CHARLESTON, ILL -- Eastern Illinois women's basketball overcame an early double digit deficit to earn a 65-54 home win over the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons on Monday night at Lantz Arena. With the win, the Panthers begin the season 1-0 for the fifth consecutive year.
It was a battle from the beginning for the Panthers, as the Tritons jumped out to the early 5-0 lead. EIU responded with a 7-0 run which was sparked by a
Morgan Litwiller converted and-one opportunity to take a 7-5 lead. The Panthers were able to maintain a slim lead for most of the period, but a tightly-contested first quarter ended with another 5-0 UMSL run as the Tritons took a 17-13 lead. UMSL extended the run to 14-2 to begin the 2nd quarter, jumping out to a 26-15 advantage with 4:39 remaining in the first half. The Panthers would find their offensive rhythm in the closing minutes of the second quarter, as a 10-2 run which was capped by a
Miah Monahan three-pointer cut the deficit to 28-25 at halftime.
"We really struggled to make shots in the second quarter," said head coach
Matt Bollant. "I just felt like we stayed with it and grinded a little bit, and then when shots went down, it made the defense a little bit easier as well."
EIU kept up the momentum in the second half, as a
Julia Bengtson layup followed by a Monahan turnaround jumper gave the Panthers back the lead in the early stages of the third quarter. UMSL would hit a shot to retake the lead, but the Panthers kept their foot on the gas pedal, using a subsequent 8-2 run to up their lead to 37-32. The Panthers would keep the Tritons at arms' length for the remainder of the quarter, increasing their lead in the period to as much as eight after a Jackie Maulucci three-pointer made it 46-38. UMSL made a basket to cut it to 46-40 going into the fourth quarter, but another three-pointer from Monahan followed by two free throws from
Lariah Washington to open the final period stretched the lead to double-digits. Washington scored nine points in the final stanza to help put the game on ice. Â
Washington led all scorers with 22 points, 15 of which came in the second half. She also recorded six rebounds and three steals. Macy McGlone was again a force in the paint, scoring a career high 11 points, grabbing a career high-tying eight rebounds, and blocking a career-high four shots.Â
Miah Monahan also scored 11 points and set a new career high with seven assists. Litwiller contributed with six points and seven rebounds, while Maulucci and Bengtson each scored five.
The Panthers shut out the Tritons in fast break points, 14-0 and recorded 14 assists on 22 made shots. They forced 16 UMSL turnovers and outscored the Tritons 15-8 in points off turnovers.
Up next, the Panthers begin a two-game road stretch as they head to Macomb, Ill. to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Monday, November 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT.