EASTERN ILLINOIS (4-21, 3-11 OVC) at Western Illinois (19-4, 11-3 OVC)
Tuesday, February 10  •  5:00 pm 
Macomb, Ill.  •  Western Hall

GAME COVERAGE
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 37-23
LAST MEETING: Western Illinois 74, @EIU 61 on January 13, 2026
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 26
Eastern Illinois women's basketball dressed only seven healthy players on Saturday at Tennessee Tech after opening the week with eight players in Thursday's road win at Tennessee State.  EIU battled for much of the game holding the lead until the final moments of regulation before finishing the game with just five available players in overtime.  The loss dropped EIU to 4-21 overall, 3-11 in the OVC.  The Panthers wrap up the three game road trip on Tuesday with a trip to first place Western Illinois.  The Leathernecks are 19-4 overall, 11-3 in the OVC but did stumble on the road on Saturday falling at Tennessee State. 

LEWIS WITH ANOTHER BIG GAME AGAINST TSU
Tiny Lewis carried the Eastern Illinois offense for the second straight game playing 42 and half minutes of the possible 45 on Saturday at Tennessee Tech.  Lewis knocked down three 3-pointers as she scored 17 points for her second straight double figure scoring game and 12th this season.  The three made 3-pointers moved her career EIU total to 91 made 3-pointers as she leads the team with 29 3's.  For the weekend road trip to Tennessee Lewis was 13-of-26 from the field and 6-of-12 from 3-point range averaging 18 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.  

AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN 
Eastern Illinois roster has been hit by the injury bug throughout the season with key players missing both short and long periods of playing time with three players currently out for the season due to injury.  Heading into the weekend swing in Tennessee EIU was without the services of leading scorer Ava Stoller giving EIU just eight players on Thursday.  That number dropped to seven on Saturday without Sydney-James Desroches able to suit up.  All told EIU has had 61 missed games of playing time due to injury this season.  

HARDY OFF THE BENCH
Nyah Hardy came off the bench on Saturday and provided a nice offensive lift sparking Eastern Illinois bench to a 21-4 scoring advantage over Tennessee Tech.  It was first time in three weeks EIU had finished with an advantage in bench production in a game.  Hardy finished the game with 14 points for her third double figure scoring game this season as she knocked down four 3-pointers.  Hardy scored a season high 16 points off the bench at No. 23 Michigan State early in the season and recently had 12 points off the bench at Southern Indiana.  

UP NEXT
Saturday, February 14 vs. Little Rock (1 pm / ESPN+)