The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team (4-0, 0-0 MAC) hosted the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars (3-3, 0-0 Horizon) inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Wednesday, Nov. 23. The Eagles’ defense was a problem for the Jaguars as the Eagles forced 17 turnovers and outrebounded the Jaguars 45-31 to soar to a 71-49 win.
EMU started off the scoring by going on an 11-0 run, to take an early lead with 5:54 left in the first quarter. The Eagles then added to that lead and entered the second quarter with a 19-7 lead. The Eagles attacked the paint in the first quarter, scoring 14 of its 19 points close to the basket.
In the second quarter, EMU continued to expand their lead as they jumped out to a 27-9 lead after going on a 7-2 run. The Eagles would continue that advantage as they went into halftime up 35-19, after attacking the paint again, scoring 10 of its 16 second-quarter points in the box.
EMU would continue its in-the-paint dominance in the third quarter as they scored half of their points, eight of 14, in the paint to extend their lead to 49-34, entering the fourth quarter.
The Eagles expanded their lead to 58-40 before going on another 5-0 run, finished off by sophomore Lachelle Austin's three, to grow the lead to 63-40 with 4:10 left to play. The Jaguars cut their deficit somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 71-49 win.
Junior Ce’Nara Skanes earned her 25th double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore Tayra Eke earned her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 11 boards. It was the first time two Eagles recorded a double-double in the same game since Nov. 26, 2019, when former Eagle Ar'eanna Combs recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds in that game with Skanes dropping 11 points and 10 boards, according to EMUAthletics.
Sophomore Lachelle Austin was one of the three Eagles that scored in double figures as she finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.
EMU's 4-0 start is the first for seventh-year Head Coach Fred Castro and marks the best start of a season during his tenure, topping the team's consecutive 2-0 starts in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
The Eagles will continue their home stretch on Thursday, Dec. 1, when they host the North Dakota State University Bison inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. That game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
For more information and to stay up-to-date with all things EMU women's basketball, you can visit EMUEagles.com.
