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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Illinois has balanced scoring with five players finishing in double figures as the Panthers (6-6, 3-1 OVC) won their eighth straight game over Jacksonville State with a 75-69 win on Tuesday night. 

Both teams put together small runs in the first half as EIU and JSU both led by as many as four points in the opening half. EIU would go to the locker room with a three point lead as Hillary Held made a lay-up as time expired to put the Panthers up 28-25. 

JSU took advantage of back-to-back turnovers to open the second half as they took the lead on a pair of buckets by Danielle Vaughn who led the Gamecocks with 16 points. 

Kelsey Wyss answered for the Panthers with three straight 3-pointers as EIU slowly built its lead to double figures. Wyss finished 3-of-7 from 3-point range with 15 points. Wyss also made a key defensive play in the final minute as she blocked a 3-pointer by Amanda McCarthy when the Panthers held a three point lead. 

The Panthers would put away the game at the free throw line hitting 21-of-29 free throws. Ta'Kenya Nixon was 12-of-14 from the stripe with 20 points. Nixon also had a ten assists for a double-double. Jordyne Crunk was 8-of-10 from the free throw line to finish with 10 points. 

JSU fell to 3-8, 1-2 in the OVC. Brittany Wiley also had 16 points. 

Mariah King and Chantelle Pressley both added 11 points with King pulling down eight rebounds.