East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University's women's basketball team faced a challenging match against Northern Illinois University, ending with a 78-70 loss on January 22 at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. Despite strong performances from Olivia Westphal and Sisi Eleko, who each scored 17 points, the Eagles could not secure a victory. The team managed to keep turnovers low, recording their fewest of the season.

The game began positively for Eastern Michigan as six players contributed to an early lead. Notably, Sisi Eleko and Elena Cabello were key scorers in the first quarter. However, Northern Illinois responded effectively by tying the game at halftime with a score of 37-37.

In the third quarter, Northern Illinois maintained a narrow lead, shooting efficiently while Eastern Michigan struggled with accuracy. By the fourth quarter, NIU had extended their lead to 13 points before EMU narrowed it down to three points in the final moments. Unfortunately for EMU, they could not close the gap further as NIU added late points to seal their win.

Olivia Westphal tied her career-high with five three-pointers and has been consistently effective from beyond the arc this season. Meanwhile, Sisi Eleko regained her scoring form with significant contributions throughout the game. Mackenzie Amalia also made an impact with double-digit scoring and led her team in assists.

Jada Williams continued her efficient shooting streak over recent games, contributing vital points off limited attempts. The Eagles' performance included eight players scoring during the contest.

Despite this loss, which leaves them at 1-16 overall and 0-7 in MAC play, Eastern Michigan showed resilience by maintaining their streak of consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The team looks ahead to their next matchup against Ohio University on January 25.