WIU Downs EIU Women's Basketball Team

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball struggled to pull the game close after a strong 23-14 first quarter from Western Illinois. The Leathernecks ended the night earning a 92-69 victory. Freshman Kayla Steward had a breakout night leading the Panthers with 18 points, but couldn't pull EIU within reach.

EIU has yet to win following their season opening overtime victory over IUPUI as the loss drops the Panthers to 1-6 on the season while the Leathernecks improve to 4-3.

WIU came out shooting in the first quarter opening the game with a 16-4 run finally snapped by an Erica Brown layup followed by two free throws to cut the Leatherneck lead to 10 with 2:18 left in the first quarter. Brown would continue her scoring opening the second quarter with a quick layup to pull the Panthers within seven points.

That would be as close as EIU would get the rest of the game as WIU scored the next 11 points to lead 34-16 at the 6:55 mark. Browns six first half points were the only she would score all night as the junior forward got into foul trouble early. Brown finished the night with a team leading eight rebounds. Steward scored seven points in the last 2:36 of the first half to cut the Leatherneck lead down to 12 as the first half ended 44-32.

The Panthers shot 50 percent from the field despite trailing at halftime, but were losing the battle on the boards as Western Illinois pulled in 27 rebounds to EIU's 14.

The third period was a much more even battle as the two teams traded buckets for most of the period, but EIU was unable to break through the 12 point barrier. Shakita Cox did her best to rally the team scoring nine of her 14 points in the second half. Cox finished the game with a team leading five assists and two steals.

Steward's nine fourth quarter points helped push the Panthers close but back-to-back three pointers from WIU's Taylor Higginbotham and Taylor McClintock extended the Leathernecks lead to 23 with 4:32 left to play. Steward finished the game with three assists and four rebounds, but Western Illinois came away with the victory 92-69.

Brittin Boyer had eight points, two rebounds, and two assists for the Panthers after missing the last game at Saint Louis. Western Illinois had four players score in double figures led by Higginbotham with 16 points. The Panthers lost the battle beneath the rim being outscored 53-36 in the paint and out rebounded 50-33 by the Leathernecks.