesday Night

GAME #24: Women's Basketball vs. Central Michigan
Date	Wednesday, Feb. 19 \| 6:30 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (pdf)
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU 89.1 FM
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team returns to action on its home court Wednesday, Feb. 19, as the Eagles will play host to rival Central Michigan University inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The game, which will tip off at 6:30 p.m., will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Claire Dau (analyst) on the call while Tom Helmer and John Motherwell will bring fans the action live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network. Live stats will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats while periodic updates will be posted on the team's official X account (@EMUWBB).

FREE THROWS
» The Eagles are 172-168 all-time against fellow Michigan schools and 0-4 this season.
» Eastern and Central Michigan will meet for the 95th time, marking the second-most played series in program history (97, Western Michigan) and one of four that has been played 90+ times.
» The 74-69 loss to Ball State (Feb. 15) marked the closest any MAC team has come to defeating the Cardinals (13-0) this year, surpassing the nine-point win BSU posted at Kent State (66-57), Jan. 15.
» Elena Cabello had a career day against Ball State as she posted career-bests in points (13), field goals (five), three-pointers (three), assists (three), and minutes played (34). All her previous bests were recorded earlier this year at Ball State (Jan. 8).
» Sisi Eleko finished the Ball State game with her 12th double-double of the season after scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. She ranks 19th nationally in double-doubles, 47th in points per game (18.2), and 20th in rebounds per game (10.1).
» Sisi Eleko has climbed into the program's single-season top 25 ledgers as her 418 points rank 25th and her 232 rebounds place her 19th.
» As a team, the Eagles were 20-of-23 from the free throw line against Ball State, marking their most makes this season and the most since Dec. 7, 2023, at Lindenwood (26). Additionally, the 87.0 free-throw percentage ranks as the 13th-best in program history.
» Through 22 games, the Eagles have scored 166 three-pointers for an of 7.2 per game. If the team continues that pace, it will wind up in the program's all-time top 10 as 208 would rank seventh.
» The Eagles connected on seven three-pointers against Ball State (Feb. 8) to extend their current streak to 125 consecutive games with at least one made triple. The last time EMU was held without a three-pointer was Nov. 29, 2020, against UIC (0-of-15).

MITTEN MEETINGS
The Eagles are 172-168 all-time against teams from the Mitten State following their losses at Michigan State (Nov. 11), at Detroit Mercy (Nov. 26), home against Western Michigan (Jan. 1) and at Central Michigan (Jan. 18). The game with the Chippewas this week marks the final game against a Michigan school this season for the Eagles.

KNOW THE FOE: CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas enter the week with a 10-14 record and 5-7 mark in MAC play following their 70-55 loss at Bowling Green (Feb. 15). CMU, who had won its previous two games, is led by Madi Morson, who is averaging 15.5 points per game, while Jess Lawson is scoring 11.9 points and posting a team-leading 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

ALL-TIME VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
EMU and CMU are set to meet for the 96th time with the Chippewas holding a 56-39 lead in the all-time series following their 73-64 win in Mount Pleasant (Jan. 18) earlier this season. Eastern holds a slim 22-21 advantage in games played in Ypsilanti despite falling, 64-60, last year (Jan. 13, 2024).

IN THE 90's
The 95 games played between EMU and CMU stand as the second-most in a series for the Eagles, trailing only the 97 contests played between EMU and Western Michigan. Overall, Eastern has played over 90 games in four different series, including 97 with Western Michigan, 95 with Central Michigan, 94 with Toledo, and 92 with Ball State. The series in line is the 78 games played with Bowling Green.

IN THE LAST MEETING
The Eagles and Chippewas meet in Mount Pleasant, Jan. 18, with CMU claiming a 73-64 decision. The Eagles, who trailed by 19 at halftime, used a 20-7 third quarter to climb back into the game, but were unable to finish the comeback despite a season-high 19 points from Mackenzie Amalia. Eastern connected on 11 three-pointers, including four from Olivia Westphal and three from Amalia, in the loss.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 126 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season, after scoring seven against Ball State, Feb. 15. 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 streak lasted 157 games and started Dec. 9, 2014, until no makes halted the streak, Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.

