Women’s Hoops Hosts Miami Wednesday

GAME #26: Women's Basketball vs. Miami
Date	Wednesday, Feb. 26 \| 6:30 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (pdf)
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media 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, fresh off its first road win and first conference win of the season, will play host to Miami University Wednesday, Feb. 26, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti in the Eagles' penultimate home game of the season. The Eagles (2-23, 1-13 Mid-American Conference), who snapped an 18-game losing streak with their 76-72 win at Northern Illinois University, Feb. 22, will look to win back-to-back games for the first time this year when the RedHawks (16-9, 8-6 MAC) come to town.

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Claire Dau (analyst) on the call. Along with the ESPN+ broadcast, 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
» Eastern is coming off a thrilling 76-72 come-from-behind win at Northern Illinois (Feb. 22) in which the Eagles turned a 10-point deficit at the start of the fourth into a four-point victory as they outscored the Huskies, 20-6, in the final stanza.
» The win at NIU marked a pair of firsts for the team this season as EMU recorded its first win in MAC play and its first win on the road. Additionally, the win marked the Eagles' first road win since Jan. 3, 2024, a 67-49 win at Northern Illinois.
» Along with the firsts for the team, the decision marked the first road and first MAC wins for Sahar Nusseibeh as the program's head coach.
» The win halted an 18-game losing streak for the Eagles, which stood as the second-longest in program history. The longest is 21 games that started Dec. 10, 1993, and ended Nov. 25, 1994.
» Sisi Eleko scored 20 points and added nine rebounds in the win at NIU. She has 438 points and 241 rebounds, which ranks her 22nd and 16th, respectively, on the program's single-season charts. Additionally, her 438 points rank ninth for a player in her junior season at EMU.
» Olivia Smith joined the program's all-time top 50 in career scoring as her 14 points at NIU brought her total to 673. She ranks 48th all-time in EMU history.
» Prior to last week, Kyndal Lewis had reached double figures in scoring just once. This week, she scored a career-high 15 against Central Michigan (Feb. 19) before adding 13 at NIU. For the week, the senior averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 steals.
» The Eagles connected on seven three-pointers at Northern Illinois (Feb. 22) to extend their current streak to 128 consecutive games with at least one made triple.

KNOW THE FOE: MIAMI
The RedHawks enter the game 16-9 overall and 8-6 in MAC play, which is currently tied for fifth in the standings with Bowling Green. Miami saw its five-game winning streak snapped at home against Buffalo (Feb. 22) in a 68-54 decision. Enjulina Gonzalez continues to pace the offense with 17.0 points while also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals, while both Maya Chandler (10.4) and Amber Tretter (10.6) are averaging over 10 points per game as well.

ALL-TIME VS. MIAMI
The Eagles trail, 25-44, in the all-time series and have lost two consecutive games, both of which were played in Oxford. Although the Eagles trail, 12-21, when hosting the RedHawks, EMU has won four consecutive meetings as the host, including a 53-48 decision, Jan. 17, 2024.

IN THE LAST MEETING
Brooklyn Thrash posted her third career double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds) and nine different players scored at least two points as EMU dropped a 68-45 decision at Miami, Feb. 5, inside Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio. The Eagles held an early lead, but a run by the RedHawks opened up the game in the second that EMU could not overcome.
Thrash finished the game with team-highs in both points (11) and rebounds (10) to record her third career double-double and her first this year. Thrash, who last achieved the feat Feb. 22, 2024, with Canisius at Manhattan, saw her rebound total surpass her season best of seven and tied her career best set twice while playing with Canisius last year. Thrash also led the team with three steals and added one block and two assists.

NEVER OUT OF THE FIGHT
For the second time this season, the Eagles found a way to win despite trailing by double figures as Eastern, who was down 10 at the end of the third quarter, came back to win, 76-72, at Northern Illinois (Feb. 22). The first time it happened this year was Dec. 1 when the Eagles defeated visiting Xavier, 72-60, after trailing by 20 at the halftime break.

STOP RIGHT THERE!
The win at Northern Illinois (Feb. 22) put an end to two long streaks for the Eagles. First, the win ended EMU's 18-game losing streak, which ranked as the second-longest in program history (21, Dec. 10, 1993-Nov. 25, 1994). The win also put an end to a 19-game road losing streak that covered the final eight games of last season and the first 11 this year. The last time the Eagles had won on the road was also at NIU in a 67-49 decision, Jan. 3, 2024.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 128 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season, after scoring seven at Northern Illinois, Feb. 22. 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 7.1 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. Overall, EMU has scored at least seven three-pointers in 16-of-25 games played this season (64.0 percent), including the seven scored at NIU (Feb. 22).

FOR THREE
The Eagles are on pace to drain 204 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 177 made this year are the most since the 2017-18 squad made 180. All told, since the 1999-00 season, the 177 triples this year ranks 14th.

SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko nearly picked up her MAC-leading 13th double-double of the season at NIU (Feb. 22) as she scored 20 points and added nine rebounds. Ranked 23rd nationally in the category, Eleko is now tied at 12 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 33rd among all active NCAA Division I players.

CLIMBING LADDERS
Sisi Eleko has accumulated 438 points and 241 rebounds this season. The 438 points rank ninth on the program's single-season scoring list for players in their junior season with Janay Morton (2015-16) next on the list at 459. Additionally, she is 22nd on the overall single-season list with Courtnie Lewis (2017-18) ahead of her with 445 points. Lastly, her 241 boards position her 19th on the single-season rebounding list, leaving her one away from tying Patrice McKinney (2006-07) for 18th.

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 Central Michigan game (Feb. 19), Eleko is averaging 18.2 points and 10.1 rebounds.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Sisi Eleko remains ranked among the top 50 in three statistical categories according to the latest rankings from the NCAA (Feb. 23). She currently ranks 26th in double-doubles (12), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), and 50th in points per game (18.2). Mackenzie Amalia still leads the nation in minutes played (38.4) despite an injury keeping her sidelined.

SMITH IN THE TOP 50
Olivia Smith joined the program's all-time top 50 scoring ledger after her 14-point performance at Northern Illinois (Feb. 22) pushed her career total to 673 points, which ranks her 48th. Next up on the list is Kerry Porter (1988-92), who finished her EMU career with 681 points.

OH YES SHE KYN!
It was quite a week for senior Kyndal Lewis. Before the week started, her 12 points against Ohio, Feb. 1, 2023, marked a career high and her only game with double-digit scoring. Against Central Michigan (Feb. 19), Lewis took down her career high with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, which nearly doubled her season high of eight points. She rode that strong performance into another as she tallied 13 points and eight rebounds at NIU (Feb. 22) with four coming in the finals minutes of the win, including a layup after a steal that gave EMU the lead (70-69) for good. Lewis, who entered the week averaging 2.1 points and 2.2 rebounds, averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Eagles.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has made 55 three pointers in 24 games this year (2.3 per game), which is 32 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 17-of-24 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.

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 fifth (33.9), Olivia Smith is 12th (32.1), Olivia Westphal is 19th (31.3), and Brooklyn Thrash is 21st (30.3).

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
Eastern Michigan will play the first of its final two road games of the season Saturday, March 1, when the Eagles travel to Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., to take on the University at Buffalo. The Eagles and Bulls are slated to tip off at 2 p.m. with the game being streamed 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 team on Instagram (@EMUWBB).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Amalia

Chelsea Bishop

Elena Cabello

Olivia DiFranco

Sisi Eleko

Kyndal Lewis

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Olivia Westphal

Jada Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics