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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball (1-2) fell in the first game of the Compass Tournament to the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-1) after an insane second half. The Panthers were led by Abby Wahl who managed 23 points and 14 rebounds, her second double-double of the season. Karle Pace started off on fire as she went 5-6 in the first half with four three pointers made. The Panthers record falls to 1-2 overall, and NIU gets their first win of the season, as their record becomes 1-1. 

QUICK STATS

• Abby Wahl records her third-career double-double
• Karle Pace scored 19 points, her highest point total of the season
• Jordyn Hughes scored 11 points, her highest point total of the season
• 13 free-throws-made is the most by Eastern Illinois this season

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER
The Panthers got off to a hot start against the Huskies in Friday's  contest. Karle Pace was on fire early as she went perfect from beyond the arc. The Panthers and Huskies were sprinting up and down the court, as the Huskies pace of play was incredible. NIU attempted 14 three-pointers in the first quarter, but the Panthers held them to only three made. The Panthers shot beautifully from the field as they shot 57%. Eastern Illinois led the Huskies: 22-14.

Eastern Illinois let the Panthers creep back into the game after costly turnovers and fouls. Eastern Illinois committed six fouls in the quarter and four turnovers, while Northern Illinois had three turnovers and only two fouls. Both Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois couldn't get much going as the Panthers shot 31%, while the Huskies shot 21% from the field. Panthers maintained their lead going into halftime: 33-27.

The Huskies captured the momentum early out of halftime as they gained the lead for the first time early in the third and EIU was unable to regain it. The Panthers couldn't stop the three-ball from the Huskies, as they shot 8-9 from beyond the arc. The Panthers battled to not let the quarter get out of hand, but the Huskies were unconscious from beyond the arc. Northern Illinois put up 34 points in comparison to the Panthers 18. NIU led the Panthers going into the final quarter: 67-54.

The Panthers continued to play their game well, but the Huskies couldn't miss. Eastern Illinois continued to battle in the paint and managed to put up 21 points to against the Huskies, but NIU went right back at them scoring 21 of their own. The Panthers fell to NIU 72-82.

Eastern Illinois will close out the Compass Tournament against Western Illinois at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6.