FROM DOWNTOWN
Eastern is averaging 7.2 made three-pointers per game, which ranks fourth in the MAC. Eastern had connected on 7+ triples in seven consecutive games before finishing with six at Kent State, Jan. 29, and three against Toledo, Feb. 1, but got back on track with eight at Miami, Feb. 5, and at Georgia State, Feb. 8, before hitting seven against Ball State, Feb. 15. Overall, EMU has scored at least seven three-pointers in 15-of-23 games played this season (65.2 percent).

FOR THREE
The Eagles are on pace to drain 208 three-pointers this season, which would mark the 10th time the team would make 200+ in a single season and the first since the 2018-19 squad made 201. Additionally, the 166 made this year are the most since the 2019-20 squad made 173. All told, since the 1999-00 season, the 166 triples this year ranks 17th.

TALE OF TWO GAMES
Eastern fell to Ball State, 74-69, at home, Feb. 15, as the Eagles nearly handed the Cardinals their first MAC loss of the season after losing, 101-69, on the road, Jan. 8. While the first game produced the largest margin of victory in a MAC game for the Cardinals this season, the second meeting produced their closest game yet as the five-point margin is the smallest BSU has experienced against a league foe in 2025. The previous low was a nine-point win at Kent State (Jan. 15), 66-57.

TAKE CARE
The Eagles have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent just six times this season with the most recent coming against Ball State (Feb. 15) when EMU was forced into just 10 mishaps. The 10 turnovers are the second-lowest total in a game this season behind the nine tallied against Northern Illinois (Jan. 22) and ties with 10 against Xavier (Dec. 1). EMU forced Ball State into 15 turnovers.

FROM THE STRIPE
Eastern finished the game with Ball State (Feb. 15) shooting 20-of-23 from the line with Sisi Eleko (5-of-5), Olivia Westphal (4-of-4), and Jada Williams (2-of-2) making all their attempts. The 20 makes are the most in a single game this season, surpassing the 17 made against Purdue Fort Wayne (Nov. 21) while the 87.0 percent shooting rate ranks as the 13th-best in a single game in program history.

CABELLO'S CAREER DAY
For the second time this season, Elena Cabello had a career day against Ball State (Feb. 15) as she posted career-bests in points (13), field goals (five), three-pointers (three), assists (three), and minutes played (34). Prior to the game, her previous bests of 12 points, four field goals, two three-pointers, and 33 minutes played all were recorded at BSU (Jan. 8). In fact, in the 45 games Cabello has played for the Eagles, she has reached double-digit points twice with both instances coming this year against BSU.

SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko picked up her MAC-leading 12th double-double of the season at home against Ball State (Feb. 15) as she scored 15 points and added 12 rebounds. Ranked 19th nationally in the category, Eleko is now tied with Phillis Webb (2013-16) on the all-time EMU ledger (since 1999) and is one away from reaching the top 10 as both Paige Redditt (2008-12) and Shani Charles (1997-01) are tied for 10th with 13. Additionally, her 32 career double-doubles rank 30th among all active NCAA Division I players.

NEARING 400
With her 15 points and 12 rebounds against Ball State (Feb. 15), Sisi Eleko added her name to the program's single-season points and rebounds list. On the scoring ledger, her 418 points rank 25th in a season and are 10 behind Traci Parsons (1995-96), who is 24th with 428. Eleko also has recorded 232 rebounds, which ranks 19th on the list and one shy of tying Patrice McKinney (2006-07) for 18th. Eleko is the first Eagle to score over 400 points in a season since Areanna Combs scored 437 points in 2021-22 and is now 15 points shy of tying Nikki Knapp (2004-05) for ninth on the junior season scoring ledger after Knapp scored 433 points that year.

