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CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Karle Pace is named to the Compass Challenge All-Tournament Team as Eastern Illinois women's basketball fell in the championship game Saturday afternoon. Southern Illinois led by as much as 22 points in the third quarter and took a 73-59 win over the Panthers.
EIU falls to 4-4 overall while SIU improves to 5-4 overall. The Panthers will be back in action next Monday Dec. 17 at Northern Illinois for a 5:30 pm tip-off.
Despite the Panthers shooting over 40 percent from the field in the first quarter, SIU took a 21-10 lead over EIU in the first 10 minutes of play. Nicole Martin was 3-for-4 from the field and scored eight points for the Salukis in the opening quarter.
Karle Pace scored eight of EIU's 10 first quarter points.
The Panthers narrowed the Saluki's lead to four in the first few minutes of the second quarter going on an 8-0 run.
Taylor Steele and
Kira Arthofer hit back-to-back threes forcing a SIU time out at the 7:46 minute mark.
Jennifer Nehls connected from the paint on the first possession out of the time out bringing the score to 24-20 in SIU's favor.
SIU extended their lead to 22 points in the third quarter. The Panthers committed three consecutive turnovers contributing to a 13-0 run for the Salukis.
Jalisha Smith came off the bench for EIU scoring four quick points helping break SIU's run and narrowing their lead 56-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers had some bench production and outscored the Saluki's bench 31-16.
Carmen Tellez finished with eight points in the fourth quarter, but SIU held on clinching the Compass Challenge championship.
Abby Wahl also added eight points off the bench for EIU.
Pace was the only Panther to finish in double-figures with 13 points, while Martin (16), Makenzie Silvey (15), and Kristen Nelson (13) scored in double figures for SIU.