Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, January 28
Buffalo, N.Y.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-9,4-5MAC
71
at
51
Buffalo
2-18,0-9MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
17
14
20
20
71
Buffalo
10
14
12
15
51
Double-Doubles From Cea and Eleko Power Women's Hoops To Third Consecutive MAC Win
1/28/2026 9:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles have won three straight MAC games for the first time since 2020-21
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team earned a 20-point Mid-American Conference-road victory behind a pair of double-double performances from Sisi Eleko and Ainhoa Cea at the University at Buffalo, besting the Bulls, 71-51, Wednesday, Jan. 28, inside Alumni Arena.
The 20-point victory marked EMU's largest over a MAC opponent since the 2019-20 season, and the Eagles' first time winning three consecutive MAC games since the 2020-21 season.
Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) and Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) led the EMU attack as Eleko recorded her MAC-best 11th double-double of the year with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Cea posted the second double-double of her NCAA tenure and first as an Eagle with 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Along with Eleko and Cea, Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) and Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) scored at a high rate, with Ovalle recording 23 points and Hill scoring 19, with four rebounds and five assists.
How it Happened
Eastern got out to a 10-6 advantage roughly halfway through the first quarter and ran the break early with six points off the fast break. The EMU defense tightened, holding Buffalo scoreless from the 5:29 mark until the 29.0 mark. EMU ended the first quarter on top, 17-10.
Eastern extended its lead to eight, 21-13, with 6:46 remaining in the first half, as Buffalo totaled just 13 points at the time. The scoring evened on both sides as EMU entered the half up seven, 21-34. Cea shined in the first half, dishing eight assists, a game high at the time and four shy of her career high of 12.
Eastern continued its dominant performance into the third. Allowing just three Buffalo points while scoring six of their own to take a 16-point advantage, 40-24, with 6:59 remaining in the frame. Eleko secured her 11th double-double of the season in the quarter with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Eastern ended the quarter on top by 15, 51-36.
Buffalo cut the lead to as much as 12 in the final quarter as Eastern cruised to a comfortable 71-51 victory, marking its third straight win.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 10-9 (4-5 MAC) and Buffalo's went to 2-18 (0-9 MAC).
» With the win over the Bulls, EMU has quadrupled its MAC-win total from the 2024-25 season (one), earning its fourth MAC win of the year. The Eagles also quintupled their overall-win total, currently holding 10 wins compared to the two it had last campaign, as the win against the Bulls also quadrupled the Eagles' 2024-25 road-win total (one).
» Eastern had three players (Fernanda Ovalle [23], Peyton Hill [19], Sisi Eleko [19]) score 10+ points for the 12th time this season.
» Fernanda Ovalle recorded her 12th double-digit scoring game of the season with a game-high 23 points. She has scored at least 10 points in 12 of her last 14 games. The game marked her fifth 20-point outing of the season.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her MAC-best 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Her 11 double-doubles rank fourth nationally by value.
» Peyton Hill recorded her 14th game with double-digit points this season as she scored 19.
» Eastern earned its first MAC road win of the season and second under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» Eastern scored 44-paint points, marking its seventh time this season eclipsing 40 points in the paint, producing a 6-1 record when doing so. The game also marked EMU's third consecutive game with 40+ paint points as it most recently posted 44 in the win over NIU, Jan. 24.
» EMU committed just 13 turnovers. It is 6-2 this season when committing 15 or fewer turnovers.
» Ainhoa Cea's 12 assists tied her career-high and are the most from an individual in the MAC in a single game in the MAC this season. She also recorded 10+ rebounds for the second time this season and fifth in her career.
Historical Notes
» With the win over Buffalo, Eastern has earned three consecutive conference victories for the first time since the 2020-21 season, when it beat Miami, Jan. 13, Akron, Jan. 16, and Central Michigan, Jan. 20. The win also marks the first three-game MAC win streak under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» The 20-point margin of victory is EMU's largest against a MAC opponent since it beat Miami, 80-53, Jan. 15, 2020.
