The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team traveled west on I-94 and fell to rival Western Michigan University, 65-55.
The loss marks the eleventh conference defeat for Eastern Michigan after they started MAC play 2-3. The Eagles now sit at 0-2 against the Broncos this season.
Eastern Michigan shot just 33.9% (19-56) from the field and only converted on two shots from beyond-the-arc. Kennedi Myles (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Olivia Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.) each scored in double figures for the Eagles, having 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Myles also had 10 rebounds, notching her fifth consecutive game with 10 or more rebounds to help EMU win the rebounding battle for the game.
From the first bucket of the game, the Broncos led from wire-to-wire. The score with under five minutes to go in the opening quarter was already 12-3.
However, the Eagles got back to within three toward the end of the quarter, trailing 17-14. That would be as close as it got for the Green and White, as they were outscored in the second quarter, 18-2.
Although the Eagles would go on to out score the Broncos in the last two quarters, it was not enough to come back from the 23-point deficit they faced at halftime.
(Tayra Eke, Madrid Spain) made a layup for EMU and that was early in the quarter as well. They ended the second quarter going eight minutes without scoring.
Despite the loss, the Eagles’ defense forced 18 WMU turnovers, winning the turnover battle, 18-17.
The Eagles had three players who recorded multiple steals, including Myles and Smith with two, and Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.) who had three.
EMU would also find themselves having a lot of points when it came to second chance opportunities, a large part was due to the number of rebounds Eastern pulled down but also the shots they missed as well. Scoring 16 second chance points, they won this category, 16-7.
Looking at the Mid-American Conference standings and where Eastern Michigan sits, they find themselves in last place in the conference, but only three games behind Ohio for the possibility of going to Cleveland.
The remaining schedule includes games at Miami University, versus Kent State University, at Ball State University and the University of Toledo, and home against Bowling Green State University to conclude the regular season.
Of those teams they have played, the Eagles only own a win against Miami (OH).
The Eagles made the MAC Tournament last season, losing to Bowling Green in the first round.
EMU will hit the road next to play at Miami (OH) on Saturday, Feb. 24. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
For more information on the EMU Women’s Basketball team, you can visit The Echo's website.
