EASTERN ILLINOIS (3-17, 2-7 OVC) at Morehead State (11-9, 6-3 OVC)
Saturday, January 24  •  9:00 am (new time due to winter weather)
Morehead, Ky.  •  Johnson Arena

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 27-22
LAST MEETING: @Morehead State 62, EIU 61 on Feb. 22, 2025
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 21
Eastern Illinois had just nine players in uniform on Thursday at Southern Indiana as the injury bug hit the Panthers once again with Tiny Lewis and Ella Lune missing the contest.  All told this year EIU has had players miss 43 games this year due to injury with season ending losses to guard Lalani Ellis and center Abbie Boutilier.  Despite the short roster, EIU battled at OVC leader Southern Indiana before suffering the road loss to drop to 3-17 overall, 2-7 in the OVC.  EIU closes out its OVC three-game road swing on Saturday at Morehead State.  The Eagles knocked off Western Illinois on Thursday improving to 11-9 overall, 6-3 in the OVC. 

DESROCHES JUST MISSES BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Sydney-James Desroches was one of the Panthers top two returning scorers from last season (6.7 ppg) entering the year.  She played in two of the opening three games with double figures against Indiana State before missing seven weeks with a broken wrist.  In her return on January 1 at Southeast Missouri, Desroches scored a career high 20 points.  Following that game she has turned in four double figure rebounding games and three double figure scoring games with her second career double-double last Thursday at Little Rock with 14 points, 11 rebounds.  She flirted with her third double-double at Southern Indiana finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds. 

BENCH PRODUCTION INCREASING
Eastern Illinois has seen an increase in production off the bench over the last five games as the Panthers have had their bench outscore their opponents bench in each of the last five games.  Over those five games EIU has scored 100 points with its bench for an average of 20.0 points per game.  That is an increase from the Panthers season average of 16.9 points per game from its bench.  Over those same four games, EIU's opponents have averaged just 10.5 points per game from the bench.  On the season opponents have averaged 7.6 points per game more than the Panthers with EIU winning the bench production battle in seven total games.  

HARDY REACHES DOUBLE FIGURES
Nyah Hardy played in her fourth straight game off the bench on Thursday at Southern Indiana scoring 12 points off the bench for her second double figure game this season. Hardy saw extensive playing time early in the season based on injuries to several EIU players as she scored a season high 16 points at No. 22 Michigan State.  She has now scored in her last five games on the court which includes seven points against Tennessee State.  

UP NEXT
Thursday, January 29 vs. UT Martin (5 pm / ESPN+)