East Michigan News

Sisi Eleko delivered a standout performance with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory for the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team. The Eagles fell to Ohio University with a final score of 69-59 on Saturday, January 25, at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio. This result leaves the Eagles with a record of 1-17 overall and 0-8 in the Mid-American Conference.

The game began with both teams focusing on long-range shots. Olivia Westphal contributed significantly by hitting two out of three from beyond the arc early in the game. Brooklyn Thrash and Sisi Eleko also made successful three-point attempts. The Eagles initially led 18-13 after the first quarter.

Ohio took control in the second quarter, overtaking Eastern Michigan with a 7-0 run that gave them a narrow lead. Despite Eleko's consistent scoring and Elena Cabello's three-pointer, Ohio extended their advantage to ten points by halftime.

In the third quarter, Ohio started strong again with another 7-0 run. However, Eastern Michigan responded as Kyndal Lewis scored five consecutive points followed by a team rally that narrowed Ohio's lead to four points. Nevertheless, Ohio reasserted their dominance to end the quarter ahead by thirteen points.

Eastern Michigan attempted to fight back in the fourth quarter with contributions from Thrash and Eleko but could not close the gap significantly before time ran out.

Eleko's performance marked her tenth double-double of this season and added to her career tally of such achievements. She remains among the top players nationally for double-doubles this season. Westphal continued her streak of successful three-point shooting while Olivia Smith set a personal best with eight assists during this match.

Chelsea Bishop returned to action after being sidelined since December 1st due to limited playtime against Xavier University.

With this loss against Ohio University (4-14 overall; MAC:2-6), Eastern Michigan continues its challenging season as they prepare for an upcoming away game against Kent State University on January 29th at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center which will be available for streaming via ESPN+.