Spring Break
Women's Basketball: Panthers vault into first place with win
Dan Cusack/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
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Thursday night in Lantz Arena it was retribution for the Panthers. After trailing by five at halftime, Eastern controlled the second half to win its 20th consecutive game in Lantz Arena 63-53.
"For some reason, they play us really well here," senior guard Megan Edwards said. "They know that we do and they defend well against it. At half, coach (Brady Sallee) came in and said we knew what we had to do."
Eastern erased the halftime deficit immediately, starting off the half on a 13-0 run putting them up by eight with 14 minutes remaining after a free throw by senior guard Ellen Canale.
The Panthers held the Skyhawks scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half during the run.
Sallee said the team won the gamer because they defended hard in the second half and only allowed 19 points.
"In the second half we defended like we were capable of it was as simple as that," Sallee said.
The Skyhawks (2-23, 0-14 Ohio Vallet Conference) were able to cut the lead to one with 9:16 remaining in the half after a lay-up by Martin guard Yolanda Davis scored on a lay-in making the score 44-43. But Eastern (20-7, 13-2 OVC)responded with a 10-2 run as a lay-up by Chantelle Pressley to gave the Panthers a comfortable 54-45 lead.
Edwards said in the second half, the Panthers executed better and played more disciplined on defense.
Turnovers hurt the Panthers in the first half as the team played sloppily with the ball and tried to force the ball into Galligan. Defensively, they had no answer for Martin center Phyllisha Mitchell as she scored eight points.
Five players scored in double didgets for Eastern with senior center Rachel Galligan leading the way with 17 points. Edwards scored 11 for the Panthers, but also added a team high 8 assists. Seniors Maggie Kloak, Ellen Canale and Lindsay Kluempers each added 10 for the Panthers win.
Mitchell lead the Skyhawks with 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Panthers next game will be 3 p.m. Saturday as they host Murray State for Senior Night.
Murray State lost at Southeast Missouri Thursday night putting Eastern and Murray in a tie for first place in the OVC at 13-2.
Sallee said they knew it was going to be a big game regardless of the Murray loss, but expects them to be more fired up and ready to go.
"In the second half we defended like we were capable of, it was as simple as that," Sallee said.
The Skyhawks (2-23, 0-14 Ohio Vallet Conference) were able to cut the lead to one with 9:16 remaining in the half after a lay up by freshman guard Yalonda Davis, making the score 44-43. But Eastern (20-7, 13-2 OVC) responded with a 10-2 run as a lay up by freshman forward Chantelle Pressley gave the Panthers a comfortable 54-45 lead.
Edwards said in the second half, the Panthers executed better and played more disciplined on defense.
Turnovers hurt the Panthers in the first half as the team played sloppily with the ball and tried to force the ball into senior forward Rachel Galligan. Defensively, they had no answer for Martin senior center Phyllisha Mitchell, as she scored eight points.
Five players scored in double figures for Eastern with Galligan leading the way with 17 points. Edwards scored 11 for the Panthers, but also added a team high 8 assists. Junior forward Maggie Kloak, senior forward Lindsey Kluempers and Canale each added 10 for the Panthers.
Mitchell led the Skyhawks with 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Panthers next game will be 3 p.m. Saturday as they host Murray State for Senior Night.
Murray State lost at Southeast Missouri Thursday night, giving Eastern a 1/2 game lead in the OVC with three games remaining. The winner of Saturday's contest will control their own destiny the rest of the season.
Sallee said they knew it was going to be a big game regardless of if Murray State won or lost Thursday, but heexpects his team to be more fired up and ready to go.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or dscusack@eiu.edu.
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