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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois (6-7, 4-4 OVC) stunned the EKU Colonels (6-6, 5-3 OVC) in a defining game for the Panthers; 73-68. EIU was led by
Karle Pace who scored a career-high 32 points in today's big win.
Kira Arthofer recorded a new career-high 11 assists. This three-game stretch has been monumental for the Panthers to get the conference season back on track. The Panthers have now won three-straight and head to the team with the highest win percentage in the OVC: Belmont. The Panthers will face the Bruins on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m.
QUICK STATS
- Karle Pace scored a career-high 32 points.
- 32 points is the most by a Panther this season
- The last time EIU had a player with 30 or more points was Jan. 30, 2020, against Murray State, where Lariah Washington scored 35 points.
- Kira Arthofer recorded a career-high 11 assists.
- The Panthers forced over 20 assists for the third time this season.
- EIU has now recorded back-to-back games with over ten steals.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER
The Panthers and Colonels started the game off on two different ends of the spectrum. EIU was struggling to shoot efficiently, as they finished the quarter with a 33% shooting percentage; however, their defense was immaculate. The Panthers forced ten turnovers in the first quarter alone. Eastern Illinois did struggle from 3-point land, but their defense allowed them to stay in it. Colonels led the Panthers, 16-14 going into the second quarter.
The shooting struggles stayed nearly the same for EIU in the quarter, as they shot 33% from the field once again.
Abby Wahl refused to be denied in the paint finishing the quarter with 8 points. Wahl was absent in the first matchup between these teams but was ready to show the Colonels what she was made of. Arthofer had already recorded seven assists in the game going into halftime. Panthers went into the half with a 32-30 lead.
The Panthers had not shot well from beyond the arc in the game thus far, going 1-14 in the first half. Pace was ready to change that for EIU. She came out gunning and shot 83% from the field, including two 3-pointers. EKU had an abysmal quarter shooting, finishing with a 24% shooting percentage. Pace scored 14 in the quarter as the Panthers outscored EKU 21-10. Panthers led going into the final quarter, 53-40.
Pace wasn't done yet as she scored 11 points in the quarter, 8 of which came from the free-throw line. The Panthers had played such stunning defense in the game thus far, that they had let themselves some leeway. The Colonels scored 28 in the quarter to keep the game closer than expected, but the Panthers were able to take control over the Colonels. Costly turnovers by the Colonels in the final moments put the Panthers in the driver's seat and they refused to step off the gas. Panthers won, 73-68.