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Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, ILL. - The Panthers pulled out a tight one today against the Austin Peay Governors. Depsite the Panthers 30 turnovers on the day Eastern came out with a 73-72 win. Morgan Litwiller came up with a huge offensive rebound in the final seconds of regulation, and was fouled on the put-back attempt. Litwiller went to the line with a little over a second off the clock and sunk both to put the Panthers up one. Austin Peay got the ball to the half court line and heaved it up, but the ball sailed a little right of the basket and the Panthers pulled away with a big time win in front of an animated crowd. The Panthers record moves to 17-10 (11-5 OVC); Austin Peay moves to 16-11 (7-9 OVC). 

The Panthers started off strong, shooting 57% from the field, but turnovers plagued their progress as they had already racked up 10 by the end of the quarter. Abby Wahl and Karle Pace led the Panthers with 4 points a piece. Kira Arthofer got into foul trouble early and was taken out of the game after she had notched her third foul. Jordyn Hughes was the only other player besides Pace and Wahl to attempt and make a basket. Austin Peay led 14-11 heading into the second quarter.

Pace and Wahl continued to push Eastern on the offensive end along with Grace McRae, who had put up 5 points in the quarter. Page Schumann came in for the Panthers and gave them a solid seven minutes. Schumann grabbed two boards and dished two assists along with playing stellar pressure defense. Pace downed a three-pointer that kept her streak alive, as she now has a three in 18 consecutive games. Pace led all scorers at half with 11. Austin Peay led 30-27 at halftime.

EIU came out with a new fire at the start of the second half. The team was not about to lose their final home game in front of the fans. Lariah Washington and Taylor Steele got more involved in the offense; as neither of the two had attempted a field goal in the first half. Austin Peay had done a good job of cutting off driving lanes for Washington, but she found her way, going 3-3 from the field and putting up 8 points in the quarter. Steele swished a three to add to her point total, and had came up with a team-high four rebounds. Panthers led going into the fourth 51-45.

The fourth was a nail-biter for anyone in attendance. The game went back and forth with Austin Peay starting a comeback. The turnovers continued to hinder EIU as the Governors had put 26 points on the board solely off of turnovers. The Governors took the lead in the final moments of the game. Wahl was given the ball with only 15 seconds left. She posted up and turned around for a beautiful push shot off the glass. The Panthers had taken the lead by a point. Austin Peay forced the ball inside and Pace was called for a foul. The Governors were given two free throws and sank them both to take the lead back by a point.  Wahl was handed the reigns again, but missed the shot. Litwiller, through traffic, snagged the offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back attempt. Litwiller walked to the line as the crowd held their breath. Litwiller sunk the first, tying the game and almost guaranteeing overtime if she missed the second. Litwiller, a calm and collected freshman, sank the second to put the Panthers up and seal their ninth and final home win of the season.

The Panthers will play their last week of regular season basketball, as they take on SEMO Thursday, and SIUE Saturday.