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HAPPY NEW YEAR, EAGLE NATION!
FREE THROWS
» Eastern is set to compete on New Year’s Day for the second time in program history and the second time at home. The inaugural instance occurred two decades ago (Jan. 1, 2005) with a 71-46 triumph over Columbia.
» The rivalry with Western Michigan stands as the most contested in program history, with the intrastate competitors gearing up for their 97th encounter this week. EMU holds a 53-43 lead.
» Sisi Eleko netted 12 points and secured 10 rebounds against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), achieving her league-leading seventh double-double, which also ties for the 10th-most in NCAA Division I. Eleko leads the MAC in points per contest (19.8) and rebounds (11.4) and ranks 24th and 6th, respectively, on national scales.
» Olivia Westphal remains at the forefront of the MAC with 2.9 made three-pointers per game, positioning her 20th nationally. She has made 26 three-pointers across nine games this season, having tallied just 23 in 28 games last year. Westphal has made 2 or more triples in 10 straight games dating back to the previous season.
» The Eagles made six three-pointers against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), extending their current streak to 113 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The last occasion EMU was without a three-pointer was Nov. 29, 2020, against UIC (0-of-15).
» In terms of three-pointers, the Eagles have made at least five triples in all 10 games played this season and have achieved this in 11 games overall since last season. This marks the longest streak since the 2013-14 season when the same team began that year with a 13-game streak.
» WMU Head Coach Shane Clipfell is well-acquainted with Eastern, having served as the interim head coach for the Eagles during the 2006-07 season, directing the team to a 13-12 record.
KNOW THE FOE: WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos approach their MAC opener with a 3-7 record, having split their last three contests, including an 83-75 road defeat at Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 21. Marina Asensio leads the squad with 12.7 points per game and is also the team leader in assists at 4.7 per game. Hannah Spitzley (11.0) and Alli Carlson (10.2) are also averaging double digits, with Spitzley leading in rebounds at 4.9.
ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern claims a 53-43 advantage in the all-time series and holds a 29-16 record when contesting in Ypsilanti. Over the last three seasons, the two teams have exchanged season sweeps, with the Broncos registering wins of 76-49 at EMU (Jan. 31, 2024) and 65-55 at WMU (Feb. 21, 2024). The Eagles’ last victory was on Feb. 11, 2023, with a 68-58 home win.
SO, WE MEET AGAIN…
The rivalry between the Eagles and Broncos is the most frequent in program history, with the two institutions having faced each other 96 times previously (EMU leads, 53-43). Only three other series have surpassed 90 matches, including Central Michigan (94), Toledo (93), and Ball State (90).
FAMILIAR FACE: WESTERN MICHIGAN
WMU Head Coach Shane Clipfell is not foreign to Eastern Michigan as he previously held the role of acting head coach during the 2006-07 season, achieving a 13-12 overall record and a 10-6 mark in MAC competition, leading the Eagles to a second-place finish in the MAC West. Clipfell led Eastern to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, where the Eagles were defeated by top-seeded Bowling Green, 71-57.
LID LIFTERS: MAC OPENER
The Eagles boast a record of 22-21 in their first conference game of the season since the inception of MAC play in the 1981-82 season. Eastern has clinched two consecutive MAC openers, including a 67-49 victory at Northern Illinois on Jan. 3, 2024. When the opening MAC game is hosted at home, the Eagles own an 11-7 record and have achieved two straight wins, with a 68-67 win over Miami on Jan. 4, 2023.
Moreover, EMU is 2-1 when their MAC opener pits them against Western Michigan and 1-0 in home matchups. The last encounter between the two teams in a MAC opener was on Jan. 10, 2013, where Eastern claimed a 56-52 road victory. The sole instance where the opener occurred in Ypsilanti was on Jan. 8, 1992, resulting in an 82-38 win for EMU.
LID LIFTERS: MAC HOME OPENER
The Eagles are 16-27 in their MAC home openers, having seen their two-game winning streak come to an end last year during a 48-35 defeat against visiting Toledo on Jan. 6, 2024. Prior to the setback against the Rockets, Eastern triumphed over Miami, 68-67, on Jan. 4, 2023, marking their most recent victory in a MAC home opener. EMU has faced WMU only once in a MAC home opener, resulting in an 82-38 victory on Jan. 8, 1992.
