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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Panther women's basketball team dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference game of the year at Eastern Kentucky, 63-62, on Monday night at McBrayer Arena. The loss snapped a 10-game win streak for EIU in the series with EKU.
Trailing 63-59 with eight seconds remaining in the game,
Ta'Kenya Nixon hit a three pointer to get the game within one. EKU missed back-to-back free throws on the following possession before a desperation half-court shot by Nixon fell short, dropping the Panthers to 8-7 on the year and 2-1 in conference action.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 22-10 advantage nine minutes into the game before the Lady Colonels posted an 18-5 run to take their first lead of the contest, 28-27, with 2:03 on the clock. EKU's lead did not last long as the Panthers held the Lady Colonels scoreless in the closing minutes of the half while Nixon scored six unanswered points to give EIU a 33-28 halftime lead.
Nixon posted her 14
th career double-double to pace the Panthers as the senior guard scored a team-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Classmates
Mariah King and
Kelsey Wyss both scored in double figures as King netted 15 points and Wyss added 13 points.
Defensively, EIU was outrebounded by three (43-40) with
Sydney Mitchell also adding 10 rebounds in the losing effort. EIU converted 15 EKU turnovers into 19 points on the night while also recording eight steals with Nixon having a game-high three steals.
The Panthers connected on 32.3 percent of the field-goal attempts (21-for-65) and 82.4 percent of their free throws (14-for-17). EKU went 24-for-63 from the floor and 11-for-15 from the charity stripe.
Alex Jones led the Lady Colonels with a double-double as the senior forward had 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jade Barber contributed a game-high 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Gray added a game-high 10 assists for EKU.
The Panthers return to action on Jan. 12 against Jacksonville State. EIU plays four of its next six games inside Lantz Arena.
