Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-25,1-15MAC
Buffalo
23-5,12-4MAC
Women’s Basketball Falls at Buffalo
3/1/2025 3:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Smith scored a season-high 17 points in the loss
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell on the road at the University at Buffalo, 71-54, Saturday, March 1, inside Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. Olivia Smith led the way for the Eagles with a season-high 17 points that included a career-high five three-pointers for EMU (2-25, 1-15 Mid-American Conference) against the Bulls (23-5, 12-4 MAC).
How It Happened
After getting off to a slow start as the hosts jumped out to a 12-2 lead before taking a 20-12 lead after one. Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) scored six of her eight points in the first quarter to lead the way while Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) and Kyndal Lewis (Belton, Mo./Belton) each connected on one three-point shot.
The Eagles were held to 11 points in the second as the Bulls pushed their advantage to 45-23 at halftime. Smith scored eight of the team's 11 points in the stanza as she scored a pair of three-pointers to go along with one layup. Dara Capaldi (East Detroit, Mich./La Lumiere (Ind.)) tallied a late three-pointer as well.
Following the break, the teams traded points as the Eagles cut the deficit by two points, 59-39. Eastern scored a trio of triples, including makes by Smith, Brooklyn Trash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius), and Capaldi, while Lewis, Mackenzie Amalia (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk/Canisius), and Olivia Westphal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park/Duquesne) adding points to the mix.
In the final quarter, the Bulls maintained their lead and took the contest, 71-54. Amalia opened the quarter with a three-point basket before Lewis scored four consecutive points. After another three-pointer from Smith, Eleko collected her final points and Westphal connected on a three-point basket with 1:13 to make it 16 consecutive games with at least one basket from behind the arc and at least one in 25-of-26 games this year.
Game Notes
» Olivia Smith finished with a season-high 17 points, which surpassed the 16 she scored at Kent State, Jan. 29. Smith tallied a career-high five three-pointers while adding four assists. The five three-pointers tie for the most in a single game this year for EMU players following Olivia Westphal's five against Texas State (Nov. 4) and Northern Illinois (Jan. 22).
» Kyndal Lewis and Sisi Eleko led the team with seven rebounds while scoring nine and eight points, respectively. Lewis added one assist and one three-pointer while Eleko scored all eight of her points with two-point baskets.
» Both Olivia Smith and Sisi Eleko moved up EMU scoring ledgers with their point totals. For Smith, her 703 career points moved her to No. 45 all-time in program history while Eleko's 460 points rank her 18th on the single-season scoring list and No. 8 for players in their junior year. Eleko also moved up to No. 5 on the single-season rebounding list with 264.
» With 11 three-pointers, the Eagles have made 202 this season, which ranks ninth on the program's single-season list while becoming just the 10th EMU squad to make 200+ in a single season. Additionally, the team has attempted 636 shots from behind the arc, which ranks fifth in single-season history.
» Eastern Michigan finished with 11 three-pointers, marking its second consecutive game with double-digit triples after sinking 14 against Miami (Feb. 27). The last time the Eagles accomplished the feat was Jan. 23, 2019, against Bowling Green and Jan. 26, 2019, at Central Michigan when EMU connected on 12 and 10, respectively.
» EMU made 25 three-pointers in its last two games (14 vs. Miami and 11 at Buffalo), marking the most made in a two-game span since the 2015 season. That year, the Eagles connected on 15 against Akron in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament (March 12, 2015) before scoring 10 against Ball State in the semifinals (March 13, 2015).
» The Eagles finished 11-of-30 from behind the arc to extend their current streak to 130 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. Kyndal Lewis was the first Eagle to connect from downtown to extend the streak. The last EMU failed to drain a long-distance shot came Nov. 29, 2020, when Eastern finished 0-of-15 from three-point range at home against UIC.
Historical Notes
» With the loss, the Eagles fell to 2-25 overall and 1-15 in MAC play while the Bulls improved to 23-5 overall and 12-4 in league action.
» The Eagles slipped to 16-19 all-time against Buffalo and 7-10 when playing inside Alumni Arena.
Up Next
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+.