LONG RANGE SHOOTING
The Eagles are averaging 7.4 made three-pointers each game and, including the five made at home against Bowling Green on March 9, 2024, have hit at least five triples in 11 consecutive contests. This ongoing streak is the longest since the 2013-14 season when the Eagles began with a run of 13 consecutive matches.
ANOTHER STREAK
The Eagles have successfully connected on at least one three-pointer in 113 consecutive games, marking the third-longest run since the 1999-00 season. The longest stretch during this timeframe is 281 games, which originated with seven makes at Northern Illinois on Jan. 31, 2002, and concluded with no makes in the MAC Tournament on March 11, 2011, against Toledo. The second-longest streak continued for 157 games, starting Dec. 9, 2014, until it was interrupted by no makes on Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
As of games played on Dec. 30, three Eagles rank among the top performers nationally in several categories. Sisi Eleko is placed sixth with 11.4 rebounds, 10th with seven double-doubles, and 24th with 19.8 points. Olivia Westphal posts an average of 2.9 made three-pointers, ranking 20th, while Mackenzie Amalia is positioned 27th with 5.5 assists per game.
MOVING TOWARD A MILESTONE
Sisi Eleko has accumulated 941 points throughout her career, positioning her just 59 points away from entering the 1,000-point club. With 198 points scored this season (over 10 games), Eleko averages 19.8 points, which, if she sustains this pace through the completion of the regular season (29 games), could allow her to attain 600 points for the season, which wouldrank her third in a solitary season for an EMU junior and seventh historically on the program’s single-season register.
Recently, two Eagles achieved their own milestones as Makenzie Amalia marked her 300th career assist (against UTRGV) and Olivia Smith exceeded 500 career points (versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi).
TRENDING UPWARD
Thanks to her impressive commencement to the season, Sisi Eleko is already on track to accomplish something that hasn’t taken place in almost 15 years: having an Eagle average 20.0 points for a season. EMU Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor inductee Tavelyn James was the last to achieve this feat when she averaged 20.7 points during the 2009-10 season.
Alongside her scoring, Eleko’s 11.4 rebounds position her among the finest in program history, with only three players concluding the season averaging 10.0+ rebounds per game. Those players consist of Ce’Nara Skanes (2020-21) at 10.9, Felicia Hines (1984-85) at 11.7 (school record), and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) at 10.6.
ELITE COMPANY
Sisi Eleko is also on track to achieve something only two other EMU athletes have done in program history: average a double-double for the season. The first to accomplish this was Felicia Hines, who compiled 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds during the 1984-85 season. Ce’Nara Skanes was the most recent addition to the list as she averaged 16.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in the 2020-21 season.
SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko has achieved a double-double on seven occasions this year, which is the highest in the MAC and ranks 10th nationally. Her seven double-doubles place her 15th on the EMU all-time ranking (since 1999-00) with Tayra Eke (2022-24) and Areanna Combs (2019-22) tied in 13th with 10.
LET IT FLY
Olivia Westphal netted four three-pointers at home against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), pushing her season total to 26 after making at least two from beyond the arc in all nine contests she has participated in this season. Currently, on a 10-game streak of hitting two or more three-pointers, Westphal leads the MAC and ranks 20th nationally, averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game. Before her current streak, she recorded only one instance of hitting two or more three-pointers in consecutive games, which occurred with three at Ohio, Jan. 20, 2024, and two at Kent State, Jan. 24, 2024.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has sank 26 three-pointers in nine games this year, surpassing her total from the 2023-24 season when she registered 23 three-pointers in 28 games (0.8 per game). Furthermore, Westphal has made 2+ triples in all nine matches this year, after she had 1+ three-point successes in 12-of-28 games last season. If she maintains her current rhythm, Westphal could reach at least 70 three-pointers this season, a milestone that hasn’t been accomplished since the 2015-16 season when both Janay Morton (76) and Cha Sweeney (70) achieved this.
