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Box Score | Photo Gallery by Sandy King

EVANSVILLE, IND. - Women's basketball came out in to take place in the biggest game that Eastern Illinois has had in five years. The Panthers battled in a roughneck grit and grind 49-46 win over Jacksonville State. There were a total of 11 lead changes over the game. The game was frustrating and downright ugly at times, but the Panthers battled through adversity and managed their first win at the OVC tournament since 2010. The team was visibly thrilled after the comeback from a ten-point deficit, and Matt Bollant was overwhelmed with excitement after getting his first OVC win as the head coach of Eastern Illinois. The Panthers send the Gamecocks home empty handed with a 14-16 (10-8 OVC) record. The Panthers record moves to 18-11 (13-6 OVC), and will continue their incredible season against Chelsey Perry and the UT Martin Skyhawks.

EIU had an expected tough day shooting from the field. Eastern as a team shot 32.1% from the field on the day. Taylor Steele led all Panthers in scoring today with 11 points. Karle Pace had a tough day from the field, shooting 1-13, but came up big as a facilitator and defender during the final moments of the game. Pace ended with 8 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a key block that kept the Panthers ahead. Abby Wahl finished her first game at the OVC Tournament with 8 points and nine rebounds, and Lariah Washington ended with 10 points and three steals. 

The Panthers and Gamecocks went back and forth with little success as five minutes in to the game the teams were tied at 2-2. At the media timeout, both teams were shooting below 15% from the field. Steele and Washington went back to back after the timeout increase the score, but just as EIU was getting hot, Jacksonville State responded with a three ball. JSU ended the quarter with back-to-back turnovers. Steele was fouled and nailed both free throws to end the quarter. Panthers led at the end of the first 14-9.

Eastern started out slow again in the second quarter, but Wahl forced her way down low and was fouled. Wahl hit both free throws and after some solid defense, she put on show in the paint with a turnaround hook shot. JSU started to mount a comeback in the middle of the second quarter. The Gamecocks went on a 8-0 run before the Pace scored her first two points on the day after hitting both of her free throws. At halftime, Panthers led 22-21.

Washington started the Panthers off on a good note with an easy layup. The Panthers started to force the offense again, as JSU pushed EIU's pace. The Gamecocks hit back-to-back and-one's. Jordyn Hughes fit EIU's first three-pointer of the game in the middle of the third, pulling the Panthers back into the game. Hughes continued to put up points in the third as she banked a floater in to put the Panthers up by a point. Pace made her first field goal late into the third quarter with a nifty inside layup. The game continued to go back and forth. JSU managed their largest lead to end the third quarter. JSU led 36-31.

The Panthers had gone nearly five minutes without scoring until Wahl sunk a mid-range shot. The Panthers had pulled back within eight points and couldn't afford to let the lead get away from them. The Panthers suddenly pulled back into the game and the momentum swung after Morgan Litwiller nailed a deep three-pointer. Pace came down after a JSU miss and found an open Washington who swished a free throw line jumper to pull EIU within three points. The defense came out huge late for the Panthers. Steele came up huge for Eastern as she tied the game off of a big three-pointer. Litwiller hit a free throw jumper to put Eastern up by two points, and Jacksonville State continued to stutter on the offensive end. The Panthers looked to have the win in the bag, but after a JSU block the Gamecocks ran down and hit another and-one. The Panthers offense pushed it down the floor and Washington raced ahead into contact and nailed the layup to put them up one with 40 seconds left. The Gamecocks were forced to foul putting Litwiller at the line. Litwiller went up to the line, but was unable to convert. JSU missed their first shot, and after a scrum JSU came away with it. JSU took the three-pointer and came up short to seal the Panthers win 49-46.

The Panthers will take on UT Martin tomorrow at 1 p.m.