Eastern Illinois University Athletics

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois pushed Ohio Valley Conference champion UT Martin to the wire but fell just short during a 63-60 loss on Wednesday night in Lantz Arena.  The game was the Panthers senior night honoring seniors Sabina Oroszova, Arnisha Thomas and DeAnna Willis.
 
EIU fell to 10-18 overall, 7-8 in the OVC.  The Panthers will play their final regular season game on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start at SIU Edwardsville.  UT Martin improved to 19-9 overall, 15-0 in the OVC. 
 
Trailing most of the second half EIU took the lead with 49 seconds remaining as Oroszova broke free on the baseline to score a lay-up.  Oroszova's bucket gave EIU a 60-59 lead as the senior finished with 18 points, ten rebounds and four blocks. 
 
UT Martin answered with 35 seconds left in the game with Katie Schubert sinking her fourth 3-pointer of the game to put the Skyhawks up 62-60.  Schubert had 14 points and six rebounds.  UT Martin was 5-of-11 from 3-point range for the game.
 
The Panthers then had a final possession but missed two shots in the final 19 seconds.  Monique Jackson grabbed the rebound on the second Panthers miss and sank one of two free throws to close out the win.  Jackson was a big factor for the Skyhawks all night as she finished with 21 points and seven rebounds.  EIU's defense held Ashia Jones, the nation's seventh leading scorer, to just ten points with Oroszova guarding her most of the night.
 
EIU played well early leading by as many as six points in the first half when Oroszova drained a 3-pointer with 6:13 to play in the first staking EIU to a 27-21 lead.  UT Martin would finish the half with a 14-5 run.  Arnisha Thomas would score four of her 16 points for EIU in the final two minutes of the first half as UT Martin led 35-32 at the half.
 
In the second half Oroszova scored seven straight points to put the Panthers in front by a 39-35 mark.  Schubert would answer with a 3-pointer to stop the EIU run.  The Skyhawks pushed the lead to eight points as Schubert hit a 3-pointer followed by a Jackson jumper in the lane.  The Skyhawks shot 53 percent from the game.