» With Eleko and Cea's double-doubles, Eastern had two players record a double-double for the first time since Tayra Eke and Kennedi Myles did so against Akron, Feb. 7, 2024.
» Cea's rebounds/assists double-double is the first time an Eagle has recorded 10+ in each category since EMU great Ryan Coleman posted a triple double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) against Western Michigan, Feb. 12, 2005.
» Eastern and Buffalo met for the 36th time. EMU is 17-19 against the Bulls and 8-10 on the road against them.
» EMU earned its first win over UB since Feb. 23, 2023, and its first road win against the Bulls since Feb. 16, 2016. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bulls.
» Eastern's 10-9 (4-5 MAC) record currently stands as an eight-win improvement from its 2-27 record last season. The eight-win improvement is the largest in a single season since the 2022-23 squad improved by eight wins (15-15) from the 2021-22 team's 7-20 record.
» Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh has coached extensively against the Bulls as Wednesday's game marked her sixth against UB, the most of any MAC opponent. Nusseibeh is 2-4 all-time against Buffalo,
» Sisi Eleko's 11th double-double of the season brings her EMU career total to 25. She is six away from tying Ce'Nara Skanes (31) for the most in program history.
» Peyton Hill is the first EMU freshman to record double-digit points in 15 of her first 19 NCAA games since EMU Women's Basketball Ring of Honor Recipient Ryan Coleman did so in 2002-03.
» Peyton Hill has the most games with double-digit points of an EMU freshman (15) since Courtnie Lewis recorded 22 in the 2017-18 season.
» Fernanda Ovalle needs 10 points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 42 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 34 to hit 500 as an Eagle. She needs five double-doubles to reach 50 in her NCAA tenure. Furthermore, Eleko needs six total double-doubles to tie for the most in program history and seven to be the sole record owner. Ainhoa Cea needs 25 assists to hit 500 in her career and 38 rebounds to reach the same mark, while Brooklyn Thrash needs 24 triples to hit 100 in her NCAA career and 165 rebounds to total 500.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 151 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 returns home to face rivals Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets here.
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.
The 20-point victory marked EMU's largest over a MAC opponent since the 2019-20 season, and the Eagles' first time winning three consecutive MAC games since the 2020-21 season.
Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) and Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) led the EMU attack as Eleko recorded her MAC-best 11th double-double of the year with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Cea posted the second double-double of her NCAA tenure and first as an Eagle with 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Along with Eleko and Cea, Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) and Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) scored at a high rate, with Ovalle recording 23 points and Hill scoring 19, with four rebounds and five assists.
How it Happened
Eastern got out to a 10-6 advantage roughly halfway through the first quarter and ran the break early with six points off the fast break. The EMU defense tightened, holding Buffalo scoreless from the 5:29 mark until the 29.0 mark. EMU ended the first quarter on top, 17-10.
Eastern extended its lead to eight, 21-13, with 6:46 remaining in the first half, as Buffalo totaled just 13 points at the time. The scoring evened on both sides as EMU entered the half up seven, 21-34. Cea shined in the first half, dishing eight assists, a game high at the time and four shy of her career high of 12.
Eastern continued its dominant performance into the third. Allowing just three Buffalo points while scoring six of their own to take a 16-point advantage, 40-24, with 6:59 remaining in the frame. Eleko secured her 11th double-double of the season in the quarter with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Eastern ended the quarter on top by 15, 51-36.
Buffalo cut the lead to as much as 12 in the final quarter as Eastern cruised to a comfortable 71-51 victory, marking its third straight win.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 10-9 (4-5 MAC) and Buffalo's went to 2-18 (0-9 MAC).
» With the win over the Bulls, EMU has quadrupled its MAC-win total from the 2024-25 season (one), earning its fourth MAC win of the year. The Eagles also quintupled their overall-win total, currently holding 10 wins compared to the two it had last campaign, as the win against the Bulls also quadrupled the Eagles' 2024-25 road-win total (one).
