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CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Eastern Illinois built a double-digit lead in both halves but the Panthers could not hang on in the end losing 66-58 to UNC Greensboro on Friday evening in the opening round of the Mayfair Hotel & Spa Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by Miami.
EIU (1-4) broke out of the gate with a quick 11-0 run to open the game as Kelsey Wyss and Chantelle Pressley both hit 3-pointers during the first 3:26 of the game.
UNCG (1-3) would close the gap to 16-15 with 7:58 to play in the half as Janae' Stevenson had a pair of free throws and a jumper in the paint. Monique Floyd would tie the game at 17-17 with a pair of free throws at 7:25. Free throw percentage would end up being one of the story lines of the game as UNCG hit 80 percent (16-of-20) while EIU hit 59 percent (16-of-27).
EIU closed the half on a 16-2 run to hold a 33-19 halftime lead. Pressley added four points in that run as she finished with 15 points while pulling down 15 rebounds for her first career double-double. EIU scored 16 first half points off of 12 UNCG turnovers. The Spartans would only turn it over five times in the second half to finish with 17 total turnovers. They had been averaging 22 turnovers per game entering the contest.
Following a couple of quick second half baskets by the Spartans, Wyss sank a 3-pointer to extend EIU's lead to 13 points with 17:19 remaining. Wyss scored 14 points hitting 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
Dayshaun Richbow triggered a 14-4 run by the Spartans as she hit a 3-pointer at the 17 minute mark and converted a driving lay-up at 11:50 to bring EIU's lead to 41-38. During that run EIU gave the Spartans seven possessions without getting the ball across half court as they had four turnovers and three second chance rebounds. EIU had 23 turnovers for the game.
Kendra Smith gave UNCG its first lead of the night at the 8:07 mark with a lay-up in the lane. Pressley responded with a three point play for EIU that put the Panthers back up by two, 49-47, at the 7:53 mark.
Floyd would tie the game at 6:55 with a pair of free throws and Amanda Leigh's 3-pointer at 4:03 gave the Spartans the lead for good. EIU cut it to three points on a Jessica Parker lay-up at 3:18 but could not get any closer.
Richbow led UNCG with 15 points while Leigh had 12. Stevenson had a double-double for the Spartans at 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Mariah King added 15 points for EIU giving her five straight games with double figure scoring.
EIU will play the loser of the Miami/Florida Atlantic game at 4 p.m. (Central) on Saturday.
