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Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball fell to visiting Kansas City, 69-53 in both squads' season-openers on Saturday (Nov. 15) afternoon at Lantz Arena. EIU returns to action on Tuesday night, as the Panthers are set to travel east on I-70 to face the Jaguars of IUPUI at 6 p.m.
EIU (0-1) enjoyed an early four-point advantage before the visiting Kangaroos (1-0) eventually went on a 12-0 run to hold the 18-8 advantage. Â They would hold onto that lead the rest of the game.
The Panthers hit just 21 percent in the opening half but responded with a 48 percent clip in the second half as EIU was able to pull to within eight points of UMKC with just over four minutes remaining, thanks to a timely press and fastbreak points. Â EIU finished with a 14-0 advantage in fastbreak points.
Senior forward
Arnisha Thomas paced the Panther offense with 18 points off a 7-for-17 shot mark, while adding seven boards and four free throws. Â
Sabina Oroszova followed with eight points and ten rebounds, but was limited in her playing time due to foul trouble for most of the game, as she fouled out with nearly eight minutes to go in the contest.
Newcomers
Grace Lennox and
Shakita Cox each chipped in seven points with Lennox leading the defense with five steals, as sophomore
Erica Brown rejected three UMKC shots to help the Panthers enjoy a seven-to-two block advantage.
UMKC had three players with double-digit points, led by Calli White's 22 points, as the 'Roos shot an even 50% for the game and held a 22-to-nine lead over Eastern in bench points.
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