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CHARLESTON, Ill. – On a night in which she did not miss a shot, Ashley Thomas scored a season-high 19 points for the second game in a row to lift Eastern Illinois women's basketball to a 67-48 victory against Austin Peay Thursday evening at Lantz Arena.

 

Thomas was 6-of-6 from the field thanks to a 5-of-5 showing from 3-point land. Not only did she make five 3s for the second consecutive game, but also established a new EIU single-game 3-point percentage record. Her perfect shooting overall marked the fifth time during head coach Brady Sallee's tenure that a Panther has tied the program's single-game field goal percentage record.

 

The Panthers (13-10, 12-3 OVC) shot 50 percent from the field as a team thanks to a 9-of-19 showing from 3-point land. With Thomas leading the way with 12, EIU has made 29 treys in the last three games.

 

Rachel Galligan took just six shots from the field but still managed to score 14 points. Dominique Sims and Ellen Canale both chipped in nine apiece.

 

Ashley McGee led Austin Peay (5-17, 2-11 OVC) with 12 points and five assists. Four other Lady Govs scored between six and eight points.

 

The score was tied a 10-all six minutes into the contest when EIU went on a 20-0 run. Thomas and Lindsey Kluempers ignited the surge with back-to-back 3-pointers. Thomas accounted for 11 of the 20 total points, connecting on two more treys and a driving lay-up. The Panthers rode the spurt to a 40-21 halftime lead.

 

Galligan scored the first two baskets of the second half to put EIU ahead by a game-high 23. Austin Peay responded with eight unanswered points to pull within 15, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Megan Edwards and Thomas gave the Panthers the momentum back. The Lady Govs would get no closer the rest of the contest.

 

The game was a 3-point shooting contest early, as six of the first nine field goals in the contest came from behind the arc. Ashley Herring hit a pair of early 3s for the APSU, but Kluempers matched her. Then while Thomas heated up, the Lady Govs did not score again from long range until McGee connected in the final minute of the half.

 

Eastern registered 17 assists on its 22 field goals, with Lauren Sturtevant, Sims and Edwards all finishing with four helpers.

 

Over the last three games, Thomas is averaging 17 points while shooting 57 percent (16-of-28) from the field and 12-of-18 from long range. Entering the run, she was 5-of-33 from 3-point land this season. The sophomore also made both of her free throws attempts on this night.

 

The previous 3-point field goal percentage record was set by Megan Sparks on 7-of-8 shooting in Jan. 2006 against Tennessee-Martin at home. Five attempts are required to qualify for both the regular and 3-point field goal percentage records. Julie Lipperd, Sims and Galligan have also tied the former during their careers.

The Panthers return to action Saturday for a 4 p.m. rematch at Tennessee-Martin. Earlier this season the Skyhawks upset EIU in Charleston for their only league win entering the night.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID