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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois built an early lead behind hot shooting by Sabina Oroszova and Katlyn Payne but at the end of the night it was Morehead State that had the hot hand as the Eagles beat the Panthers, 75-64, on Saturday afternoon.

Morehead State improved to 7-7, 1-0 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 6-7, 1-1 in the OVC.  EIU returns to action on Monday night hosting Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m.

Oroszova and Payne hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a Jordyne Crunk lay-up as the Panthers jumped out to a 20-12 lead with 12:02 to play in the first half. 

Morehead State answered with its own 3-point shooting as Mackenzie Arledge and Natalie Greenwell each drained 3-pointers to tie the game at 22-22 with 5:45 to play.  Allie Turner added a 3-pointer as the Eagles hit 42 percent from beyond the arc in the opening half. 

Casey Ryans hit a lay-up with ten seconds left to play to give Morehead State a five point lead.  Payne hit a 3-pointer in the final two seconds to cut the Eagles lead to 34-32 at the break.  Payne scored all 11 of her points for EIU in the first half.

Morgan Palombizio tied the game for the sixth time at 42-42 with 16:22 to play converting a pair of free throws.  Morehead State then used an extended run behind the scoring of Terrice Robinson and outside shooting of Almesha Jones to go up eight points with 10:02 to play on a Robinson 3-pointer.  Robinson led all players with 28 points making 9-of-10 from the free throw line. 

Jones hit 4-of-5 from 3-point range including 3-of-3 in the second half to finish with 17 points.  Morehead State shot 78 percent from 3-point range in the second half and 57 percent (12-of-21) for the game.

Morehead State led by ten points on free throws by Jones with 3:36 to play.  EIU could never get the margin to single digits again. 

Oroszova and Crunk each scored 18 points for EIU.  Oroszova pulled down 16 rebounds to post her fourth straight double-double.