WBB Hosts Bowling Green on Senior Day

GAME #29: Women's Basketball vs. Bowling Green
Date	Saturday, March 8 \| 2 p.m.
Special	SENIOR DAY (starts at 1:30 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 for SENIOR DAY on March 8

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team will take to the court for the final time this season as the Eagles will play host to Bowling Green State University, March 8, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. The Eagles (2-26, 1-16 MAC), who will honor five members of the program with Senior Day activities ahead of the contest with the Falcons (17-12, 10-7 MAC), will look to close their season with a win for the second year in a row after downing BGSU, 59-54, on Senior Day one year ago (March 9, 2024).

The game, which will tip off at 2 p.m., 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).

SENIOR SEND-OFF
Prior to the game, the program will honor five of its own in Senior Day festivities that will begin at 1:35 p.m. Those being honored include student-athletes Mackenzie Amalia, Ashley Hassett, Kyndal Lewis, and Olivia Westphal, and student manager Lexie Mesuch.

FREE THROWS
» The Eagles are playing Bowling Green in their final home game of the season for the second consecutive year (W, 59-54, March 9, 2024) and the fifth time in program history. Additionally, the Eagles and Falcons have met in EMU's final game of the season six previous times.
» Sisi Eleko finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds at Akron for her 14th double-double of the season to move into a tie for ninth on the all-time list at EMU (since 1999).
» Sisi Eleko has scored 481 points this year, leaving her 19 away from becoming just the eighth different Eagle to reach 500 in a single season. She ranks 14th on the single-season scoring list and sixth for players in their junior season at EMU.
» Olivia Smith extended her streak to seven consecutive games with 10+ points after scoring 16 at Akron. She is now 44th on the program's all-time scoring list with 719 points.
» The Eagles connected on 11 three-pointers at Buffalo (March 1) to extend their current streak to 130 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).

THANK YOU, SENIORS!
Whether on the court or off, the five seniors that will be recognized Saturday ahead of the game with Bowling Green have made a lasting impression on the Eastern Michigan basketball program.
» Mackenzie Amalia joined the program for this season after transferring in with the hire of Sahar Nusseibeh. A five-year player, Amalia played three seasons at Robert Morris before playing at Canisius last year. Amalia, who played in 122 games and started 81, has scored 822 points and dished 352 assists. She is working toward one day becoming an occupational therapist.
» Ashley Hassett joined the program in 2022-23 after two successful seasons at Northeast Community College. Despite being limited at EMU by injuries, Hassett scored 31 points for the Eagles to bring her collegiate total to 1,000 points after scoring 969 at Northeast. Planning to graduate next month, Hassett plans to one day run her own AAU program.
» Kyndal Lewis played all four of her collegiate seasons with the Eagles, joining the team ahead of the 2021-22 season. She appeared in 80 games and scored 195 points, including a career-high 81 this year. After graduating from EMU next month, she will begin work with the Detroit Pistons in its tickets sales department.
» Olivia Westphal spent the last two seasons with EMU after playing the 2022-23 season at Duquesne. During her time with EMU, she started 29-of-55 games played and scored 88 three-pointers, the most of anyone on the roster. A soon-to-be two-time EMU graduate, Westphal plans to enter the workforce in cyber security.
» Lexie Mesuch came to EMU this year after working with Sahar Nusseibeh at Canisius. She will graduate from EMU next month with a degree in General Studies and plans to remain in Ypsilanti to continue working within the basketball program.

KNOW THE FOE: BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons come to town with a 17-12 overall record and a 10-7 mark in the MAC, which ties them with Miami for fifth place in the standings. Bowling Green is coming off an 84-61 home win over Kent State (March 5) to rebound from an 84-77 double overtime loss at Northern Illinois that snapped a four-game winning streak. Individually, four Falcons average in double figures, including Amy Velasco (16.1), Paige Kohler (13.4), Lexi Fleming (13.0), and Erika Porter (10.4) with Porter pacing the team with 5.7 rebounds and Velasco leading with 4.9 assists.

