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MARTIN, TENN -- Eastern Illinois women's basketball used a strong all-around performance to defeat the UT Martin Skyhawks 78-63 on the road on Saturday afternoon.  With the win, the Panthers push their record to 16-3 overall and 8-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

"Really complete game,"  said head coach Matt Bollant.  "I thought we came ready to go, and just were really solid with how we guarded.  They went 11-of-24 from the three-point line, and still to be able to win by 15 says a lot."

Lariah Washington got things started for the Panthers offensively, hitting the first two shots of the game to give EIU a 4-0 lead one minute into the game.  After UT Martin answered with a 7-0 run, the Panthers would answer right back with an 11-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Washington, who hit her first four shots of the game for nine points.  Seygan Robins kept the Skyhawks in the game with back-to-back three-pointers, but a 7-2 EIU run gave the Panthers a 22-15 halftime advantage.  The three-point shot would keep the Skyhawks in it in the second quarter, as the Panther lead was cut to 30-28 before a Macy McGlone layup followed by back-to-back Washington buckets put EIU back up by eight.  The teams traded buckets before a turnaround jumper from Morgan Litwiller gave EIU a 40-35 halftime lead.

After Robins hit another three to start the second half, the Panthers began to seize control, using a 16-4 run capped by seven straight points from McGlone to take a 56-42 lead.  UTM would cut the lead to 11, but a Litwiller free throw upped it back to 12 going into the fourth quarter.  Litwiller would hit another turnaround jumper to start the final period, but another Skyhawk three cut it back down to 11.  UTM would not get any closer however, as a 10-1 EIU run highlighted by six more points from McGlone, who continued to find gaping holes in the Skyhawks defense, blew the game open, giving the Panthers a 69-49 cushion with 5:28 to go.  UT Martin ended the game on a 14-9 stretch against the EIU reserves to make the final result 78-63.

McGlone scored 25 points, 17 of which came in the second half, on 9-of-12 shooting, including a 7-of-9 performance from the free throw line to go along with five rebounds and a career high-tying four steals.  The game marked her third 20-point performance of the season.  Washington totaled 19 points, 13 of which came in the first half, on 9-of-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds.  Litwiller contributed with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, three rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots, while Miah Monahan had 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting to go along with seven assists and six rebounds.  Taris Thornton recorded five points and three rebounds off the bench, while Hannah Purcell recorded four points and five rebounds off the bench.  Haley Cameron came into the game late to score four points.

As a team, the Panthers shot 30-of-53 from the field for a 56.6% shooting percentage.  EIU accumulated 18 assists on 30 made shots, outrebounded the Skyhawks 37-25, and outscored UTM 40-18 in points in the paint.

Up next, the Panthers will play their third consecutive road game against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles on Thursday, January 26.  Tipoff is scheduled for 5 PM CT.