Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 28
DeKalb, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
12-15,5-11MAC
61
at
70
Northern Illinois
6-22,3-13MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
17
11
17
16
61
NIU
23
18
8
21
70
Photo by: Alena Michos
Eleko Notches 50th Career Double-Double in Loss at NIU
2/28/2026 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eleko is one of four active players nationally to total 50+ double-doubles
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – Sisi Eleko recorded her MAC-best 16th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking the 50th double-double of her NCAA career as the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell on the road to Northern Illinois University in a Mid-American Conference contest, 70-61, at the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 28.
The game eliminated EMU from contention for the MAC Tournament.
Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) finished the day one-point shy of her seventh 20-point outing of the season with 19 points. Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds, six assists, and a career-best five steals.
How it Happened
The Huskies started strong with a 15-9 lead at the first media timeout, including a 3-of-5 clip from three-point range. EMU went on an 8-0 run over a 2:22 span to cut the Huskie lead to one, 18-17. NIU ended the first quarter on top, 23-17. Eleko was a bright spot, scoring nine points with three rebounds and one block.
Eastern struggled to start the second quarter, totaling just two points without a field goal at the 5:55 mark as NIU extended its lead to 13, 32-19. NIU continued to sink its triple shots as it ended the first half up 41-28 while shooting 60.0% (9-of-15) from distance.
Eastern cut into the Huskies' led to start the second half as it trailed by seven, 47-40, with 3:35 to go in the third quarter. Eleko and Ovalle continued to score a bulk of the EMU points as Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) had 13 at the time and Ovalle totaled 15. Eastern came within four at the end of the quarter, 49-45.
With MAC Tournament hopes on the line, Eastern trailed the Huskies, 65-59, with 2:11 to go in regulation. EMU cut the lead to four at 65-61 but was unable to overcome the Huskies as the game ended in a 70-61 final in favor of NIU, eliminating Eastern from MAC Tournament contention.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record went to 12-15 (5-11 MAC), and NIU's shifted to 6-22 (3-13 MAC).
» Sisi Eleko now has 50 career double-doubles, ranking fourth among active NCAA Division I players. She is the fourth active player to total 50 or more.
» Fernanda Ovalle scored in double-digits for the 16th time this season and 24th of her career with 19 points. She has scored at least 10 points in three consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 17-24.
» Sisi Eleko scored 20 points for her 26th double-digit outing of the season. She has scored at least 10 points in all 26 games she has played this season. Eleko went on to reach the 20-point mark for the 10th time this season, the second most in the MAC.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her MAC-best 16th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking her 16th time with 10 or more boards this season.
» Ainhoa Cea recorded five steals for the first time this season, tying her career high originally set against Central Arkansas, March 11, 2025. She's the first Eagle with five steals in a game since Kennedi Myles also swiped five against Saginaw Valley State, Dec. 29, 2023.
» Ainhoa Cea recorded her 15th game with at least five points, three assists, and three rebounds this season as she posted 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Cea's double-digit scoring performance marked her fifth of the year.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan and NIU met for the 67th time overall and 34th time in DeKalb. Eastern is 42-25 when facing the Huskies and 20-14 when playing them in DeKalb.
» Eastern and NIU met for the final time as MAC opponents.
» After scoring three points against NIU, Peyton Hill (St. Louis,Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) totals 374 points this season, the seventh most by an EMU freshman in program history.
» Sisi Eleko's 30 double-doubles rank second on the program's all-time list (since 1997). She needs one more to tie Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the most in program history (31).
» After her 20 points against the Huskies, Sisi Eleko needs 33 points to reach 1,000 in Eastern Green and White.
» Ainhoa Cea dished six assists to bring her season total to 164, the sixth most in one season in program history. She needs seven to surpass Cassie Schrock for the No. 5 spot as she dished 170 assists in the 2009-10 campaign.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 159 consecutive games, the second-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.
Up Next
Eastern will honor its senior class of Sisi Eleko, Brooklyn Thrash (Elmwood, Ohio/Wayne/Canisius), Ainhoa Cea, and Artemis Kouki (Athens, Greece/ACS Athens/Western Michigan) in its final home game of the season against Ohio University Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.
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 game eliminated EMU from contention for the MAC Tournament.
