EIU Women Win Behind Free Throw Shooting

CHARLESTON, Ill. –- Eastern Illinois led by double figures on nine different occasions on Tuesday afternoon but it was the Panthers performance at the free throw line that eventually carried EIU to a 75-71 victory over Eastern Kentucky.  Jordyne Crunk made 16-of-17 from the stripe to set a school record for free throws made in a game.

EIU improved to 7-7, 2-1 in the OVC.  EKU had its five game win streak snapped falling to 8-6, 2-1 in the OVC.  The game was originally scheduled to be played on Monday evening but was moved due to winter storm conditions in the Midwest.

Both teams looked as though the weather was going to play a factor as cold shooting was the story in the first ten minutes of the game.  With EKU leading 9-8, EIU used a 14-0 run led by eight points by Katlyn Payne to break open the contest.  Payne made a pair of 3-pointers and a jumper on the wing.  The junior was one of three EIU players to finish in double figures with a game-high 23 points.

EIU led by as many as 13 in the first half as Jordyne Crunk made a pair of free throws with 4:32 to play.  Pilar Walker, a former EIU guard now playing at EKU, hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to 30-22 at the half.  Walker had 13 points for EKU including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

EIU extended the lead to 14 points to open the second half on a lay-up by Taryn Olson.  EKU chipped away at that lead cutting it to three points with 13:32 to play on a jumper by Michaela Hunter.

A pair of Payne free throws at 9:45 pushed the Panthers margin back to 12 points at 50-38.  EIU would make 21-of-25 free throws in the second half and 31-of-37 for the game.

The Lady Colonels closed to one point on a 7-0 run as Walker hit a 3-pointer followed by EIU turnovers that resulted in lay-ups by Marie Carpenter and Shelly Harper as EIU led 59-58 with 3:43 to play.