Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
7-8,1-4MAC
Miami
13-4,5-0MAC
Women's Basketball Experiences Setback at MAC First-Place Miami
1/14/2026 8:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ainhoa Cea and Sisi Eleko highlighted the EMU performances
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team lost on the road at Mid-American Conference first place Miami University, who is 13-4 on the season and 5-0 in league play, 69-55, Wednesday night inside Millett Hall, Jan. 14.
Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) and Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) led the attack for EMU. Cea filled up the box score, recording 10 points with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while shooting 2-for-3 from three-point range. Eleko scored 19 points off 7-for-15 shooting, with six rebounds, and a season-high four assists.
How it Happened
Eastern started strong, getting out to an early 5-2 lead. Miami responded with an 8-0 run, going up, 10-5 with 5:30 to go in the frame. The RedHawks expanded their lead to eight, 13-5, before Eleko drilled a mid-range jumper to end the run. Eleko converted on a triple to end the first quarter, as Miami led, 19-14, after the first.
The second began with a pair of triples from Cea to bring EMU's total to 20, trailing, 27-20, with 5:50 remaining in the half. Eastern cut the lead to two, 29-27, with a quick 7-0 spurt, featuring a Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) three-point basket. Miami entered the half up four points, 35-31, as Cea stuffed the stat sheet, scoring eight points with seven rebounds, and three assists in the first half.
Hill opened the third quarter scoring the first five points for Eastern, cutting the RedHawks lead to five, 41-36, with 8:04 remaining in the frame. Miami gained as much as a 12-point edge as it ended the fourth quarter up 10 points, 55-45.
Despite an aggressive fourth quarter that saw a total of 13 fouls called, Miami prevailed to win, 69-55.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 7-8 (1-4 MAC) and Miami's went to 13-4 (5-0 MAC).
» Eastern outrebounded its opponent (34-27) for the 11th time this season, holding a 6-5 record when doing so, as it has outrebounded its foe in 11 of the last 14 games.
» EMU started Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius), Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier), Ainhoa Cea, Believe Tshibangu (Courtice, Ontario/Royal Crown Academy), and Peyton Hill for the second time this season, marking just the second starting five variation for the Eagles in 2025-26. EMU was previously one of 14 known schools to start the same five every game this season.
» The EMU bench scored 21 points, its most of the season when facing a Division I opponent, as it outscored Miami's bench, 21-9. The Eagles' bench has picked up the pace as of late, scoring 11+ points in three consecutive games for the first time this season. The game marked the fifth time EMU's bench has outscored its opponent as Eastern is 3-2 when doing so.
» Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh faced a less experienced coach in terms of Division I coaching experience for the seventh time this season, moving to 5-2 when doing so.
» Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh is now 2-5 when facing her former institutions in her Eastern Michigan tenure and 2-1 this season when doing so. EMU most recently beat Bowling Green, 86-76, on Dec. 30, where Nusseibeh worked as an assistant from 2013-16.
» Ainhoa Cea recorded her 10th game of the season with at least five points, three assists, and three rebounds, as she posted 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
» Ainhoa Cea had her third game with double-digit points this season, and her second game with at least 10 points and eight plus rebounds or assists. Cea bucketed 10 points with eight rebounds against the RedHawks.
» Ainhoa Cea swiped three or more steals for the sixth time this season. She has accomplished the feat in three of her last four games. Cea ranks second in the MAC with 5.8 assists per game, a figure that stands 17th nationally.
» Peyton Hill secured her 12th double-digit scoring game of the season with 13 points off 5-for-7 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from three-point range. Hill's trio of triples mark a career high for the freshman.
» Peyton Hill recorded a career-best three steals.
» The Eagles shared the ball well, recording an assist on 62% of made baskets.
» Sisi Eleko, Peyton Hill, and Ainhoa Cea combined to account for 76% of the Eagles points.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and Miami met for the 71st time. EMU now holds a 25-45 record against the RedHawks and a 12-22 mark when facing them in Oxford.
» Senior Sisi Eleko is closing in on 1,500 career points. She currently totals 1,493, requiring seven more points to reach the mark. Eleko would be the seventh EMU player to reach the milestone and first since Cha Sweeny did so in the 2015-16 season. Eleko would be one of 47 active Division I players to reach the milestone.
» After her 13 points Wednesday, Peyton Hill is the first EMU freshman to record double-digit points in 12 of her first 15 NCAA games since EMU Women's Basketball Ring of Honor Recipient Ryan Coleman did so in 2002-03.
» Fernanda Ovalle needs 84 points to reach the 500 mark as she totals 416 in her NCAA tenure. Ovalle would be the third Eagle to accomplish the feat this season as both Thrash and Cea have done so.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 147 consecutive games, the third-longest stretch since the start of the 1999-00 season. The longest streak in that period is 281 games, which began 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, and ended Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC, when no makes halted the streak.
Up Next
Eastern remains on the road to face rival Central Michigan University on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. Fans can stream the game 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 Eagles on Instagram @emuwbb and @emuathletics.
