NASHVILLE - Karle Pace scored a career-high 31 points for Eastern Illinois women's basketball as the Panthers fell 86-68 on the road to Tennessee State. The Panthers fall to 2-19 on the season and 1-9 in the OVC.

Tennessee State improves to 4-15 overall, 2-8 OVC.

The Panthers and Tigers traded baskets to open the first quarter, but TSU pulled away on an 11-0 run mid-way through the first ten minutes to hold onto a permanent lead. Pace scored 21 points in the first half, but couldn't match the Tigers 57.7 percent from the field.

The Tigers opened the third quarter on a 16-4 run sparked by Taylor Roberts. Pace scored on a layup at the 4:23 mark to break up TSU's run, but the Tigers responded with another 8-0 run heading into the final minute of the quarter. Jennifer Nehls knocked down two jumpers for the Panthers helping close TSU's lead 69-48.

EIU was able to get the Tiger's lead down to 14 points in the fourth quarter, but TSU held on to collect their fourth win of the season.

Pace was 11-of-18 from the field on her career night helping the Panthers connect on 37.5 percent of their shot attempts. Danielle Berry also recorded double-figures for EIU with 10 points and she grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Nehls and Taylor Steele added eight points each while Carmen Tellez dished out a game-leading five assists.

The Tigers shot 51.8 percent from the field for the game led by three players scoring in double-figures for TSU. Taylor Roberts and Tia Wooten each recorded 18 points. Wooten finished one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Kaliya Griifin rounded out the scoring efforts with 15 points on 4-of-7 from the arc.

The Panthers will return home next week to host Jacksonville State on Thursday Feb. 1 at 5:15 pm.