The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team hadn’t played the Yellow Jackets from Defiance College in 45 years. But on Friday, Dec. 5, they did so in dominating fashion, defeating the road team 96-44.
The Eagles were 4-0 all-time going up against the Yellow Jackets but their last meeting was on Dec.11, 1980 where they won 83-63. Eastern Michigan aimed to continue their undefeated streak with Sisi Eleko leading the way.
The Eagles returned to the George Gervin GameAbove Center on a two-game win streak after dismantling Detroit Mercy on Nov. 30, looking to gain some more momentum before a pivotal stretch of games leading into Mid-American Conference play.
The Eagles’ opponents were on a different kind of streak as Defiance College had lost three straight, being outscored 281-168 in that time.
First Quarter
Sisi Eleko got the game going immediately, scoring the first five points of the game while gathering multiple rebounds and causing multiple turnovers. By the time the first quarter was over, Eleko had 11 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Eagles point guard Ainhoa Cea played the role of distributor providing multiple assists for her teammates while also poking the ball loose multiple times, giving her teammates easy steals.
The Eagles forced eight turnovers in just the first quarter due to the full court pressure they were applying. The Eagles were playing at an extremely fast pace racing up and down the court while only using 15 seconds of the shot clock. The Yellow Jackets struggled to adjust and their dormant offense was unable to keep up with the high-flying Eagles.
At the end of the first quarter, Eastern had built a 28-10 lead and were just getting started.
Second Quarter
Eleko was allowed to take a break in the second quarter, only scoring four more points but grabbed three more offensive rebounds leading to extra possessions for the Eagles.
Peyton Hill and Fernanda Ovalle also made their mark in the first half, combining for 13 points and five assists. Every point mattered for the Eagles as they increased their 18-point lead to 37 going into halftime leading the Yellow Jackets 49-12.
Eastern's defense forced another nine turnovers in the second quarter while outrebounding Defiance by 15. Every statistical category was being dominated by the home team and the score matched that sentiment. The Eagles dominated the paint scoring 37 of their 49 first half points down low.
Although the Eagles dominated on offense in the first half they struggled to shoot from beyond the arc going 4/16 in the first half. Overall, Eastern shot 38% from the field while keeping the Yellow Jackets to a shooting percentage of just 14% and not allowing any threes. EMU did not allow a made three in the first half, a rare achievement in the modernized times of basketball strategy.
Third Quarter
Eastern returned from halftime with three-point shooting on their mind, hitting two threes to begin the third quarter.
Oliwia Pelka took over scoring duties in the third quarter, scoring 10 points off the bench and helping increase the Eagles lead to 49 going into the fourth quarter.
Believe Tshibangu also provided a burst of scoring opportunities, hitting multiple shots while also pulling down four offensive rebounds during the quarter.
The fast paced tempo of the third quarter allowed Defiance to score 14 points adding onto the 12 they had already had but for every point the Yellow Jackets scored the Eagles scored two more.
By the time the third quarter was finished the Eagles were up 75-26 and it became a battle of the benches in the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
With just a minute and a half gone from the fourth quarter, Eagles head coach Sahar Nusseibeh subbed out all the starters, providing new opportunities for some fresh faces off the bench.
The game was a true team win as 13 out of 14 players that appeared in an Eagle uniform ended up scoring with the bench unit scoring over half of Eastern’s total points. If only the bench had played the Eagles would still have won 50-44.
On the defensive side, the Eagles were led by Cea who earned a team-high four steals while also distributing six assists. Eastern grabbed 18 steals and forced 27 turnovers, helping lead the Eagles to victory.
From start to finish Eastern dominated, dismantling the Yellow Jackets by 54. The win marked their third straight victory and keeps the Eagles undefeated at home.
Eleko led all scorers with 19 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. This is her fifth double-double of the season as she continues to lead the Eagles forward.
Pelka was the second highest scorer, dropping 15 points and leading the bench unit to a 50 point outburst.
What’s Next
The Eagles are back in action at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 9, against Duquesne as they attempt to defend home court and keep their win streak going. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ or followed on the WEMU Radio Network.
