MACOMB, ILL -- Eastern Illinois women's basketball earned a 64-62 road win over the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Monday night. With the win, the Panthers improve to 2-0 on the season.
"I felt like we really fought and overcame some adversity," said head coach
Matt Bollant. "[With] several kids fouling out, we just kind of found a way."
The Panthers controlled the game with defense early on, as EIU held the Leathernecks to just 1-of-8 shooting to begin the game, establishing an early 10-4 lead. They were able to push the lead to 18-9 late in the first quarter before a WIU layup cut the lead to 18-11. Overall, WIU was just 4-of-16 from the field in the first period. EIU kept the Leathernecks at arms' length to begin the second quarter, establishing a 22-16 lead before WIU used an 11-3 run to capture a 27-25 halftime lead.
Julia Bengtson made a jumper to tie it up to open the scoring in the third quarter. It then became a game of runs as WIU used a 5-0 spurt to take a 32-27 lead, and a converted and-one opportunity by Macy McGlone sparked a 7-0 Panther response. WIU went back up by five following a 9-2 run. The Panthers responded again with an 8-2 run that was bookended by two Jackie Maulucci three-pointers to take a 44-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
After a back-and-forth stretch to start the final period, back-to-back threes by Bengtson and
Lariah Washington put EIU up 55-49. Following a defensive stop,
Morgan Litwiller found a cutting
Miah Monahan who took it to the basket to give the Panthers a 57-49 lead with 4:21 remaining. The Leathernecks immediately responded with a three-pointer and then used three straight EIU turnovers to cut it to 57-54 with 3:23 to go in regulation. Litwiller converted on a layup to increase the lead back to five, but WIU would again cut it to one with 1:44 remaining. On the ensuing possession, McGlone drove to the basket in the lane and made a layup to give the Panthers a three-point cushion. After WIU's Jada Thorpe misfired on a three, Johnson made a jumper from just inside the three-point line to up the Panther lead to 63-58. Thorpe then hit a quick three to make it a two-point game with 35 seconds remaining. Litwiller was subsequently fouled and made 1-of-2 at the line to make it 64-61. On the decisive possession, WIU's Anna Deets was fouled shooting a three-pointer. She made the first free throw, but missed the second, and after an intentional miss on the third, WIU grabbed the offensive rebound, but Elizabeth Lutz's three-pointer at the buzzer was off-target as the Panthers held on for the two-point win.
"I felt like we defended really well, made them take a tough three." said Bollant of the last possession. "They did a good job coming up with that rebound, and they got a good kickout and got an awfully good look."
Washington, Bengtson, and Johnson led a balanced EIU offensive attack with 10 points apiece. Washington also contributed with seven rebounds and four assists. Litwiller and McGlone each had nine points and nine rebounds.Â
Miah Monahan scored six points, grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and dished out a career-high tying seven assists. Maulucci tied her career high with six points. Hannah Purcell contributed four points and four rebounds in her Panther debut.
EIU outrebounded WIU 50-34, including an 18-8 advantage in offensive boards. The Panthers doubled up the Leathernecks 36-18 in points in the paint.
Up next, the Panthers head to Indiana to take on the Valparaiso Beacons on Wednesday, November 16. Tipoff is scheduled for noon CT.