Hoops Heads to Buffalo for Saturday Contest

GAME #27: Women's Basketball at Buffalo
Date	Saturday, March 1 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Alumni Arena (8,783)
Preview Info	EMU Notes (pdf)
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	n/a
Twitter	@EMUWBB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets for SENIOR DAY on March 8

BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will venture to western New York this weekend as the Eagles are set to face the University at Buffalo in a 2 p.m. Mid-American Conference game inside Alumni Arena Saturday, March 1, in Buffalo, N.Y. The Eagles (2-24, 1-14 MAC) and Bulls (22-5, 11-4 MAC) enter the game following tough losses in their games played Feb. 26, including an 82-72 overtime home loss for EMU to Miami University and a 71-68 road loss to the University of Toledo for the Bulls. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Howard Simon (play-by-play) and Matt Mattia (analyst) on the call. 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 game at Buffalo will mark a return to the area for several members of the program as coaches Sahar Nusseibeh, Shareese Ulis, and Meg Cunningham, players Athena Lexa, Sisi Eleko, Mackenzie Amalia, and Brooklyn Thrash, and support staff members Ti Fulton and Lexie Mesuch, were members of the nearby Canisius program last year.
» EMU dropped a tough 82-72 decision in overtime to Miami (Feb. 26) despite coming back from a 23-point deficit at halftime. It marked the second time this year EMU has come back from a deficit of 20+ points (W, 72-60, vs. Xavier, Dec. 1).
» To mount its comeback, the Eagles shot 8-of-11 from three in the third quarter, including making seven consecutive triples. EMU finished 14-of-32 from the arc, marking its most three-pointers since Nov. 19, 2021, when the team made 15 at home against Grace Christian. Additionally, the 14 makes are the sixth-most in EMU history.
» Sisi Eleko finished with a 14-point, 16-rebound double-double to mark her 13th of the season and 33rd of her career. It also marked the fourth time this year she has recorded 15+ rebounds.
» Brooklyn Thrash tied a career-high in several categories as she finished with 16 points and made four three-pointers. Three of those long-distance makes came in the third quarter.
» Mackenzie Amalia, who had been sidelined since playing in the Jan. 22 game against NIU (missed eight games), made her return to the floor. She finished with nine points on three triples, two rebounds, one block, and one steal in 27 minutes of action.
» The Eagles connected on 14 three-pointers against Miami (Feb. 26) to extend their current streak to 129 consecutive games with at least one triple. The last time EMU was held without a three-pointer was Nov. 29, 2020, against UIC (0-of-15).

KNOW THE FOE: BUFFALO
The Bulls enter the game with a 22-5 overall record and an 11-4 mark in MAC play following their 71-68 road loss at Toledo (Feb. 26), a loss that snapped a three-game winning streak. Chellia Watson continues to lead the team and the league in scoring with a 20.3 clip while Kirsten Lewis-Williams (13.7) and Noelani Cornfield (10.6) are averaging double figures as well.

ALL-TIME VS. BUFFALO
The Eagles are 16-18 all-time against the Bulls and have lost two consecutive games, including a 77-55 setback at home, Jan. 15, earlier this season. When playing inside Alumni Arena in Buffalo, EMU trails, 7-9, and has lost five in a row on the Bulls' home floor. The last time EMU was victorious at UB Feb. 17, 2016, in a 70-55 game.

IN THE LAST MEETING
Sisi Eleko recorded her ninth double-double of the season and joined three of her teammates in scoring two three-pointers, but a fast-paced game went to visiting Buffalo, 77-55, Jan. 15, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles held the lead on several occasions, but the Bulls used a big run to open the third quarter to pull away.

Eleko finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the team while also dishing out a career-high five assists. Kyndal Lewis, who, at the time was 0-of-3 on the season from three, finished the game with eight points, including 2-of-2 from behind the arc, while Brooklyn Thrash tied her then-season-high with seven rebounds to go with eight points.

TOP TWO
For the second time this season, the top two scorers in the MAC will meet when Sisi Eleko and the Eagles meet Chellia Watson and the Bulls. Watson currently leads the MAC with 20.3 points while Eleko is second at 18.3. In the first meeting, Watson finished with 21 while Eleko posted 16.

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS
The trip to Buffalo marks a return to the area for nine members of the program who were at nearby Canisius last year. Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh led the Golden Griffin program the previous three seasons (2021-24) with Shareese Ulis and Meg Cunningham working on her staff. Graduate assistant Ti Fulton was a player for CU last season while current Eagles Mackenzie Amalia, Sisi Eleko, Athena Lexa, and Brooklyn Thrash also played for the Golden Griffins. Also, team manager Lexie Mesuch served in the same capacity at CU as well.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 129 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season, after scoring 14 against Miami, Feb. 26. 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 7.3 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 17-of-26 games played this season (65.4 percent), including the 14 scored against Miami (Feb. 26).

A THREE-FOR-ALL
After being held to just three points in the second quarter and trailing at halftime by 23 to Miami (Feb. 26), the Eagles came out firing in the third as they pulled to within four (54-50) at the end of the quarter thanks to outside shooting. In the stanza, the Eagles shot 8-of-11 from three, including making seven consecutive attempts. The eight makes were equal to or more than the full game totals for 19 games played this season.

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. Following the game with Miami (Feb. 26), the Eagles are 191-of-633 on the season with the 191 makes ranked 11th in a single season (No. 10 is 197) while the 633 attempts rank fifth (No. 4 is 678).

SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko nearly picked up her MAC-leading 13th double-double of the season against Miami (Feb. 26) as she finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Ranked 22nd nationally in the category, Eleko is now tied for 10th on the all-time EMU ledger (since 1999) with Paige Redditt (2008-12) and Shani Charles (1997-01). Next on the list is Stephanie Smiley (1998-02) with 14.

CLIMBING LADDERS
Sisi Eleko has accumulated 452 points this season, which ranks 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 20th on the overall single-season list with Phillis Webb (2016-17) ahead of her with 454 points.

CLEANING GLASS
Sisi Eleko is not only climbing two scoring ladders but also making her mark on the single-season rebounding ledger as her 257 caroms rank ninth. Cassie Schrock (2010-11) is next up on the list with 258. If Eleko, who is averaging 10.3 per game, maintains her current pace, she could climb into second on the list.

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 22nd in double-doubles (13), 19th in rebounds per game (10.3), and 36th in total rebounds (258) while sitting 51st in points per game (18.1). Mackenzie Amalia, who returned to play against Miami (Feb. 26) for the first time since Jan. 22, ranks third nationally in minutes per game at 37.7.

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.

THRASHING NETS
Brooklyn Thrash had a career day for the Eagles against Miami (Feb. 26) as she tied both her highs for points with 16 and three-point field goals with four, which she set earlier this year against Xavier (Dec. 1). Thrash's biggest quarter came in the third when she drained three triples to lead the Eagles, who had eight makes from distance.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has made 58 three pointers in 25 games this year (2.3 per game), which is 35 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 18-of-25 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 returned to the floor for the first time since Jan. 22 and made an immediate impact as the graduate student logged 27 minutes while providing a lift throughout. Amalia finished the game with nine points on three made three-pointers while adding her first block of the season, two rebounds, and one steal.

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
The Eagles will hit the road for the final time this season when they travel to Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, March 5, to take on the University of Akron inside the James. A. Rhodes Arena. The game is slated to tip-off at 6 p.m. and will air 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).

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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Mackenzie Amalia

Chelsea Bishop

Elena Cabello

Olivia DiFranco

Sisi Eleko

Kyndal Lewis

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Olivia Westphal

Jada Williams

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