ALL-TIME VS. BOWLING GREEN
The Eagles trail, 21-57, in the all-time series and 14-21 when the game is played in Ypsilanti. Last year's season-ending home win over BGSU, a 59-54 victory, not only closed the year with a win, but also snapped a six-game losing streak to the Falcons.

IN THE LAST MEETING
The Eagles and Falcons played in Bowling Green, Ohio, Jan. 4, with the hosts taking a 90-76 decision on the second day of MAC play. For the Eagles, four players scored in double figures and the team shot 50 percent from the field, but it was not enough to claim the win. The Eagles were led by Sisi Eleko, who scored 26 points, as nine total players scored 10+ points in the game, including five for the Falcons. Also scoring 10+ points for EMU were Mackenzie Amalia and Olivia Westphal with 14 each and Olivia Smith with 13.

IT'S YOU AGAIN
When EMU and BGSU meet Saturday, it will mark the second consecutive year and fifth time overall the two teams have met in the Eagles' home finale. Eastern is 1-3 in those games with last year's 59-54 win snapping a three-game skid. When counting the final home game of the season coming against BGSU, the Eagles are 2-3 as they downed the Falcons, 66-54, March 8, 2003, in the first round of the MAC Tournament before advancing to Cleveland.

SHOOTING STREAK
The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 131 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season, after scoring seven at Akron, March 5. 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, until no makes halted the streak, Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.

FROM DOWNTOWN
Eastern is averaging 7.5 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 19-of-28 games played this season (67.9 percent), including the seven scored at Akron (March 5).

FOR THREE
Through the Akron game (March 5), the Eagles are 209-of-695 from behind the arc this season with both numbers ranking highly in program history. The 209 three-point baskets currently ranks seventh for a single season with the 211 made by the 2013-14 team next on the list. Additionally, the 209 makes are the most for an EMU team since the 2015-16 squad made 218. As for attempts, the 695 shots are third all-time with the 723 (2013-14) and 696 (2014-15) attempts ranking higher. Should EMU attempt five or more threes against Bowling Green, this year's squad would become just the second to attempt 700+ three-pointers in a season.

THREES IN A ROW BINGE
Entering the game at Akron (March 5), Eastern has connected on 25 three-pointers in its previous two games (14 vs. Miami, Feb. 26, and 11 at Buffalo, March 1), a total that stood as the most made in a two-game span at EMU since the 2014-15 season. With seven triples at Akron, the Eagles scored 32 three-pointers in its past three games, one less than the most made in a trio of games in the digital era (since 1999-00). The most made in three consecutive games are 33, which was accomplished twice. The first instance came in the 1999-00 season in home games with Bowling Green (16, Feb. 12), Ball State (four, Feb. 16), and Toledo (13, Feb. 21). The most recent was during the 2014-15 campaign, including at Kent State (nine, Feb. 4), home against Ball State (11, Feb. 11), and home against Central Michigan (13, Feb. 14). Later that season, the team's first MAC Tournament games produced 32 makes, including seven against Toledo before the 25 made against Akron (15) and BSU (10), which this year's team tied.

MORE IN FOUR?
Heading into the game with Bowling Green, the Eagles, who made eight at BGSU earlier this year (Jan. 4), have connected on 32 three-pointers, leaving them eight away from tying the best four-game stretch in the digital era (since 1999-00). The record currently stands at 40 in four games and began with eight at home against Kent State (March 9, 2015) in the regular season finale. From there, the Eagles ventured to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, and tallied seven against Toledo (March 11), 15 against Akron (March 12), and 10 against Ball State (March 13) to set the mark.

SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko secured her 14th double-double of the season with a 21-point, 11-rebound performance at Akron (March 5). Eleko, who leads the MAC and ranks 22nd nationally, is now tied for ninth on the program's all-time list (since 19099) with Stephanie Smiley (1998-02). Should Eleko add another double-double in the season finale with Bowling Green, she would end the year with 15 and sit in a tie for sixth with three players, including Natachia Watkins (2010-14), Patrice McKinney (2004-06), and Cassie Schrock (2007-11).

