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Eastern Illinois used a key third quarter run to extend a three-point halftime advantage to a more comfortable lead late in the game as the Panthers picked up a 69-49 win over Tennessee State on Thursday night at Groniger Arena.
 
EIU led 30-27 at the half as Saniah Parker kept the Lady Tigers close with three three-pointers in the second half as she led TSU with 13 points.  TSU was 5-of-14 from 3-point range in the opening half but closed just 1-of-6 from outside.
 
EIU seemed to heat up from outside the arc in the second half knocking down three triples in the third quarter and two more in the fourth.  Tiny Lewis led EIU with 21 points going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
 
TSU tied the game at 33-33 with 5:52 to play in the third quarter as Aaniya Webb knocked down a close-range jumper.
 
Lewis answered with a four-point play on the next possession sparking a 14-0 run that Lewis closed with a jumper with 2:49 to play in the quarter.  Ella Lune, Grace Cox and Lyric Johnson all scored for EIU during the extended run.
 
EIU had 42 points scored off the bench on a night when the Panthers lost starting point guard Kiyley Flowers for the night just one minute into the contest and Macy McGlone was saddled by foul trouble finishing with just six points.
 
Lalani Ellis scored ten off the bench with Alex Rouse scoring 14 in the starting line-up.    EIU improved to 15-9 overall, 12-3 in the OVC.
 
Webb closed out the TSU double figure scorers with 12 points.  The Lady Tigers fell to 7-18 overall, 3-12 in the OVC.