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MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball continued to struggle on the road this season as the Panthers dropped a Saturday evening game, 83-74, at Murray State.

The loss dropped EIU to 10-13, 5-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Panthers will play at Austin Peay on Monday night at 7 p.m.  Murray State snapped a seven-game losing skid to improve to 9-14, 2-9 in the OVC.

Freshman Erica Brown led the Panthers early on making three straight jumpers at the free throw line as EIU built a six point lead 16-10 with 13:02 to play.  Arnisha Thomas had a jumper with 12:11 to play in the first half to keep the Panthers up six at 20-14.

Bianca Babic sank back-to-back 3-pointers to erase the Panthers lead.  Babic had 12 first half points hitting 4-of-8 from 3-point range.  Her 3-pointer with 7:27 to play put the Racers up 25-23 and started an 8-2 MSU run.  Murray State led 36-29 at the half.  Babic finished with 17 points.

EIU cut the margin to one point on back-to-back 3-pointers by Morgan Palombizio to open the second half.  Nikia Edom answered with a 3-pointer and Jessica Winfrey pushed the lead back to seven with two baskets.  Winfrey had 15 points, one of five MSU players in double figures.

Free throws by Netanya Jackson at the 10:59 mark put the Racers up 59-45.  Jackson had 11 points off the bench.

The Panthers then cut the lead down to three points as Katlyn Payne and Jordyne Crunk both hit 3-pointers during a 17-5 run by EIU.  Crunk's 3-pointer came with 6:06 to play cutting Murray State's lead to 64-61.  Crunk led EIU with 20 points.  Payne had 12.

A lay-up by Sabina Oroszova cut the lead to 64-63 with 5:17 to play before the Panthers offense hit a cold spell.  Murray State was able to pull away late in the second half making 26-of-32 free throws in the second half.  Janssen Starks hit 11-of-12 to finish with 15 points. 

EIU had Brown and Aaliyah Gaines score 11 points off the bench.