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CHARLESTON, Ill. -
Taylor Steele and
Karle Pace recorded double-figures for the Panthers in their 70-63 loss to Murray State Thursday night. Steele recorded a game-high 20 points, while Pace extended her double-figure scoring streak to eight straight games with 15 points.
EIU falls to 2-26 overall, 1-16 in the OVC. Murray State improves to 11-17 overall, 7-10 in the OVC.
The Racers opened the game on a 12-2 run.
Grace McRae scored on a layup at the five minute mark to spark a 10-2 Panther run.
Carmen Tellez and Steele knocked down three-point attempts to bring EIU within five points to end the quarter.
The Panthers outscored Murray State in the second quarter to take 34-33 lead at halftime. EIU's defense held the OVC scoring leader Ke'Shunan James to just five points in the first half. James finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
EIU shot 45.1 percent from the field behind Steele's 7-of-11 and Pace's 6-of-11. Steele knocked down five from beyond the arc as the Panthers shot 35.3 percent from three-point range. The Racers finished the game 39.7 percent from the field.
McRae finished shy of a double-double with eight points and seven boards.
Jalisha Smith provided a spark from the bench for EIU with five points and six boards.
Four players finished in double-figures for the Racers. Bria Bethea led with 19 points, while James added 15. Jasmine Borders was 4-of-7 from the field with 13 points. Brianna Crane recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as Murray State won the rebounding battle 34-32.
The Panthers close out the 2017-18 season Saturday Feb. 24 vs. SIUE. This is the Panthers annual CARE game in which 100 percent of the funds raised are donated to local cancer survivors and their immediate needs.