Box Score |
Photo Gallery (By
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois women's basketball team fell to Indiana State 88-61 Monday night as the Sycamores could not seem to miss early in the game. ISU shot 60 percent for the game, going 6-for-8 from the three point line in the first quarter to build an early lead.
Following the loss the Panthers drop to 4-3 on the season while Indiana State improves to 3-3.
Grace Lennox led the Panthers in scoring recording 16 points while adding four assists.
The Sycamores came out shooting in the first quarter building a nine point lead following a 13-5 run capped off by a layup from ISU's Ashley Taia at the 4:07 mark to make it 19-10. ISU built a 10 point lead closing out the first quarter leading 29-19 after going 6-for-8 from the three-point line in the first quarter.
The Panthers seemed to battle back in the second quarter as both teams traded buckets throughout the period. Indiana State maintained their 10 point lead headed into halftime leading 43-33 as each team scored 14 points in the quarter.
Both teams finished the first half shooting over 50 percent from the floor with EIU shooting 52 percent compared to ISU who shot 58.6 percent. Lennox finished the first half with 11 points.
After a layup from
Jennifer Nehls to open the second half, Indiana State proceeded to go on a 10-2 run eventually stopped by a layup from
Jalisha Smith to make it 53-39 with 6:13 left to go in the quarter. Nehls finished the game with five points, while Smith netted two points and one rebound seeing limited time on the floor.
The Panthers got as close as 13 points near the end of the third period thanks to buckets from Lennox, but the Sycamores scored the final seven points of the quarter to lead 67-47 heading into the final period.
Indiana State maintained their 20-point cushion throughout the fourth quarter as a three-pointer from Freja Christensen in the dying seconds of the game secured the final score of 88-61.
Erica Brown was the only other Panther to score in double-digits finishing the game with 14 points and six rebounds.
Allison Van Dyke finished with seven points and four rebounds.
Indiana State had three players score in double-figures as ISU's Taia finished the game leading all scorers with 19 points. The Sycamore's Wendi Bibbins nearly earned a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. ISU finished the game going 11-for-19 from three-point range.
The Panthers head back out on the road Thursday as they travel to Illinois State at 7 pm.