Fernanda Ovalle (Santiago, Chile/Montverde Academy/Xavier) finished the day one-point shy of her seventh 20-point outing of the season with 19 points. Ainhoa Cea (Irun, Spain/IES Pio Baroja Bhi/Lipscomb) stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds, six assists, and a career-best five steals.
How it Happened
The Huskies started strong with a 15-9 lead at the first media timeout, including a 3-of-5 clip from three-point range. EMU went on an 8-0 run over a 2:22 span to cut the Huskie lead to one, 18-17. NIU ended the first quarter on top, 23-17. Eleko was a bright spot, scoring nine points with three rebounds and one block.
Eastern struggled to start the second quarter, totaling just two points without a field goal at the 5:55 mark as NIU extended its lead to 13, 32-19. NIU continued to sink its triple shots as it ended the first half up 41-28 while shooting 60.0% (9-of-15) from distance.
Eastern cut into the Huskies' led to start the second half as it trailed by seven, 47-40, with 3:35 to go in the third quarter. Eleko and Ovalle continued to score a bulk of the EMU points as Eleko (Montreal, Quebec/New Hope Academy/Canisius) had 13 at the time and Ovalle totaled 15. Eastern came within four at the end of the quarter, 49-45.
With MAC Tournament hopes on the line, Eastern trailed the Huskies, 65-59, with 2:11 to go in regulation. EMU cut the lead to four at 65-61 but was unable to overcome the Huskies as the game ended in a 70-61 final in favor of NIU, eliminating Eastern from MAC Tournament contention.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record went to 12-15 (5-11 MAC), and NIU's shifted to 6-22 (3-13 MAC).
» Sisi Eleko now has 50 career double-doubles, ranking fourth among active NCAA Division I players. She is the fourth active player to total 50 or more.
» Fernanda Ovalle scored in double-digits for the 16th time this season and 24th of her career with 19 points. She has scored at least 10 points in three consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 17-24.
» Sisi Eleko scored 20 points for her 26th double-digit outing of the season. She has scored at least 10 points in all 26 games she has played this season. Eleko went on to reach the 20-point mark for the 10th time this season, the second most in the MAC.
» Sisi Eleko recorded her MAC-best 16th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking her 16th time with 10 or more boards this season.
» Ainhoa Cea recorded five steals for the first time this season, tying her career high originally set against Central Arkansas, March 11, 2025. She's the first Eagle with five steals in a game since Kennedi Myles also swiped five against Saginaw Valley State, Dec. 29, 2023.
» Ainhoa Cea recorded her 15th game with at least five points, three assists, and three rebounds this season as she posted 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Cea's double-digit scoring performance marked her fifth of the year.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan and NIU met for the 67th time overall and 34th time in DeKalb. Eastern is 42-25 when facing the Huskies and 20-14 when playing them in DeKalb.
» Eastern and NIU met for the final time as MAC opponents.
» After scoring three points against NIU, Peyton Hill (St. Louis,Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) totals 374 points this season, the seventh most by an EMU freshman in program history.
» Sisi Eleko's 30 double-doubles rank second on the program's all-time list (since 1997). She needs one more to tie Ce'Nara Skanes (2020-23) for the most in program history (31).
» After her 20 points against the Huskies, Sisi Eleko needs 33 points to reach 1,000 in Eastern Green and White.
» Ainhoa Cea dished six assists to bring her season total to 164, the sixth most in one season in program history. She needs seven to surpass Cassie Schrock for the No. 5 spot as she dished 170 assists in the 2009-10 campaign.
» The Eagles have recorded at least one three-pointer in 159 consecutive games, the second-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.
Up Next
Eastern will honor its senior class of Sisi Eleko, Brooklyn Thrash (Elmwood, Ohio/Wayne/Canisius), Ainhoa Cea, and Artemis Kouki (Athens, Greece/ACS Athens/Western Michigan) in its final home game of the season against Ohio University Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.
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
EMU
NIU
FG%
.373
.453
3FG%
.207
.450
FT%
.733
.813
RB
42
28
TO
19
14
STL
6
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's BasketballM/F
/ Women's Basketball
Y
/ Women's BasketballY/W
/ Women's Basketball
M
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