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MACOMB, Ill. – Key 3-pointers proved to be the difference on Friday night as Western Illinois held off Eastern Illinois, 63-54, at Western Hall in Macomb.
EIU fell to 3-6 on the season and will host Illinois-Chicago on Sunday at 2 p.m. WIU improved to 6-4.
After falling behind 29-20 at the half, Eastern Illinois was able to close the gap to within one point two times in the second half. The last time was on an
Arnisha Thomas jumper with 7:14 to play that cut WIU's lead to 43-42.
Western Illinois responded with three 3-pointers on the next couple of possessions as they extended the lead back to 51-42 on Paige Harmon's 3-pointer with 4:23 to play. Michelle Mahar and Liz Skotowski added 3-pointers in the run.
Eastern Illinois built an early 6-0 lead before post players
Sabina Oroszova and
Erica Brown both picked up two fouls in the first five minutes. Thomas had four points in the early run as she finished the game with eight.
Western Illinois used its first half rebound advantage to build a 29-20 halftime lead. Ashley Luke had nine of her 12 rebounds in the first half for the Panthers. She added 19 points. The Leathernecks scored six second chance points in the first half.
The Panthers were able stay in the contest in the opening with a pair of 3-pointers by
Phylicia Johnson as she finished the game with 13 points.
EIU shot 21 percent in the opening half while WIU shot 29 percent.
EIU applied pressure to open the second half cutting the lead to 32-26 as Thomas made a basket in transition. Maher answered with a 3-pointer.
EIU cut the lead to 37-34 with 11:47 to play on a post basket by
Morgan Martin and free throws by Johnson.
Sabina Oroszova finished with 10 rebounds and nine points as EIU won the battle on the glass by a 43-40 margin. WIU finished the game hitting 8-of-24 from 3-point range. EIU made 3-of-1 from behind the arc.