Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky used a late 12-2 run to get within seven, but Eastern Illinois held on for a 70-59 win Saturday at McBrayer Arena. Rachel Galligan recorded a double-double for the Panthers (19-7, 12-2 OVC), finishing with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Kayla Drake led the Lady Colonels (6-18, 3-12 OVC) with 20 points.

Nadia Mossong recorded a double-double for EKU, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. EIU out-rebounds its opponents by six boards per game, but the Lady Colonels finished with a 45-40 rebounding advantage.

The Panthers scored the first seven points of the second half to build a 15-point lead, 40-25. Galligan scored four of the seven points. The Lady Colonels drew within 10 three times before a lay-up by Sarah Fraser-Jones made it an eight point game, 47-39, with 9:55 left to play.

Galligan answered with a lay-up at the other end for another 10-point EIU advantage with 9:37 to go. The Panthers led by double figures until Eastern Kentucky used a 12-2 run to get within seven with 2:49 remaining. Drake scored six, and Mossong and Ilona Muszak both knocked down a three-pointer during the run.

EKU never got any closer, Eastern Illinois put an end to the Lady Colonel run by scoring four straight and then made 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final two minutes.

Galligan made 11-of-19 from the field. Dominique Sims finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for EIU.

EKU’s Cherie White missed her third straight game of double figure rebounds by one, finishing with six points, nine boards and five assists.

Maggie Kloak’s lay-up and free throw five and a half minutes into the game gave Eastern Illinois an early nine point advantage, 13-4. A quick 8-2 run by the Lady Colonels, including three-pointers from Drake and Mossong, brought EKU to within three, 15-12, with 10:47 to play in the opening half.

EIU answered with five straight, including a three-pointer by Ellen Canale, to move back in front by eight, 20-12, with 9:27 before intermission. Eastern Kentucky committed nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game. A jumper and a three by Sims on back-to-back Panther possessions pushed the visitors’ lead to 10, 27-17, with 6:45 showing on the clock.

A free throw by Sims with 2.4 seconds left in the first half sent EIU to the locker room on top by eight, 33-25.

Eastern Kentucky committed six more turnovers (21-15) than Eastern Illinois, but the Panthers only out-scored the Lady Colonels 16-14 off turnovers.

EKU will have a week off of game action before facing Morehead State at home next Saturday. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m.