Box Score

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois women's basketball team shot 51.4 percent from the floor on Monday night, cruising to an 88-55 win over in-state rival Western Illinois. EIU improves to 5-1 on the year.
 
The Panthers jumped out to an early 31-9 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half and never looked back. WIU used an 11-2 run to get within 13 points (33-22) with 6:05 left in the first half, but EIU bounced back to take a 43-24 advantage into the locker room.
 
WIU cut its deficit to 15 points (43-28) with 18:42 left in the contest before the Panthers continued their offensive presence by shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor in the second half to upend their in-state rival by 33 points.
 
Kelsey Wyss scored a season-high 16 points behind 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range to pace the Panther attack. Three other EIU players scored in double figures as Mariah King netted 15 points while Chantelle Pressley and Sydney Mitchell added 14 points and 11 points, respectively.
 
The Panthers out rebounded the Leathernecks 45-35, led by Pressley's game-high eight rebounds. Sabina Oroszova and King both added seven rebounds. Pressley also had three blocked shots while Ta'Kenya Nixon had four steals.
 
EIU scored 26 points off turnovers by forcing 21 miscues by the Leathernecks. EIU also committed a season-low 12 turnovers in the win.
 
The Panthers shot 51.4 percent (36-for-70) from the floor while knocking down 37.5 percent (6-for-16) of their shots from behind the arc. WIU shot 34.4 percent (21-for-61) from the floor.
 
Valencia Kelly led WIU with 14 points while Michele Salvatori chipped in a team-high seven rebounds to go along with six points.
 
The Panthers return to action at Missouri on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.