Spring Break
Women's Basketball: Panthers pull out victories
Kevin Murphy/Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: Sports
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Galligan only scored six points against Morehead State, but on Saturday afternoon against Eastern Kentucky, Galligan scored 28 points to move her into second place on Eastern's scoring list with 1,731 points.
"I pulled her aside," Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said after Thursday night's performance. "'You know what you have to do now.' She played the game like she wasn't going to be denied. She played with a bit of more pep in her step."
Galligan's points on Saturday helped the Panthers toward a 70-59 victory against the Lady Colonels in Richmond, Ky. It was the Panthers' 19th victory of the season, which matches last season's total and marks their seventh-straight, which is a new mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Galligan also ended a three-minute field goal drought for the Panthers (19-7, 12-2 OVC) with a baseline jumper with 2 minutes, 33 second left in the game.
"I think we really knew we had an advantage in the post, and (Sallee) made a point to tell us he wanted the ball in there more often," Galligan said. "He stressed it more than usual last night. It was one of those nights where you get going and keep going with it. You try and play the best you can, and I just had some shots drop."
Galligan finished 11-of-19 from the field and added 13 rebounds, a steal and a block in 29 minutes.
But that was not the case Thursday night against the Eagles in Morehead, Ky.
Galligan finished 2-of-17 from the field, as Morehead State junior center Brittany Pittman owned the post that night. She had a triple-double - 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks.
"The game at Morehead was frustrating," Galligan said. "Obviously going against the nation's leading shot blocker, she's an amazing player and it's frustrating getting pushed around in there and getting denied."
For the Panthers, though, Eastern senior guard Ellen Canale found her stroke by matching a career high of 19 points, including 13 in the second half as the Panthers won 64-55.
Canale made seven points in a 9-0 Eastern run in the second half that capped off with a made free throw off a technical against Morehead State head coach Mike Bradbury with 9:24 remaining in the game.
"That was a game where we need that warrior-like mentality," Sallee said. "That's who Ellen is."
Canale also sealed the game with a 3-pointer from the right wing to push Eastern's lead to 60-53 with 1:35 left in the game.
The Panthers return to action against Tennessee Martin at 7 p.m. Thursday in Lantz Arena.
The Panthers can clinch a home game in the first round of the OVC Tournament Thursday with a win against UT Martin or a Southeast Missouri loss to league-leading Murray State (17-6, 12-1).
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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