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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball begins the stretch run, during which it is slated to play four of its final six regular-season games at home, with an Ohio Valley Conference showdown against Morehead State Thursday evening at Lantz Arena.

 

The Panthers (16-8, 11-1 OVC) put their 11-game win streak on the line this weekend against Morehead (18-7, 11-2 OVC) Thursday at 5 p.m. and Eastern Kentucky (10-13, 6-7 OVC) Saturday at 4 p.m.

 

With one victory, EIU can clinch a home game in the opening round of next month's OVC Tournament for the third consecutive season. When they clinch the right to host, the Panthers would be in position to play five of their next seven games at home. Entering the week, EIU is the only OVC team yet to lose at home in league play this season.

 

White and pink will be the colors in vogue this weekend. Thursday, Eastern Illinois athletics is organizing a “White Out” effort of Lantz Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear white and EIU students in attendance will receive a complimentary white T-shirt sponsored by MyCharlestonDentist.com.

 

Saturday has been designated a Pink Zone game by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, highlighting the importance of breast cancer prevention and awareness. The Panthers will be donning pink shoes and shooting shirts. Fans in attendance will receive a complimentary pink T-shirt.

 

Thursday's EIU-Morehead game is matchup of the top two teams in the OVC standings. The Panthers won the first meeting of the season in Morehead, 62-60. Chantelle Pressley connected on two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining, providing the decisive points in the game that is currently the difference in the league standings. The Eagles have won five straight since.

 

A win Thursday would give EIU the inside track towards winning its first-ever conference title of any kind. A Morehead victory Thursday could set the stage for the two teams to share the OVC title if both teams were to then win out for the remainder of the regular season. If that scenario were to take place, the Eagles would be line to earn the top seed in the OVC Tournament.

 

The Panthers have won five consecutive games against both Morehead and EKU. However, the Lady Colonels have lost five straight games in Charleston, their last win coming in February 2003. That's the longest active drought without a win at Lantz Arena in the OVC.

 

Morehead State leads the nation in 3-pointers made per game, making 258 triples in its first 25 games. With 10 more 3-pointers, the Eagles will establish a new OVC single-season record. Morehead has attempted 30-plus 3-pointers against EIU at least once each of the last three seasons. Those totals are the three highest against the Panthers during head coach Brady Sallee's six-year tenure. The Eagles were 9-of-32 from behind the arc in the first meeting this season and 4-of-36 from long range at Lantz Arena last season.

While MSU's reliance on the 3-point shot makes headlines, Mike Bradbury's team is also the top defensive and rebounding team in the league.

 

OVC Player of the Year frontrunner Chynna Bozeman leads the conference in scoring (18.8 ppg). She has made a league-high 86 3-pointers this season. Eastern as a team has connected on 99. Bozeman stepped up in a big way on MSU's last road trip, scoring 30-plus in wins at Tennessee State and Austin Peay. After making an OVC record 17-of-17 at the free line at TSU, she hit nine of the Eagles' 15 3-pointers against APSU.

 

Maggie Kloak has been EIU's top performer against Morehead. The senior has posted three of her five career 20-point efforts against the Eagles. Last month in Morehead, she scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half.

 

Eastern Kentucky was 5-1 in OVC play when the Panthers visited Richmond on Jan. 14. Close games have been in abundance for the Lady Colonels since. Since losing to the Panthers, six of EKU's seven games have been decided by less than 10 points. However, coach Chrissy Roberts' team is 2-5 over that stretch heading into Thursday's game at Southeast Missouri State.

 

Freshman guard Shakeyia Colyer stepped up last week, connecting on seven field goals and leading the Lady Colonels in scoring in both games. Classmate Alex Jones has emerged as one top freshman post players in the league this season.

 

Ta'Kenya Nixon and Dominique Sims led EIU to the road win at EKU last month. Nixon posted a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double and Sims scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Sims has played her best against the Lady Colonels during her career, averaging 15.4 points per game while shooting 59 percent.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID