Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Kentucky shot 29 percent from the field in the first half and lost to Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Eastern Illinois , 78-44, tonight in Charleston, Ill. Freshman
Kayla Drake led the Lady Colonels (6-9, 3-4 OVC) with 12 points.
Dominique Sims and Maggie Kloak each finished with 18 points for the Panthers (11-6, 5-1 OVC).
Eastern Kentucky shot 32 percent (16-for-50) for the game while Eastern Illinois shot 49.2 percent (31-for-63).
The Lady Colonels jumped out in front 5-2 after a three by Drake and a bucket by
Nadia Mossong. The Panthers answered with a 7-0 run. Ellen Canale began the run with a lay-up and capped it off with a three-pointer to put EIU on top 9-5 with 15 minutes to play in the first half.
A lay-up by Drake cut the Eastern Illinois lead to one, 9-8, but EIU answered with another run, this time scoring 11 unanswered points. Kloak and Rachel Galligan each knocked down a pair of baskets during the run. Galligan’s lay-up with 8:46 remaining in the opening half put the Panthers on top 20-8.
The Lady Colonels drew to within seven on a three-pointer by
Ilona Muszak with 7:38 showing on the clock, but EKU went cold from the field and did not score again for almost six minutes. By the time Muszak ended the drought with another three, the Panthers had scored 15 unanswered and led 37-18, with 1:47 before halftime. EIU went to the locker room in front by 23, 43-20.
Eastern Kentucky went 7-for-24 from the field in the first half. Eastern Illinois shot 51.6 percent (16-for-31).
The Lady Colonels scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half, but the damage was already done.
Cole’s basket at the 8:11 mark cut the deficit to 16, but EKU would get no closer. Another Lady Colonel scoring drought, that covered over four minutes late in the second half, allowed the Panthers to build a 30-point lead.
The Lady Colonels continue their three-game road trip on Saturday when they play at Southeast Missouri State. Tip-off in Cape Girardeau, Mo., is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