FIRST TIMES
Six players have made their EMU debut this season, with Jada Williams being the latest addition after playing six minutes against Xavier on Dec. 1. Earlier, newcomers Chelsea Bishop (Nov. 21) and Olivia DiFranco (Nov. 9) made their first appearances while transfers Mackenzie Amalia, Brooklyn Thrash, and Sisi Eleko all started in the season opener against Texas State (Nov. 4). Additionally, Elena Cabello played in the game against Texas State, marking her first gameplay since March 8, 2023, against Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament, after sitting out the entire previous season due to an injury.
NEW TO THE LINEUP
Elena Cabello made her inaugural career start for the Eagles in the Xavier match after participating in 23 games during the 2022-23 season and all five this year. Cabello, who missed the 2023-24 season due to an injury, scored eight points, tying her career high set on Feb. 18, 2023, at Toledo, while also achieving a career high with two successful three-point attempts, which she had accomplished three times before.
This start comes one game following her impressive performance at Detroit Mercy on Nov. 26. In that game, she initiated the second quarter by netting a pair of layups, totaling four points, her first of the season. Those points also represented her first in 633 days after scoring for the Eagles on March 4, 2023, where she had five points at Ohio. She had sat out the entire 2023-24 season due to injury.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is set to return to action on the road when the Eagles travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, to face the Bowling Green State University Falcons, Saturday, Jan. 4, in EMU’s first road MAC clash of the year. The showdown within the Stroh Center is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US
Stay connected with the Eagles throughout the season by following @EMUWBB and @EMUAthletics on X for all the latest updates on EMU women’s basketball. Be sure to also follow the team on Instagram (@EMUWBB).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)
— After the ball drops to welcome the new year, the action will rise on a fresh season as the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball squad welcomes rival Western Michigan University during the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The 1 p.m. matchup between the Eagles (1-9, 0-0 MAC) and Broncos (3-7, 0-0 MAC) will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Brent Balbinot (play-by-play) and Greg Steiner (analyst) covering the event, while fans can also tune in live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer reporting from the sidelines. Live statistics will be accessible at EMUEagles.com/livestats and regular updates will be shared on the team’s official X account (@EMUWBB).FREE THROWS
» Eastern is set to compete on New Year’s Day for the second time in program history and the second time at home. The inaugural instance occurred two decades ago (Jan. 1, 2005) with a 71-46 triumph over Columbia.
» The rivalry with Western Michigan stands as the most contested in program history, with the intrastate competitors gearing up for their 97th encounter this week. EMU holds a 53-43 lead.
» Sisi Eleko netted 12 points and secured 10 rebounds against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), achieving her league-leading seventh double-double, which also ties for the 10th-most in NCAA Division I. Eleko leads the MAC in points per contest (19.8) and rebounds (11.4) and ranks 24th and 6th, respectively, on national scales.
» Olivia Westphal remains at the forefront of the MAC with 2.9 made three-pointers per game, positioning her 20th nationally. She has made 26 three-pointers across nine games this season, having tallied just 23 in 28 games last year. Westphal has made 2 or more triples in 10 straight games dating back to the previous season.
» The Eagles made six three-pointers against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), extending their current streak to 113 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The last occasion EMU was without a three-pointer was Nov. 29, 2020, against UIC (0-of-15).
» In terms of three-pointers, the Eagles have made at least five triples in all 10 games played this season and have achieved this in 11 games overall since last season. This marks the longest streak since the 2013-14 season when the same team began that year with a 13-game streak.
» WMU Head Coach Shane Clipfell is well-acquainted with Eastern, having served as the interim head coach for the Eagles during the 2006-07 season, directing the team to a 13-12 record.
KNOW THE FOE: WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos approach their MAC opener with a 3-7 record, having split their last three contests, including an 83-75 road defeat at Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 21. Marina Asensio leads the squad with 12.7 points per game and is also the team leader in assists at 4.7 per game. Hannah Spitzley (11.0) and Alli Carlson (10.2) are also averaging double digits, with Spitzley leading in rebounds at 4.9.
ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern claims a 53-43 advantage in the all-time series and holds a 29-16 record when contesting in Ypsilanti. Over the last three seasons, the two teams have exchanged season sweeps, with the Broncos registering wins of 76-49 at EMU (Jan. 31, 2024) and 65-55 at WMU (Feb. 21, 2024). The Eagles’ last victory was on Feb. 11, 2023, with a 68-58 home win.
SO, WE MEET AGAIN…
The rivalry between the Eagles and Broncos is the most frequent in program history, with the two institutions having faced each other 96 times previously (EMU leads, 53-43). Only three other series have surpassed 90 matches, including Central Michigan (94), Toledo (93), and Ball State (90).
FAMILIAR FACE: WESTERN MICHIGAN
WMU Head Coach Shane Clipfell is not foreign to Eastern Michigan as he previously held the role of acting head coach during the 2006-07 season, achieving a 13-12 overall record and a 10-6 mark in MAC competition, leading the Eagles to a second-place finish in the MAC West. Clipfell led Eastern to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, where the Eagles were defeated by top-seeded Bowling Green, 71-57.
LID LIFTERS: MAC OPENER
The Eagles boast a record of 22-21 in their first conference game of the season since the inception of MAC play in the 1981-82 season. Eastern has clinched two consecutive MAC openers, including a 67-49 victory at Northern Illinois on Jan. 3, 2024. When the opening MAC game is hosted at home, the Eagles own an 11-7 record and have achieved two straight wins, with a 68-67 win over Miami on Jan. 4, 2023.
Moreover, EMU is 2-1 when their MAC opener pits them against Western Michigan and 1-0 in home matchups. The last encounter between the two teams in a MAC opener was on Jan. 10, 2013, where Eastern claimed a 56-52 road victory. The sole instance where the opener occurred in Ypsilanti was on Jan. 8, 1992, resulting in an 82-38 win for EMU.
LID LIFTERS: MAC HOME OPENER
The Eagles are 16-27 in their MAC home openers, having seen their two-game winning streak come to an end last year during a 48-35 defeat against visiting Toledo on Jan. 6, 2024. Prior to the setback against the Rockets, Eastern triumphed over Miami, 68-67, on Jan. 4, 2023, marking their most recent victory in a MAC home opener. EMU has faced WMU only once in a MAC home opener, resulting in an 82-38 victory on Jan. 8, 1992.
LONG RANGE SHOOTING
The Eagles are averaging 7.4 made three-pointers each game and, including the five made at home against Bowling Green on March 9, 2024, have hit at least five triples in 11 consecutive contests. This ongoing streak is the longest since the 2013-14 season when the Eagles began with a run of 13 consecutive matches.
ANOTHER STREAK
The Eagles have successfully connected on at least one three-pointer in 113 consecutive games, marking the third-longest run since the 1999-00 season. The longest stretch during this timeframe is 281 games, which originated with seven makes at Northern Illinois on Jan. 31, 2002, and concluded with no makes in the MAC Tournament on March 11, 2011, against Toledo. The second-longest streak continued for 157 games, starting Dec. 9, 2014, until it was interrupted by no makes on Nov. 29, 2020, against visiting UIC.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
As of games played on Dec. 30, three Eagles rank among the top performers nationally in several categories. Sisi Eleko is placed sixth with 11.4 rebounds, 10th with seven double-doubles, and 24th with 19.8 points. Olivia Westphal posts an average of 2.9 made three-pointers, ranking 20th, while Mackenzie Amalia is positioned 27th with 5.5 assists per game.
MOVING TOWARD A MILESTONE
Sisi Eleko has accumulated 941 points throughout her career, positioning her just 59 points away from entering the 1,000-point club. With 198 points scored this season (over 10 games), Eleko averages 19.8 points, which, if she sustains this pace through the completion of the regular season (29 games), could allow her to attain 600 points for the season, which wouldrank her third in a solitary season for an EMU junior and seventh historically on the program’s single-season register.
Recently, two Eagles achieved their own milestones as Makenzie Amalia marked her 300th career assist (against UTRGV) and Olivia Smith exceeded 500 career points (versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi).