CLIMBING LADDERS
Sisi Eleko has accumulated 481 points this season, which ranks sixth on the program's single-season scoring list for players in their junior season with Danielle Minott (2017-18) next on the list at 483. Additionally, she is 14th on the overall single-season list with Minott also next on that list at 483.

CLEANING GLASS
Sisi Eleko is not only climbing two scoring ladders but also making her mark on the single-season rebounding ledger as her 275 caroms rank third. Eleko is 12 from overtaking Suzanne Huff (286, 1980-81) for second all-time and would need 18 to break the single-season mark of 292 by Felicia Hines (1984-85).

WHAT SHE NEEDS...
Heading into the season finale, Sisi Eleko has her eyes on moving up on several lists.
» Points: with 19+ points against Bowling Green, she would eclipse the 500-point barrier to become the eighth different EMU player to do so in a single season and mark the 13th time it has happened.
» Points: with 19+ points, she would become just the fifth player in her junior season at EMU to score at least 500 points in a single season.
» Rebounds: with 17 rebounds, she would tie the single-season record of 292 by Felicia Hines (1984-85), a record that has stood for 40 years.
» Rebounds: with at least six rebounds, she would finish the year with 10.0+ rebounds per game and be the first to do so since the 2020-21 season.

ELITE COMPANY
Along with the other categories she can add her name to, Sisi Eleko also is on pace to do something that 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 Akron game, Eleko is averaging 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds.

DOUBLED UP
Sisi Eleko scored 14 points at Georgia State, Feb. 8, to bring her then-season total to 403 points. Along with her then-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.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Sisi Eleko remains ranked among the top 50 in three statistical categories according to the latest rankings from the NCAA (March 2). She currently ranks 22nd in both double-doubles (14) and rebounds per game (10.2) while standing 41st in total rebounds (275). Mackenzie Amalia, who returned to play against Miami (Feb. 26) for the first time since Jan. 22, ranks fifth nationally in minutes per game at 37.5.

SMITH IN THE TOP 50
After scoring a season-high 17 points at Buffalo (March 1), Olivia Smith came in just below that with 16 points at Akron (March 5) to bring her career total to 719 points. The 44th different player in EMU history to score 700+ points in a career, Smith is within 20 points of climbing into the top 40 as Olivia Fouty (2010-14) is currently No. 39 with 739 points.

KEEPING IT ROLLING
Olivia Smith has been on a roll lately as the junior has scored at least 10 points in each of her last seven games to extend the longest such streak in her career. With 15 games of 10+ points this season, Smith has more than doubled her career total as she entered the season with 14 after recording double-digit points seven times each in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Smith is averaging 9.6 points this season, bettering her previous high of 8.6 averaged her freshman season. Additionally, the 269 points she has scored this year are the most in a single season, surpassing the 258 scored in 2022-23.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has made 59 three pointers in 26 games this year (2.3 per game), which is 36 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-27 games played this year after she made 1+ three-point shots in 12-of-28 games last year.

LONG RANGE THREAT
Olivia Westphal has been a key component to the team's long distance shooting this year as her 59 three-pointers account for 28.2 percent of the team's makes. For her career at EMU, 82 of her 106 baskets are from behind the arc, meaning 77.4 percent of her baskets have give the Eagles three points.

MAJOR MINUTES
Mackenzie Amalia averages 37.5 minutes per game which ranks fifth in 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 (34.0), Olivia Smith is 10th (32.7), Olivia Westphal is 19th (31.2), and Brooklyn Thrash is 21st (30.4).

ON THE HORIZON
The game against Bowling Green marks the end of the 2024-25 season.

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).

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Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Amalia

Sisi Eleko

Ashley Hassett

Kyndal Lewis

Olivia Smith

Brooklyn Thrash

Olivia Westphal

Eastern Michigan Athletics