[Box Score]
OMAHA, Neb. - Omaha holds on to earn a 76-67 victory as Eastern Illinois nearly mounts the comeback late in the fourth quarter led by Erica Brown's double-double performance with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Omaha remains perfect at home this season improving to 6-2 while EIU falls to 1-7. The fourth period was filled with runs by each team as the Panthers came into the final quarter trailing 58-53. Omaha came out shooting going on a 10-3 run to extend their lead to 12 points with 7:06 left in the game. Karina Chandra broke the run with a layup. Chandra finished the game with eight points and three rebounds in her first career start for the Panthers. EIU would use that to switch momentum and go on their own 11-2 run to claw within three of UNO following a jumper by Kayla Steward at the 2:25 mark as the Mavericks led 70-67. That would be as close as the Panthers would get as they would not make another bucket and Omaha stretched their lead scoring the final six points and earning a 76-67 victory
Omaha earned a five point lead at the end of the first quarter after Shakita Cox sank a layup with the buzzer sounding to end the first period with the Mavericks on top 23-18. Cox finished the game scoring nine points and earning three rebounds and three assists.
The second period was a back-and-forth affair as each team would end the quarter scoring 20 points. EIU could not break Omaha's five point lead heading into halftime trailing 53-48. Halle Stull earned eight points in the first half finishing the game with 14 total tying her career high. Stull also pulled in seven rebounds in the game.
EIU shot 53.6 percent from the floor in the first half, the most productive the team has shot in the first half all season.
Brown found her touch scoring seven points in the third quarter to keep the Panthers within range of UNO. Omaha's Bobbi Beckworth earned two free throws with three seconds left in the third quarter. Beckworth made both to give Omaha a 58-53.Â
Grace Lennox and Steward each contributed eight points in the game. Omaha's Mikaela Shaw led the Mavericks with 31 points.Â
The Panthers return to Lantz Arena this Thursday to take on Milwaukee at 6 p.m.