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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball season came to an end on Wednesday afternoon as the Panthers lost, 75-52, to Eastern Kentucky in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

EIU ends its season at 12-16. EKU improve to 16-12 and will face Tennessee State in the OVC quarterfinals on Thursday.

Much like EIU's win over EKU back in early January, the Panthers drove the ball to the basket in the opening half to earn trips to the free throw line. Unlike the January game, the normally steady Panthers shot just 11-of-19 from the line in the opening half to trail 37-25.

The two schools traded the lead in the first six and a half minutes with free throws by Katlyn Payne putting EIU up 11-10 with 13:29 to play in the first. Free throws by EKU's Jasmine Henshaw on the next possession sparked a 13-4 run by the Lady Colonels. Cierra Drake's jumper put EKU up 23-15 at 9:52. Drake had 12 points for EKU.

EIU trimmed the lead back to three points as Payne again connected at the free throw line. Payne had ten points for EIU. The Lady Colonels closed the half on a 12-3 run. Michaela Hunter had 12 of 17 points in the first half off the bench. EKU outscored EIU 38-8 in bench production.

Free throws by Jordyne Crunk cut the EKU lead to ten points to open the second half. Crunk scored 14 points in her final game in a Panther uniform. Inside baskets by Marie Carpenter and Shelly Harper pushed EKU's lead to 17 points at 44-27 with 14:51 to play.

Aaliyah Gaines gave the Panthers a lift off the bench as she scored four of her six points during an 8-0 run that cut EKU's lead to 44-35 at 11:22. Carpenter ended the run and EKU extended its lead back to a comfortable margin as she led all players with 24 points.

Sabina Oroszova posted her 16th double-double of the season in the loss with 15 points and 12 rebounds. EIU finished the game shooting 32 percent from the floor and 68 percent from the free throw line.