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PEORIA, Ill. –
Sabina Oroszova tied two school records as she powered Eastern Illinois to a 71-67 win over Bradley on Wednesday night at the Renaissance Coliseum. Oroszova scored 38 points with 16 made field goals as EIU improved to 3-5. Bradley fell to 2-5.
Oroszova started her record setting night combining with
Katlyn Payne to score the Panthers first 15 points of the game. Oroszova scored nine early points while Payne sank two 3-pointers in the first 4:11 of the game.
Jordyne Crunk's 3-pointer with 15:05 stretched EIU's lead to double figures at 20-9 and
Taryn Olson's lay-up with 13:25 to play in the first half pushed the Panthers lead to 27-11.
Bradley fought back to cut the lead to single digits on the inside post play of Kelly Frings and Alyson Spinas-Valainis. Frings lay-up with 6:08 to play gave Bradley the lead 30-29. Kelsey Budd put the Braves up three with 1:29 to go before Oroszova closed the half with a 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play to knot the score at 37-37 at the half.
The largest lead for either team in the second half was six points on a 3-pointer by Payne with 6:43 to play that put EIU up 63-57. Payne finished 5-of-10 from 3-point range scoring 15 points. EIU was 9-of-22 beyond the arc for the night as Oroszova and Crunk also knocked down a pair of 3's.
Oroszova gave EIU a five point lead with 4:55 to play as Bradley twice cut the lead to two points in the final four minutes. Spinas-Valainias made a free throw with 3:48 to play and Frings connected on a two free throws with 2:29 to play.
Bradley went to the line 23 times making 14 shots to shoot 61 percent from the stripe. EIU went to the line only five times, all by Oroszova. Her final two free throw attempts were both good with ten seconds remaining to seal the game. The junior forward played 39 minutes adding 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. She moved into fifth place on the EIU career blocks list.
Oroszova tied the school record for points in a game previously held by Jessica Huffman against Morehead State on Dec. 20, 2006. Oroszova tied the school record of field goals made in a game held by two previous players; Sheriel Brown on Dec. 19, 1992 vs. Grambling and Pat Hamilton on Jan. 31, 1987 vs. Northern Iowa.
Frings led Bradley with 23 points. Budd had 19 and Spinas-Valainis 11.
EIU returns to action on Dec. 16 with a 6 p.m. game at Southern Illinois.