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Box Score

CHARLESTON, ILL. - The Panthers defeated Jacksonville State 55-52 in a nail biter on Thursday night. The Panthers held a lead for the majority of the game, but were never quite out of the woods as JSU remained in it throughout. The excellent overall play of the Panthers really stood out today as nearly every Panther who played scored. Karle Pace continues to shine as the Panthers go-to on offense, as she put up a team-high 14 points in addition to her seven rebounds. Jacksonville State took, and made, plenty of threes in the game, but the Panthers stuck to the game plan and managed to pull out the victory. 

A problem for the Panthers this game was the turnovers. Jacksonville State is one of the best defensive teams in the OVC, and made the Panthers pay for any and all mistakes. The Panthers, however, are no slouches on defense either; as they held JSU to 27% shooting from the field. Morgan Litwiller flashed her chops as a lock-down defender, ending the game with three steals and a block. Litwiller has come up huge offensively and defensively in the absence of Taylor Steele.

The first quarter saw Jacksonville State stalling out to start the game. JSU made three three-pointers in the quarter. These were their only field goals made in the first as they went 3-19 from the field. The Panthers were able to remain calm, and although they committed several turnovers they kept the lead. Pace and Abby Wahl led the way in scoring for Eastern. Panthers led 14-9.

In the second quarter, JSU tried more of the same as they jacked up three after three. McKenna Lawrence had hit four in the first half, but she was the only major contributor for the Gamecocks. The Panthers continued to work the ball around and look for good shots. Eastern didn't have nearly as good of a quarter shooting the ball, but still kept a solid lead going into halftime. Panthers led 26-21.

The third saw Pace lead the Panthers offensively as they started to pull away in the final few minutes of the quarter. Jacksonville State's three point approach kept the Gamecocks in the game as every three made was a momentum booster for the team. The Panthers managed to hold an eight-point lead that looked like it was the end for JSU, but once again they hit a three and pulled withing five points. Panthers led 40-35 at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter was an intense one. The Panthers started to fizzle offensively at the worst possible time, and to add fuel to the flame, Jacksonville State started to heat up. The Gamecocks pulled withing three points of tying it up with only 30 second left in the fourth. The Panthers in-bounded the ball to Kira Arthofer who was immediately met with Gamecocks fouling her. She kept her poise at the line and nailed both free-throws. Lariah Washington was next to go to the line, as she hit both of her free-throws putting the Panthers up 54-49. JSU wasn't ready to pack up however, as they rushed down court and hit a layup. Pace was put on the line and after a make on the first missed the second. The Gamecocks rushed down the court and forced yet another three, this one swishing in from the corner and catching Pace for a foul. JSU had pulled to within three with a second on the clock. JSU missed the free throw intentionally, but was unable to pull off a miracle. The Panthers held on for their third OVC victory in a row.

The Panthers will take on the conferences best Tennessee Tech on Saturday.