» Eastern had three players (Fernanda Ovalle [23], Peyton Hill [19], Sisi Eleko [19]) score 10+ points for the 12th time this season.
» Fernanda Ovalle recorded her 12th double-digit scoring game of the season with a game-high 23 points. She has scored at least 10 points in 12 of her last 14 games. The game marked her fifth 20-point outing of the season.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her MAC-best 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Her 11 double-doubles rank fourth nationally by value.
» Peyton Hill recorded her 14th game with double-digit points this season as she scored 19.
» Eastern earned its first MAC road win of the season and second under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» Eastern scored 44-paint points, marking its seventh time this season eclipsing 40 points in the paint, producing a 6-1 record when doing so. The game also marked EMU's third consecutive game with 40+ paint points as it most recently posted 44 in the win over NIU, Jan. 24.
» EMU committed just 13 turnovers. It is 6-2 this season when committing 15 or fewer turnovers.
» Ainhoa Cea's 12 assists tied her career-high and are the most from an individual in the MAC in a single game in the MAC this season. She also recorded 10+ rebounds for the second time this season and fifth in her career.
Historical Notes
» With the win over Buffalo, Eastern has earned three consecutive conference victories for the first time since the 2020-21 season, when it beat Miami, Jan. 13, Akron, Jan. 16, and Central Michigan, Jan. 20. The win also marks the first three-game MAC win streak under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» The 20-point margin of victory is EMU's largest against a MAC opponent since it beat Miami, 80-53, Jan. 15, 2020.
» With Eleko and Cea's double-doubles, Eastern had two players record a double-double for the first time since Tayra Eke and Kennedi Myles did so against Akron, Feb. 7, 2024.
» Cea's rebounds/assists double-double is the first time an Eagle has recorded 10+ in each category since EMU great Ryan Coleman posted a triple double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) against Western Michigan, Feb. 12, 2005.
» Eastern and Buffalo met for the 36th time. EMU is 17-19 against the Bulls and 8-10 on the road against them.
» EMU earned its first win over UB since Feb. 23, 2023, and its first road win against the Bulls since Feb. 16, 2016. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bulls.
» Eastern's 10-9 (4-5 MAC) record currently stands as an eight-win improvement from its 2-27 record last season. The eight-win improvement is the largest in a single season since the 2022-23 squad improved by eight wins (15-15) from the 2021-22 team's 7-20 record.
» Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh has coached extensively against the Bulls as Wednesday's game marked her sixth against UB, the most of any MAC opponent. Nusseibeh is 2-4 all-time against Buffalo,
» Sisi Eleko's 11th double-double of the season brings her EMU career total to 25. She is six away from tying Ce'Nara Skanes (31) for the most in program history.
» Peyton Hill is the first EMU freshman to record double-digit points in 15 of her first 19 NCAA games since EMU Women's Basketball Ring of Honor Recipient Ryan Coleman did so in 2002-03.
» Peyton Hill has the most games with double-digit points of an EMU freshman (15) since Courtnie Lewis recorded 22 in the 2017-18 season.
» Fernanda Ovalle needs 10 points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 42 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 34 to hit 500 as an Eagle. She needs five double-doubles to reach 50 in her NCAA tenure. Furthermore, Eleko needs six total double-doubles to tie for the most in program history and seven to be the sole record owner. Ainhoa Cea needs 25 assists to hit 500 in her career and 38 rebounds to reach the same mark, while Brooklyn Thrash needs 24 triples to hit 100 in her NCAA career and 165 rebounds to total 500.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 151 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 returns home to face rivals Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets here.
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.
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Team Stats
EMU
UB
FG%
.412
.286
3FG%
.125
.107
FT%
.750
.421
RB
51
45
TO
13
11
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's BasketballM/F
/ Women's BasketballY
/ Women's BasketballY/W
/ Women's Basketball
M
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