DOUBLED UP
Sisi Eleko scored 14 points at Georgia State, Feb. 8, to bring her season total to 403 points. Along with her 220 rebounds, Eleko became the first EMU player since Natachia Watkins (2011-12) to score at least 400 points and record at least 200 rebounds in the same season. That year, Watkins finished with 405 points and 218 rebounds in 32 games played.

ELITE COMPANY
Sisi Eleko also is on pace to do something done just two other EMU players have done in program history: average a double-double for the season. The first to do so was Felicia Hines, who tallied 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds during the 1984-85 season. Ce'Nara Skanes was the most recent entrant to the list as she averaged 16.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 season. Through the Ball State game, Eleko is averaging 18.2 points and 10.1 rebounds.

TRENDING UPWARD
Sisi Eleko, who is averaging 18.2 points per game, is looking to do something that hasn't happened in nearly 15 years: have an Eagle average 20.0 points for a season. EMU Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor inductee Tavelyn James was the last to do so when she averaged 20.7 points in 2009-10.

Additionally, Eleko's 10.0 rebounds are among the best in EMU history as well with only three players finishing the season averaging 10.0+ rebounds per game. Those players include Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-21) at 10.9, Felicia Hines (1984-85) at 11.7 (school record), and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) at 10.6.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Sisi Eleko remains ranked among the top 50 in four statistical categories according to the latest rankings from the NCAA (Feb. 16). She currently ranks 19th in double-doubles (12), 20th in rebounds per game (10.1), 40th in total rebounds (232), and 47th in points per game (18.2). Mackenzie Amalia still leads the nation in minutes played (38.4) despite an injury keeping her sidelined.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has made 52 three pointers in 22 games this year (2.4 per game), which is 29 more than her total from the 2023-24 season when she scored 23 three-pointers in 28 games (0.8). Additionally, Westphal has scored 2+ triples in 16-of-22 games played this year after she made 1+ three-point shots in 12-of-28 games last year. If she can maintain her current pace, Westphal could make at least 70 three-pointers this season, something that hasn't happened since the 2015-16 season when both Janay Morton (76) and Cha Sweeney (70) accomplished the feat.

SHE'S HEATING UP...
After opening the season with 26 three-pointers in the first nine games of the year, Olivia Westphal was limited in her deep shots to open MAC play as she scored seven in the first five league games. She has since returned to her early season form as she had nailed 18 in the past seven MAC games, including four at Central Michigan (Jan. 18), a career-high-tying five at home against Northern Illinois (Jan. 22), and three each at Ohio (Jan. 25) and at Kent State (Jan. 29). In the games with CMU and NIU, she made four or more triples in back-to-back games for the first time in her career and hit at least four three-pointers in the same game five times this year after having not done so previously.

MAJOR MINUTES
Mackenzie Amalia averages 38.4 minutes per game after playing the full 40 minutes in every MAC game this year she has been available for, which leads the NCAA. Amalia is one of five Eagles that rank in the top 25 of minutes played in the MAC, including Sisi Eleko in sixth (33.7), Olivia Westphal is 15th (31.5), Olivia Smith is 18th (31.0), and Brooklyn Thrash is 22nd (30.2).

FIRST TIMES
Six players have made their EMU debuts this year with Jada Williams the latest to join the list after playing six minutes against Xavier, Dec. 1. Previously, rookies Chelsea Bishop (Nov. 21) and Olivia DiFranco (Nov. 9) saw their first action while transfers Mackenzie Amalia, Brooklyn Thrash, and Sisi Eleko each started in the opener against Texas State (Nov. 4). Additionally, Elena Cabello entered the game against Texas State, which marked her first game action since March 8, 2023, against Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament, after sitting out all last season with an injury.

ON THE HORIZON
The Eagle will play host to the Chippewas of Central Michigan University, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The game will air live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Claire Dau (analyst) on the call. Additionally, Tom Helmer and John Motherwell will call the game live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network.

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 team on Instagram (@EMUWBB).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Amalia

Chelsea Bishop

Elena Cabello

Olivia DiFranco

Sisi Eleko

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Olivia Westphal

Jada Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics