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Eastern Illinois rallied from an early 12-0 deficit to tie the game at 28-28 just before the half, but at the end of the day North Dakota State was able to hold off the Panthers for a 65-56 win.
 
The loss drops EIU to 0-2 on the season while the Bison improved to 1-1.
 
North Dakota State jumped out of the gate with a 12-0 run with EIU's first bucket coming at the 5:35 mark of the opening quarter on a Sydney-James Desroches basket.  Desroches would finish the game as one of three Panthers in double figures with 11 points.
 
Eastern Illinois continued to chip away at the NDSU lead trailing 21-14 at the end of the first quarter.  A jumper by Macy McGlone with 6:09 to play in the first half triggered a 10-3 EIU run that saw the Panthers tie the game at 28-28 with 16 seconds left in the first half.  The tying basket came on a 3-pointer from Tiny Lewis, part of her 14 point afternoon.
 
Avery Koenen converted on one of two at the foul line with three seconds left to give the Bison a 29-28 halftime lead.
 
North Dakota State opened the second half much the same way they did the first with a 7-2 run which gave them a multiple possession lead for a majority of the second half.  EIU cut the margin down to two points with 3:59 left in the game on a Lewis 3-pointer making the score 56-54.
 
Koenen drained a 3-pointer with 2:14 left to play to give the Bison the breathing room they needed as down the stretch NDSU made four free throws and forced three EIU turnovers to turn away the Panthers comeback bid.
 
McGlone posted her second straight double-double to open the season with 27 points and 14 rebounds.  Her three point play with 7:08 remaining made her the latest Panther to join the 1,000 point club while making her one of only four players in school history with 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocks.
 
Koenen had 15 points to lead the Bison while Abby Schulte added 12.