Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 31
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-10,4-6MAC
54
vs
59
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Western Michigan
6-13,3-6MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Western Mich.
13
15
13
18
59
Eastern Mich.
15
7
15
17
54
Photo by: Joey Wolter
Hill Secures First Career Double-Double in Loss to Western Michigan
1/31/2026 5:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The freshman scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds
Photo Gallery | Peyton Hill Double-Double Highlight
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team dropped a 59-54 Mid-American Conference tilt to rivals Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 31, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Freshman Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) led the charge for Eastern, securing her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, off 50.0% (6-for-12) shooting, including 40.0% (2-for-5) from beyond the arc. Supporting Hill was Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), who scored 16 points, while Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) scored eight points, dished four assists, and grabbed five rebounds. Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) aided with seven points and seven rebounds.
Turnovers, offensive rebounds, and second-chance points were the deciding factors. Western Michigan led EMU in all three categories, scoring 15 second-chance points to EMU's two, securing 13 offensive boards to the Eagles' six, and turning it over 10 times, while EMU coughed it up on 21 possessions.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan got off to a slow start, trailing 8-2 at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter, shooting 25.0% from the field, allowing Western Michigan to shoot 49.0%, and outrebound EMU, 6-1. A timeout allowed the Eagles to reverse the momentum, resulting in an 11-0 run starting at the 6:16 mark and lasting until 1:33 remained in the quarter, bringing the score to 13-8. The run featured 45.0% shooting from Eastern, while Western only shot 25.0%, with three turnovers, as EMU outrebounded them 8-6. The opening quarter ended with Eastern leading, 15-13.
The second quarter saw the Eagles fall back into a slump, failing to convert a field goal until the 3:39 mark, as Western Michigan outscored Eastern 15-6 in the second quarter. The Eagles secured five first-half steals and shot 86.0% from the charity stripe compared to the Bronco's 25.0%. The half ended, 28-22, in favor of Western Michigan.
The struggles for both teams continued into the second half, with Eastern only scoring eight third-quarter points and Western scoring just six by the 4:57 mark, making the score 34-30. Eastern took its first lead since the 3:29 mark in the second quarter with a Thrash three-pointer, EMU's first of the game. Western quickly retook the lead and held it until the end of the period, resulting in a 41-37 score to end the quarter.
Both teams continued to trade shots until Eastern tied the game at 45 apiece off a Hill layup with 6:12 left in regulation. Neither team scored until a pull-up jumper from Hill at the 4:17 mark. Again, EMU's lead was short-lived, as Western outscored Eastern 14-7 in the remainder of the game for a final score of 59-54.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record went to 10-10 (4-6 MAC), and Western's shifted to 6-13 (3-6 MAC).
» Eastern's 54 points is its second-lowest total of the season and lowest against a MAC opponent.
» Eastern and Western each totaled 34 rebounds, marking the second time EMU and its foe have had the same amount of rebounds this season, and fifth time under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» Eastern out shot its opponent (45.0% - 38.0%) for the ninth time this season, losing for the first time when doing so. Eastern is now 8-1 this season when outshooting its opposition. It also shot 45.0% or better for the seventh time in 2025-26, shooting 45.0% and moving to 4-3 in such occasions.
» Peyton Hill is one of four MAC freshmen to record a double-double this season.
» Peyton Hill recorded her 16th game with double-digit points this season as she scored 18.
» Peyton Hill recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Her 10 boards are her first time with double-digits in the category and mark a career high, surpassing her previous career best of eight, most recently reached against Northern Illinois, Jan. 24.
» Peyton Hill is the second EMU freshman to record 10 rebounds this season. The first was Believe Tshibangu (Courtice, Ontario/Royal Crown School), who grabbed 12 against Kent State, Jan. 10.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her 19th double-digit scoring game of the season with her 16th points. She has scored 10+ points in all 19 games she has played in this season.
» Ainhoa Cea posted her 11th game of the season with at least five points, three assists, and three rebounds this season, as she scored eight points, dished four assists, and grabbed five rebounds.
» Brooklyn Thrash tied a season-high with 40 minutes played for the fourth time this season, and Fernanda Ovalle matched a career high with 40 minutes of court time.
Historical Notes
» Eastern holds a 53-45 all-time record against the Broncos and is 29-19 when facing them in Ypsilanti.
» The 98 meetings between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan is now the most-storied series in EMU program history, surpassing the 97 games against Central Michigan.
» Peyton Hill is the first Eastern freshman to record a double-double since Lachelle Austin did so with 13 points and 13 rebounds against Western Michigan, March 2, 2022.
» Peyton Hill has the most games with double-digit points of an EMU freshman (16) since Courtnie Lewis recorded 22 in the 2017-18 season.
» Peyton Hill is the first Eastern freshman to score 10+ points in 16 of her first 20 career games since at least the 2002-03 season.
» Fernanda Ovalle needs eight points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 38 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 30 to hit 500 as an Eagle. Ainhoa Cea needs 21 assists to hit 500 in her career and 33 rebounds to reach the same mark, while Brooklyn Thrash needs 23 triples to hit 100 in her NCAA career and 158 rebounds to total 500.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 152 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 will catch its last scheduled flight of the season as it travels to the University of Massachusetts in the two programs' first Mid-American Conference matchup Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m., in Amherst, Mass.
