[Box Score] Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Eastern Illinois women's basketball team struggled to make baskets in the second half as the Panthers fall at Indiana State 60-42. With the Loss the Panthers fall to 1-2 on the season while Indiana State improves to 1-2.

EIU kept it close throughout the entire match battling to keep the match within four headed into the fourth quarter trailing 40-36. The Panthers only shot 14.3% in the fourth quarter going nearly eight minutes without a point until a Shakita Cox free throw with 46 seconds left in the match. Cox finished the game leading the Panthers with 11 points while pulling in a career high seven rebounds.

The Panthers trailed by seven points with 4:52 left in the second quarter before Alece Shumpert found her groove. Shumpert scored seven of her nine points in the last half of the second quarter to cut Indiana State's lead down to three. Shumpert finished the match with a career high four steals. The Sycamores Rhagen Smith hit a last second layup to give ISU a 34-29 lead going into halftime. 

EIU started the second half on a 7-1 run as Halle Stull drained a three pointer to give the Panthers their only lead of the game 36-35 with 5:34 left in the third quarter. Stull finished with a career high nine points and five rebounds. EIU outscored the Sycamores 7-6 in a very defensive third period, but headed into the fourth quarter trailing 40-36. The Panthers held Indiana State to 8.3% shooting in the third quarter. 

Phylicia Johnson finished the match with six points and a career high four rebounds.

The Panthers have a break following the hectic opening to the season as they head to Dekalb to take on Northern Illinois next Tuesday [Nov. 24] at 11 a.m.