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Eastern Illinois broke open a five point halftime lead with a key third quarter run on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers remained unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 70-60 win over Western Illinois.
 
EIU moved over .500 for the first time this season at 7-6 overall, 4-0 in the OVC.  WIU fell to 7-6 overall 1-3 in the OVC.
 
EIU led 29-24 in the opening half with Lalani Ellis carrying the offensive load for EIU matching the high scoring output from the Leathernecks Raegan McGowan.
 
Ellis scored ten of her game high 23 points in the opening half for the Panthers while McCowan had 12 of her WIU leading 22 in the opening half.
 
After shooting 50 percent in the second quarter, the Panthers again shot 50 percent from the field in the third quarter extending the lead to double figures with 5:43 to play in the third on an Alex Rouse basket. 
 
The Rouse basket sparked what was a 17-2 EIU run that pushed the Panthers lead to as many as 19 points as WIU never got the margin back to single digits.
 
Macy McGlone finished with 15 points as the only other EIU player in double figures.
 
WIU cut into the final margin in the final 90 seconds with a combination of forced turnovers and made free throws hitting 14-of-17 at the line in the fourth quarter.
 
Mia Nicastro had 18 points for WIU as the only other Leathernecks player in double figures.