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.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team dropped a 59-54 Mid-American Conference tilt to rivals Western Michigan University Saturday, Jan. 31, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Freshman Peyton Hill (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) led the charge for Eastern, securing her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, off 50.0% (6-for-12) shooting, including 40.0% (2-for-5) from beyond the arc. Supporting Hill was Sisi Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius), who scored 16 points, while Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) scored eight points, dished four assists, and grabbed five rebounds. Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne, Ohio/Elmwood/Canisius) aided with seven points and seven rebounds.
Turnovers, offensive rebounds, and second-chance points were the deciding factors. Western Michigan led EMU in all three categories, scoring 15 second-chance points to EMU's two, securing 13 offensive boards to the Eagles' six, and turning it over 10 times, while EMU coughed it up on 21 possessions.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan got off to a slow start, trailing 8-2 at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter, shooting 25.0% from the field, allowing Western Michigan to shoot 49.0%, and outrebound EMU, 6-1. A timeout allowed the Eagles to reverse the momentum, resulting in an 11-0 run starting at the 6:16 mark and lasting until 1:33 remained in the quarter, bringing the score to 13-8. The run featured 45.0% shooting from Eastern, while Western only shot 25.0%, with three turnovers, as EMU outrebounded them 8-6. The opening quarter ended with Eastern leading, 15-13.
The second quarter saw the Eagles fall back into a slump, failing to convert a field goal until the 3:39 mark, as Western Michigan outscored Eastern 15-6 in the second quarter. The Eagles secured five first-half steals and shot 86.0% from the charity stripe compared to the Bronco's 25.0%. The half ended, 28-22, in favor of Western Michigan.
The struggles for both teams continued into the second half, with Eastern only scoring eight third-quarter points and Western scoring just six by the 4:57 mark, making the score 34-30. Eastern took its first lead since the 3:29 mark in the second quarter with a Thrash three-pointer, EMU's first of the game. Western quickly retook the lead and held it until the end of the period, resulting in a 41-37 score to end the quarter.
Both teams continued to trade shots until Eastern tied the game at 45 apiece off a Hill layup with 6:12 left in regulation. Neither team scored until a pull-up jumper from Hill at the 4:17 mark. Again, EMU's lead was short-lived, as Western outscored Eastern 14-7 in the remainder of the game for a final score of 59-54.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record went to 10-10 (4-6 MAC), and Western's shifted to 6-13 (3-6 MAC).
» Eastern's 54 points is its second-lowest total of the season and lowest against a MAC opponent.
» Eastern and Western each totaled 34 rebounds, marking the second time EMU and its foe have had the same amount of rebounds this season, and fifth time under Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
» Eastern out shot its opponent (45.0% - 38.0%) for the ninth time this season, losing for the first time when doing so. Eastern is now 8-1 this season when outshooting its opposition. It also shot 45.0% or better for the seventh time in 2025-26, shooting 45.0% and moving to 4-3 in such occasions.
» Peyton Hill is one of four MAC freshmen to record a double-double this season.
» Peyton Hill recorded her 16th game with double-digit points this season as she scored 18.
» Peyton Hill recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Her 10 boards are her first time with double-digits in the category and mark a career high, surpassing her previous career best of eight, most recently reached against Northern Illinois, Jan. 24.
» Peyton Hill is the second EMU freshman to record 10 rebounds this season. The first was Believe Tshibangu (Courtice, Ontario/Royal Crown School), who grabbed 12 against Kent State, Jan. 10.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her 19th double-digit scoring game of the season with her 16th points. She has scored 10+ points in all 19 games she has played in this season.
» Ainhoa Cea posted her 11th game of the season with at least five points, three assists, and three rebounds this season, as she scored eight points, dished four assists, and grabbed five rebounds.
» Brooklyn Thrash tied a season-high with 40 minutes played for the fourth time this season, and Fernanda Ovalle matched a career high with 40 minutes of court time.
Historical Notes
» Eastern holds a 53-45 all-time record against the Broncos and is 29-19 when facing them in Ypsilanti.
» The 98 meetings between Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan is now the most-storied series in EMU program history, surpassing the 97 games against Central Michigan.
» Peyton Hill is the first Eastern freshman to record a double-double since Lachelle Austin did so with 13 points and 13 rebounds against Western Michigan, March 2, 2022.
» Peyton Hill has the most games with double-digit points of an EMU freshman (16) since Courtnie Lewis recorded 22 in the 2017-18 season.
» Peyton Hill is the first Eastern freshman to score 10+ points in 16 of her first 20 career games since at least the 2002-03 season.
» Fernanda Ovalle needs eight points to reach the 500 mark. Sisi Eleko needs 38 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 30 to hit 500 as an Eagle. Ainhoa Cea needs 21 assists to hit 500 in her career and 33 rebounds to reach the same mark, while Brooklyn Thrash needs 23 triples to hit 100 in her NCAA career and 158 rebounds to total 500.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 152 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 will catch its last scheduled flight of the season as it travels to the University of Massachusetts in the two programs' first Mid-American Conference matchup Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m., in Amherst, Mass.
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.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
FG%
.379
.455
3FG%
.320
.286
FT%
.389
.714
RB
34
34
TO
10
21
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's BasketballM/F
/ Women's BasketballY
/ Women's Basketball
Y/W
/ Women's BasketballM
/ Women's Basketball
M/F
/ Women's BasketballHighlights: Peyton Hill's First Career Double-Double against WMU, Jan. 31, 2026
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