CHARLESTON, Ill. - The visiting UT Martin Skyhawks defeated Eastern Illinois women's basketball 72-44 Thursday night. The Panthers fall to 2-16 overall, 1-6 OVC while UTM improves to 8-11 overall, 4-3 OVC.

Halle Stull connected from beyond the arc late in the first quarter to spark an 8-0 run from the Panthers. EIU was able to tie the game up 12-12 heading into the second quarter of play. 

UTM opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run holding EIU scoreless the first five minutes of play. Taylor Steele and Karle Pace knocked down shots from three-point range to shoot them back into the game. Steele scored on a layup with 1:01 left in the half to give the Panthers their only lead of the game. 

UTM entered the second half with a one point lead and pulled away to secure their fourth conference win. They held the Panthers to 15 second half points and scoreless for the final 6:40 of the game.

Steele was the only Panther to score double-figures. She scored a game-leading 19 points and tallied six boards and three steals. Jennifer Nehls recorded eight rebounds while Karle Pace dished out a career-high five assists. 

The Skyhawks had three players record 10+ points. Chelsey Perry recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ashton Feldhaus added 13 points and four rebounds.

Despite being held scoreless in the first half, Kendall Spray neared a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers will return to action Jan. 20 to play Southeast Missouri at 1 pm in Lantz Arena.