NASHVILLE -
Taylor Steele scored a new career-high 23 points at Tennessee State Saturday night on 5-of-7 from three-point range. The Panthers fell 70-66 in a close battle with the Lady Tigers in their final road game of the year. Steele finished with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in addition to her new career-high.
EIU is now 10-17 overall and 4-12 in the OVC, while TSU improves to 5-23 overall and 5-11 in the OVC.
The Panthers opened the game with a 6-0 run leading to a 22-15 lead over the Lady Tigers at the end of the first quarter. TSU turned around in the second quarter outscoring EIU 22-13 with a 10-0 run midway through to take the lead for the first time since the first few minutes of the first quarter. Steele would complete a three-point play in EIU's last possession of the half to bring the Panthers within two points.
Steele came out of halftime carrying EIU's offense scoring 11 of their 16 points. She went 3-of-4 from the arc and hit a jumper just out of the paint midway through the third to tie the game 46-46.
Grace Lennox would hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer to tie the game 51-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
The beginning of the fourth quarter was back and fourth between the two teams seeing two ties and two lead changes. The Lady Tigers pulled away in the end to win 70-66.
The Panthers shot48.8 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from the arc.
Karle Pace went 10-of-12 at the free throw line. Her 10 makes was the first time a player has made 10 or more free throws in a game since the 2013-14 season. Pace finished the game with 21 points, four boards, two assists, and two steals.
Jalisha Smith also scored double-figures with 11 points. She tallied five boards and three steals.
Tia Wooten scored a team-high 22 points for TSU with five rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Taylor Roberts added 11 points on 4-of-7 from the bench.
EIU closes the regular season at home next weekend with two games. The Panthers will host Jacksonville State on Thursday Fed. 28 for Kids Day at 12 pm. Senior Day will be Saturday March 2 at 1 pm vs. Tennessee Tech.