TRENDING UPWARD
Thanks to her impressive commencement to the season, Sisi Eleko is already on track to accomplish something that hasn’t taken place in almost 15 years: having an Eagle average 20.0 points for a season. EMU Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor inductee Tavelyn James was the last to achieve this feat when she averaged 20.7 points during the 2009-10 season.
Alongside her scoring, Eleko’s 11.4 rebounds position her among the finest in program history, with only three players concluding the season averaging 10.0+ rebounds per game. Those players consist of Ce’Nara Skanes (2020-21) at 10.9, Felicia Hines (1984-85) at 11.7 (school record), and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) at 10.6.
ELITE COMPANY
Sisi Eleko is also on track to achieve something only two other EMU athletes have done in program history: average a double-double for the season. The first to accomplish this was Felicia Hines, who compiled 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds during the 1984-85 season. Ce’Nara Skanes was the most recent addition to the list as she averaged 16.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in the 2020-21 season.
SISI WITH DUB-DUBS
Sisi Eleko has achieved a double-double on seven occasions this year, which is the highest in the MAC and ranks 10th nationally. Her seven double-doubles place her 15th on the EMU all-time ranking (since 1999-00) with Tayra Eke (2022-24) and Areanna Combs (2019-22) tied in 13th with 10.
LET IT FLY
Olivia Westphal netted four three-pointers at home against St. Thomas (Dec. 28), pushing her season total to 26 after making at least two from beyond the arc in all nine contests she has participated in this season. Currently, on a 10-game streak of hitting two or more three-pointers, Westphal leads the MAC and ranks 20th nationally, averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game. Before her current streak, she recorded only one instance of hitting two or more three-pointers in consecutive games, which occurred with three at Ohio, Jan. 20, 2024, and two at Kent State, Jan. 24, 2024.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE BEHIND THE ARC
Olivia Westphal has sank 26 three-pointers in nine games this year, surpassing her total from the 2023-24 season when she registered 23 three-pointers in 28 games (0.8 per game). Furthermore, Westphal has made 2+ triples in all nine matches this year, after she had 1+ three-point successes in 12-of-28 games last season. If she maintains her current rhythm, Westphal could reach at least 70 three-pointers this season, a milestone that hasn’t been accomplished since the 2015-16 season when both Janay Morton (76) and Cha Sweeney (70) achieved this.
FIRST TIMES
Six players have made their EMU debut this season, with Jada Williams being the latest addition after playing six minutes against Xavier on Dec. 1. Earlier, newcomers Chelsea Bishop (Nov. 21) and Olivia DiFranco (Nov. 9) made their first appearances while transfers Mackenzie Amalia, Brooklyn Thrash, and Sisi Eleko all started in the season opener against Texas State (Nov. 4). Additionally, Elena Cabello played in the game against Texas State, marking her first gameplay since March 8, 2023, against Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament, after sitting out the entire previous season due to an injury.
NEW TO THE LINEUP
Elena Cabello made her inaugural career start for the Eagles in the Xavier match after participating in 23 games during the 2022-23 season and all five this year. Cabello, who missed the 2023-24 season due to an injury, scored eight points, tying her career high set on Feb. 18, 2023, at Toledo, while also achieving a career high with two successful three-point attempts, which she had accomplished three times before.
This start comes one game following her impressive performance at Detroit Mercy on Nov. 26. In that game, she initiated the second quarter by netting a pair of layups, totaling four points, her first of the season. Those points also represented her first in 633 days after scoring for the Eagles on March 4, 2023, where she had five points at Ohio. She had sat out the entire 2023-24 season due to injury.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is set to return to action on the road when the Eagles travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, to face the Bowling Green State University Falcons, Saturday, Jan. 4, in EMU’s first road MAC clash of the year. The showdown within the Stroh Center is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US
Stay connected with the Eagles throughout the season by following @EMUWBB and @EMUAthletics on X for all the latest updates on EMU women’s basketball. Be sure to also follow the team on Instagram (@EMUWBB).
This page was created programmatically, to read the article in its original location you can go to the link below:
https://emueagles.com/news/2024/12/31/womens-basketball-eagles-ring-in-new-year-with-wmu-in-mac-opener.aspx
and if you want to remove this article from our site please contact us
