Ohio Valley Conference

EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a strong first quarter, the Panthers fell on the road at No. 22 Michigan State. EIU falls to 0-4, while the Spartans improve to 5-0. 

The Panthers opened the first quarter with lights-out shooting from the field and beyond the arc. Eastern Illinois shot 72.7% from the field and 75% from three to begin the night. Ella Lune and Ava Stoller directed the offense with 4 points apiece heading into the break. Heading into the second quarter, the Panthers went cold, struggling from the three-point line. EIU scored their first bucket at the 6:10 mark after a tough finish by Nyah Hardy. Eastern Illinois tried to claw their way back into the game before halftime, but 7 turnovers kept the Spartans out in front. After the long halftime break, they were unable to find their footing, falling behind 72-38 after the third quarter. Spartans' Grace VanSlooten and Emma Shumate fueled the offense, leading the team with double-figure scoring. The fourth quarter was no different, as the Panthers struggled from the field but used the remaining minutes for a momentum boost heading into Saturday, including Liana Buckhalton, who scored her first collegiate basket cashing in from the three-point line.

TENNESSEE TECH 61, ETSU 52
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Tennessee Tech surged in the fourth quarter, overcoming a nine-point deficit and pulling away to take a big 61-52 victory over East Tennessee State on Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles (4-1) found ways to overcome adversity from an injury to foul trouble to a tough shooting stretch, working their way back as Cam Mathews tied the game at 44 with a 3-pointer with 6:53 remaining in the contest. Mathews then put Tech on top 46-45 at 5:56 and the Golden Eagles never trailed again.

ETSU tied the game at 47 with a pair of free throws, but Chloe Larry sank a 3-pointer on the other end, then Mathews extended the lead to five with a pair of charity tosses. The Buccaneers cut their deficit down to two after a long-range bucket, but Amaya Thomas inched Tech further out with a pair of made free throws with 2:39 remaining,

Reghan Grimes sank a pair of free throws with 2:18 left, then Anala Nelson two free throws at 2:07 to make it a 56-52 game. ETSU did not score another point.

Larry hit a second-chance layup, drawing a foul in the process. She hit that free throw, then completed a set with 38 seconds remaining to put Tech up by nine.

Mathews and Larry both finished with 10 points for the Golden Eagles with Mathews pulling down seven boards and Larry six rebounds. Both players had two assists.

Reagan Hurst started the game on a hot streak, scoring nine points early as she was 2-for-3 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line, but an injury ended her night early. Reghan Grimes, Amaya Thomas and Amaya Redd each scored eight points.

Nelson led ETSU with 17 points, while SaBreya Monsanto collected 11 points.

It was a physical contest as Tech emerged on top 17-15 at the end of the first quarter, but neither side scored much before the intermission as ETSU (1-4) outscored Tech 10-6. The Bucs extended their lead with a 17-14 advantage in the third, but Tech dominated the final 10 minutes of play, outscoring ETSU 24-10.

ARKANSAS 96, LITTLE ROCK 57
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Trojans  showed stretches of sharp execution and confident shot-making on Thursday night, but Arkansas' size on the boards proved decisive as the Trojans fell 96–57 at Bud Walton Arena. Little Rock forced 17 turnovers and turned them into 14 points, giving the Trojans several momentum-building bursts against a Razorback team off to a strong start.

The Trojans (1-3) struck first when Alaina Payne knocked down a jumper, and the junior guard continued to steady the offense throughout the night, finishing with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. After Arkansas answered, Little Rock battled back behind the shooting of Jordan Holman, who provided the early spark by drilling two first-quarter three-pointers, including a deep right-wing triple assisted by Payne at the 4:06 mark. Holman went on to lead the Trojans with 14 points, adding 3 rebounds and a steal while keeping Little Rock within reach during the opening quarter.

Arkansas (5-1) used its length and rebounding to fuel a late first-quarter run, but Little Rock continued to compete defensively. Destinee Salgado contributed energy on both ends, finishing with 5 points, 2 steals and 2 assists, while helping the Trojans disrupt passing lanes and push transition opportunities. Payne added a jumper late in the half, but Arkansas' 23–5 rebounding margin in the second quarter allowed the Razorbacks to take a 48–18 lead into the break.

Little Rock responded with a strong third quarter behind sophomore sharpshooter Brenna Burk, who caught fire from long range. Burk drilled two threes in the third period alone and finished with 12 points on four made three-pointers, matching the best perimeter performance of her young career. Lidia Belmonte Hurtado also sparked the Trojans with a pair of scores in the paint and later added a three-pointer in the fourth, giving her a productive offensive night as Little Rock continued to attack despite the deficit.

Burk stayed hot in the final quarter with two more threes, and Belmonte Hurtado's late triple capped a solid fourth quarter for the Trojans. Payne continued to set the table with her four assists, while Holman and Burk provided the bulk of Little Rock's scoring punch. Arkansas maintained control with inside scoring from its frontcourt, but the Trojans' outside shooting and ball pressure produced several encouraging stretches as the young roster continues to develop against elite opposition.

WESTERN ILLINOIS 84, BRADLEY 77
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball stayed unbeaten on Thursday night, powering past Bradley 84–77 inside Western Hall to improve to 4–0 on the season.

The Leathernecks used a dominant second-half surge, highlighted by a 30-point third quarter, to flip the game after entering halftime trailing 38–32. WIU attacked the rim relentlessly, getting to the free-throw line 27 times and knocking down 24 attempts to create separation down the stretch.

Raegan McCowan delivered another standout performance, leading all scorers with 28 points and adding 9 rebounds while going an impressive 14-for-16 from the stripe. Mia Nicastro provided a major boost in the frontcourt, finishing with 23 points and  9 rebounds. 

Addi Brownfield continued her strong start to the year, pouring in 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including three makes from beyond the arc. Allie Meadows added 6 points and 2 assists while helping steady the offense, and Kaylen Reed and Madison Davis combined for valuable defensive minutes and timely rebounds.

Defensively, WIU tightened up in the second half, holding Bradley to just six made field goals in the third quarter while forcing key turnovers that led to momentum-changing points on the other end.

Bradley's Kaylen Nelson led the Braves with 26 points and eight made threes, but WIU's balanced attack and second-half efficiency proved too much.

Western Illinois closes the night with a 37–30 rebounding advantage, a +18 margin at the free-throw line, and its fourth straight victory to open the 2025–26 campaign..

NEW MEXICO 77, UT MARTIN 45
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Recap coming soon.