YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Sisi Eleko scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Eastern Michigan held off a late Duquesne rally for a 74-72 win in nonconference women’s basketball Tuesday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The Eagles led by 16 after a dominant first quarter but the Dukes chipped away, using a 31-point third quarter to close the gap. Duquesne took a brief lead in the fourth before Eastern Michigan responded. Eleko’s layup with 12 seconds remaining proved to be the decisive basket. Gabby Grantham-Medley led Duquesne with 17 points. Eastern Michigan shot 54% from the floor and outscored the Dukes 40-22 in the paint. Both teams are now 6-4. Attendance was 1,228.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant start, a furious comeback and a final-second defensive stand, the Eastern Michigan Eagles edged the Duquesne Dukes 74-72 in a nonconference women’s basketball thriller Tuesday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 12 seconds. With the score tied at 72, Eastern Michigan’s Sisi Eleko received the ball in the low post, powered through contact and converted a layup with 11 seconds remaining to put the Eagles ahead for good. Duquesne, out of timeouts, rushed the ball upcourt, but Eastern Michigan’s pressure forced a critical turnover by Alexis Bordas with two seconds left. Ainhoa Cea’s ensuing steal sealed the victory for the home team before a crowd of 1,228. The game was a tale of two halves, dictated by the performance of Eleko. The 6-foot-2 junior from Montreal, Canada, was the engine for Eastern Michigan, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-double. Her early work established a commanding lead that her late heroics ultimately preserved. Eastern Michigan exploded from the opening tip, racing to a 26-10 lead after the first quarter. The Eagles shot a blistering 69% from the field in the period, with Eleko scoring nine points and Fernanda Ovalle adding eight, including a three-pointer. The Dukes, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers and missed shots, managing just 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Duquesne began to chip away in the second quarter, outscoring Eastern Michigan 18-14 to trim the deficit to 40-28 at halftime. The Dukes’ defense intensified, forcing eight Eagles turnovers in the period. Gabby Grantham-Medley, who led Duquesne with 17 points, sparked the initial push. The third quarter belonged entirely to the visitors. Duquesne unleashed a 31-point barrage, their highest-scoring quarter of the season, to completely erase the deficit and take a 59-58 lead heading into the final period. The Dukes shot 50% from the field in the quarter, fueled by Grantham-Medley’s nine points and timely three-pointers from Mackenzie Blackford and Bordas. Eastern Michigan’s offense, so fluid early, stagnated against Duquesne’s full-court pressure, committing seven more turnovers. The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring five lead changes. Eastern Michigan regained its footing inside, scoring 16 of its 18 points in the paint in the final period. Ovalle, who finished with 14 points, and Brooklyn Thrash, who added 12, provided crucial scoring alongside Eleko. Duquesne had its chances. The Dukes took a 72-71 lead on a Grantham-Medley free throw with 1:32 to play, but could not score again. A missed front end of a one-and-one by the Eagles gave Duquesne the ball with a chance to take the lead, but a turnover led to Eleko’s decisive basket. Statistical efficiency told the story of the game’s contrasting styles. Eastern Michigan’s victory was built on superior shooting, converting 26 of 48 field goal attempts for 54.2%. The Eagles dominated points in the paint, 40-22, and assisted on eight of their 26 baskets. Duquesne, which shot 39.3% on 24-of-61 shooting, relied on creating extra opportunities, winning the offensive rebounding battle 14-7 and forcing 16 turnovers, which they converted into 13 points. Both teams were nearly identical at the free-throw line, each making 17 of 23 attempts. For Eastern Michigan, Cea orchestrated the offense with seven assists to go with nine points. Thrash contributed 12 points, four rebounds and a key block. For Duquesne, Bordas scored 11 points, while Blackford added nine points and three steals. Raevin Washington provided a defensive presence with two blocks. The win improves Eastern Michigan’s record to 6-3, while Duquesne falls to 6-4. The Eagles, who were projected by National Statistical’s ELO system to have only a 14% chance to win, have now won three straight. Duquesne sees its two-game winning streak snapped. Eastern Michigan travels to face Indiana on Sunday. Duquesne continues its road trip at Stony Brook on Sunday.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Two teams riding opposite waves of momentum will meet Tuesday when the Duquesne Dukes visit the Eastern Michigan Eagles in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup. Duquesne (6-3) arrives looking to rebound from a 55-72 road loss at Davidson on Dec. 3, which snapped a two-game win streak. The Dukes have shown resilience in close games, including a 69-67 overtime victory at Navy on Nov. 30, but are 1-2 in their last three. Eastern Michigan (5-3) enters on a three-game winning streak, most recently dominating Defiance 96-44 at home on Dec. 5. The Eagles’ defense has been a hallmark during the streak, holding opponents to an average of 51 points per game over that span. The matchup features two standout forwards in strong recent form. Duquesne will rely on Gabby Grantham-Medley, who is averaging 13.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists over her last five games. She scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the overtime win at Navy. Eastern Michigan counters with Sisi Eleko, who has been a dominant force. She is averaging a double-double of 17.0 points and 12.0 rebounds over her last five contests, including a 23-point, 14-rebound performance in a win over Robert Morris on Nov. 26. In the rout of Defiance, she posted 19 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes. The Dukes have been potent offensively, scoring 102, 108 and 89 points in their three home wins, but have averaged just 61.3 points in their three road losses. Containing Eleko inside will be a primary challenge for a Duquesne team allowing 64.2 points per game. Eastern Michigan, playing its final tune-up before a daunting trip to Indiana on Dec. 14, will aim to leverage its home-court advantage at the Convocation Center. The Eagles are 3-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming in their opener against Louisiana-Monroe. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Tuesday. Duquesne travels next to face Stony Brook on Dec. 14, while Eastern Michigan prepares for its matchup with the Hoosiers the same day.