EASTERN ILLINOIS (6-7, 1-1 OVC) vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY (8-5, 2-0 OVC)
Monday, January 6, 2014 * 7 p.m.
Lantz Arena * Charleston, Ill.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM (Rich Moser & Rob Calhoun)
GAME 14
Eastern Illinois plays the final game in a three game home stand on Monday night hosting Eastern Kentucky. The Panthers had their three game win streak snapped on Saturday with a 75-64 loss to Morehead State. EIU fell to 6-7 on the year and 1-1 in the OVC. The Panthers are now 3-2 at home. EKU is one of the hottest teams in the OVC improving to 2-0 in the league on Saturday with a 59-54 win over SIU Edwardsville. The Lady Colonels are now 8-5 on the year and have not lost since November, having won five straight.
SERIES
Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky will meet for the 32nd time on Monday evening with the Panthers holding a slight 16-15 all-time series lead. EKU won last year in Richmond, Ky., 63-62, ending a ten game win streak in the series by EIU. The last win by EKU in Lantz Arena was Feb. 10, 2003, a 78-59 win.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky enters on a five game win streak which includes two wins to open Ohio Valley Conference action. Marie Carpenter leads the Lady Colonels with 21.7 points per game including 39 made 3-pointers. Shelly Harper averages 10.6 points per game and leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game. EKU is second in the OVC in field goal percentage defense allowing opponents to shoot just 36.4 percent from the floor per game.
OROSZOVA ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Sabina Oroszova posted her eighth double-double of the season and fourth straight in the Panthers loss to Morehead State. Oroszova had 18 points and 16 rebounds but was plagued by foul trouble in the second half. She ranks in the top 20 nationally in double-doubles this season. Oroszova is fourth in the OVC in scoring (18.7 ppg), second in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and first in blocks (30).
PAYNE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AGAIN
Katlyn Payne scored 11first half points in the loss to Morehead State as the junior has now scored in double figures in all 13 of the Panthers games. Payne hit three 3-pointers in the loss as she moved into 9th place on the Panthers career 3-pointers list passing Meggie Eck. Payne made just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc as her 3-point field goal percentage dropped to 42.3 percent which still ranks second in the OVC.
FIELD GOAL DEFENSE
Eastern Illinois had its three game streak of holding opponents under 37 percent shooting snapped as Morehead State shot 49 percent from the field and 57 percent from 3-point range on Saturday night. It was the highest field goal percentage by an opponent this season passing the previous high of 47 percent shot by Indiana State in the second game of the season. EIU is still holding opponents to 40 percent from the floor for the season which ranks third in the OVC.
REBOUNDING EDGE
Eastern Illinois had a double digit rebound edge over its opponent for the fourth straight game as the Panthers held a 39-25 rebound advantage over Morehead State including 16 offensive rebounds. The Panthers are second in the Ohio Valley Conference with a plus 2.4 rebound margin. EIU will play the league's top rebounding team in Eastern Kentucky on Monday night.
NEXT UP
Eastern Illinois will continue action against the OVC East Division as the Panthers hit the road next Saturday for a 2 p.m. game at Jacksonville State.
