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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In a game of runs for both teams, Little Rock was able to put together the final run of the day as the Trojans handed Eastern Illinois its first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season, 53-49, on Saturday.
Little Rock improved to 4-11 overall, 2-1 in the OVC. EIU fell to 5-11, 2-1 in the OVC.
Little Rock jumped out to a nine-point lead at 11-2 with a Jayla Brooks 3-pointer with 3:59 to play in the opening quarter. EIU trimmed the lead to two with 1:23 left in the quarter as the two teams would trade offensive spurts over the course of the game.
The Panthers tied the game at 16-16 following a 5-0 run with free throws by
Macy McGlone and a basket by
Taris Thornton who was playing her first game since November 12.
Little Rock pushed the lead back to eight on a bucket by Faith Lee with 1:08 left in the first half. Lee had 13 first half points as she came up big all night for the Trojans, leading all scorers with 25 points.
Miah Monahan closed the half with a 3-pointer for EIU, one of five the Panthers hit in the opening game as they trailed 27-22 at the half.Â
The second half followed pretty much the same script with both teams making runs and the other providing a counter. Little Rock jumped out to a 34-23 lead with 6:04 to play in the 3rd quarter on a jumper by Lee which capped an 8-0 run.
EIU would hold Little Rock without a basket for rest of the quarter closing the half on a 7-0 run with two baskets by McGlone.  The junior powered her way to her 11th double-double this season ending with 22 points and 16 rebounds.
When Little Rock broke its scoring drought, they ran out to a 41-32 lead they would not relinquish. Leilani Wimbish-Gay had back-to-back baskets, the last with 6:21 left in the game.
EIU made one final run cutting the lead to four on consecutive 3-pointers by
Ellie Buzzelle and Charita "Tiny" Lewis with 2:48 remaining to cut the lead to 46-42. EIU made a defensive stand on the next possession and had a chance to cut the margin to one but missed a 3-pointer. Lee answered for Little Rock and the Trojans held on for the win.
Both teams had just one player in double figure scoring as EIU shot 37 percent for the game while holding Little Rock to 38 percent shooting. Â Â Buzzelle had nine points going 3-of-6 from 3-point range.