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Eastern Illinois women's basketball jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the opening two minutes on Thursday afternoon and pulled away for a 67-55 win over North Dakota during Kid's Day at Groniger Arena.
 
A total of 2,546 local school aged students witnessed EIU win its second straight improving to 3-6 on the season.   North Dakota fell to 3-6 as well.
 
The Panthers shot 60 percent in the second quarter expanding a 22-7 lead after one quarter into a 46-20 lead at the intermission.
 
Ellie Buzzelle had all 15 of her points in the opening half connecting on 4-of-4 from 3-point range.   EIU was 4-of-8 in the second quarter from long range finishing the day 5-of-18.   North Dakota shot just 3-of-22 from 3-point range and ended the game connecting on 32 percent from the field for the contest.
 
Macy McGlone added ten first half points finishing with 16 while pulling down 13 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double.
 
Charita "Tiny" Lewis was the final Panther in double figures scoring 14.
 
The Fighting Hawks made a small run in the second half outscoring EIU 18-10 in the third period taking what at one time had been a 28-point EIU advantage down to 18 points with ten minutes remaining. 
 
North Dakota cut the lead down to ten points twice in the final ten minutes.  The first with 7:38 left in the game on free throws by Nevaeh Ferrera Horne.  The second on free throws by Kiera Pemberton with 7:22 to play.   Horne and Pemberton both reached double figures leading North Dakota with 13 and 11 points.
 
EIU answered the final North Dakota challenge with back-to-back baskets by Lewis and McGlone to keep a comfortable margin down the stretch for the win.