Despite valiant efforts from preseason All-Mid-American Conference First Team selection Sisi Eleko and true freshman Peyton Hill, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team opened the 2025-26 campaign with an 80-71 loss to the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Eleko, coming off an electric previous campaign that saw the senior average a double-double, posted 22 points and five rebounds to open the new year, while Hill added 17 points of her own — the most by an Eastern Michigan freshman in their debut in nearly eight years.
The Eagles put up a commendable fight against the road team in the opening leg of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge, leading at the conclusion of the opening quarter and only trailing the WarHawks by three points at the half.
Eastern Michigan’s undoing in the second half was their performance off the bench and on the glass. The Eagles were outscored 19-6 over the final two quarters while also being outrebounded 23-12 during that stretch, contributing to UL Monroe taking command of the game late and ultimately securing a seven-point triumph.
Brooklyn Thrash, the only other returning Eagle to the squad from last year along with Eleko, contributed 11 points and five rebounds to the stat sheet, while international transfer Fernanda Ovalle also poured in 10 points in her Eastern Michigan debut.
With the win, UL Monroe improves their record to 1-0 this season, while Eastern Michigan begins a new year with an 0-1 mark for the third consecutive campaign.
Next time out, the Eagles will hit the road once more to face Canisius University on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. — head coach Sahar Nusseibeh’s old stomping grounds from 2021-24. Viewers can stream all of the action live on ESPN+.
