TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Northern Illinois 79,
Eastern Illinois 63
Southeast Missouri 89, @Western Illinois 84
Eastern Kentucky 77, @Miami (Ohio) 72 (OT)
Samford 50,
@Jacksonville State 39
@Lipscomb 93,
Murray State 85
@Missouri 75,
SIUE 46
@Illinois 98,
Tennessee State 43
Belmont 78, @Alabama A&M 28
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 79, EASTERN ILLINOIS 63
DEKALB, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball had three players score in double digits led by Shakita Cox with 16 points, but can't hold on as the Panthers fall to Northern Illinois 79-63. The loss drops EIU to 1-4 on the season while NIU improves to 2-1.
The Panthers fought hard in the first period to keep the game close at 17-15, but quick fouls by Grace Lennox and Erica Brown put the duo in foul trouble early in the game. Both of EIU's leading scorers were forced to sit out the majority of the second period with two fouls a piece. Lennox only earned 29 minutes on the court her fewest of the season so far.
Head Coach Debbie Black was forced to go deep into her lineup as five freshman were on the floor midway through the second quarter. Kayla Steward drained a three pointer at the 6:05 mark to give the Panthers their only lead of the game 20-19. Steward finished the match with six points.
Halle Stull did her best to maintain the lead countering the NIU attack with two straight layups as EIU held the Huskies at bay 24-21 with 4:34 left to play in the first half. Northern Illinois regained the lead and finished the first half on an 11-2 run to head into halftime up 32-26. Stull finished the game with a career high 14 points and a team leading five rebounds.
EIU started the third quarter well as they have done every game so far this season making two quick baskets to cut NIU's lead to two at the 7:27 mark in the third quarter. That was the closest the Panthers would get in the third period as the Huskies would capitalize on cold shooting from EIU and extend their lead to 12 leading 46-34 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
The shooting woes continued for EIU in the fourth period as Northern Illinois extended their lead to as high as 19 late in the fourth quarter and earning a 79-63 victory. NIU finished the game out rebounding the Panthers 49-25.
Lennox finished the game with 12 points, 10 coming in the second half, five assists, and three rebounds. Brown led the team with three blocks while also contributing six points.
The Panthers will be in action again this Saturday [Nov. 28] at 3 p.m. when they head to Saint Louis to take on the Billikens.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 89, WESTERN ILLINOIS 84
MACOMB, Ill. - The Southeast Missouri women's basketball team improved to 4-1 and extended their winning streak to four games with an 89-84 victory over Western Illinois (3-2) Tuesday.
Southeast's 89 points was a season high and the Redhawks had five players in double-digit points, led by Olivia Hackmann who tied a career-high 26 points.
In her first career start, freshman Adrianna Murphy tallied her first double-double with 13 points and 12 assists while also grabbing eight rebounds.
It was the first time Southeast has ever beaten Western Illinois in Macomb.
The Redhawks' four-game winning streak is the longest since the 2007-08 season.
Southeast led 22-17 at the end of the first quarter. Connor King and Imani Johnson each had five points in the opening frame to lead the Redhawk offense. Deja Jones was the Redhawks' rebounding leader with four.
The Redhawks hit 4-of-6 3-point shots in the quarter and shot 47.1% from the field.
Southeast's largest lead of 10 points, 27-17, came on a bucket by Hannah Noe early in the second quarter. A 9-2 WIU run ensued to narrow the Southeast lead to three.
A 3-point shot by Michelle Maher with nine seconds left in the half gave the Leathernecks a slim 38-36 lead going into halftime.
Hackmann drained two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws in the second quarter to become the Redhawks' point leader with eight at halftime. King led the squad with six rebounds at half.
Hackmann came out of halftime with nine straight points to put the Redhawks back on top, 45-40. A 3-pointer by Murphy and a layup by Jones put the Redhawks back up by 10, 3:40 into the half.
As soon as the Redhawks went up 10, Western Illinois immediately went on a 10-point run to draw the eighth tie of the game with 3:43 to play in the third.
Another 3-pointer by Murphy with just seconds left in the third quarter broke a 60-60 tie to give the Redhawks a three-point lead going into the final frame.
The Leathernecks found a two-point lead early in the fourth quarter on a pair of good free throws but the Redhawks would regain the lead and never relinquish it the remainder of the game.
Southeast hit 13-of-18 free throws in the fourth quarter en route to downing the Leathernecks, 89-84.
Hackmann put up nine more points in each the third and fourth quarters, bringing her final point total to 26.
Jones and Murphy each finished with 13 points, a career-high for each. Erin Bollmann and Noe had 10 and 11 points, respectively.
Jones led the team with nine rebounds while King and Murphy each had eight.
Bollmann picked up a career-high four blocks in the game to compliment her 10 points and seven boards.
Southeast shot 42.9% (30-70) from the field, 52.2% (12-23) from 3-point range, and 73.9% (17-23) from the charity stripe.
The Redhawks outrebounded WIU, 55-39.
The Leathernecks got off 48 3-point attempts in the game, making only 12 to shoot 25% from beyond the arc. From the field, WIU shot 36.3% (29-of-80) and 66.7% (14-of-21) from the free-throw line.
The Leathernecks featured three players with double-figure points, led by Maher with 29. Taylor Higgenbotham recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
The Redhawks will fly to El Paso, Texas for the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic. Southeast will play Idaho State at 5:30 p.m. on Friday to open tournament play. Southeast will then play either UTEP or UC Riverside in game two on Saturday.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 77, MIAMI (OHIO) 72
OXFORD, Ohio - A poised and collected Eastern Kentucky used a late fourth period run to earn a 77-72 overtime win over homestanding Mid-American Conference opponent, Miami (Ohio) University Tuesday at Millett Hall.
Three Colonels finished in double-digit scoring for the second time this season. Senior preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection Shameekia “Polly” Murray paced Eastern Kentucky with a career-high 25 points. Junior Michaela Hunter, also a preseason All-OVC selection, finished with 22 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, reigning OVC Newcomer of the Week Jalen O’Bannon posted her first career double-double as a Colonel, tallying 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Hunter’s old-fashioned three-point play narrowed the Redhawk lead to 59-57 with 2:03 left to play in regulation. On the other end of the floor, Hunter poached Miami’s Leah Purvis to give the Colonels possession.
Murray grabbed another timely offensive rebound and drew the foul before connecting on both free throws, tying the game at 59 to force the overtime period, capping a crucial 5-0 Colonel run.
The Colonels used yet another run in overtime to seal the win.
Leading 68-66 with 1:34 left, redshirt junior Alexus Cooper knocked down two clutch free throws which ignited a 7-0 Eastern run.
The Colonel defense came up with another opportune stop, as Murray took it the length of the floor for the finish, extending Eastern’s lead to 72-66.
After a Miami miss, Cooper connected on a trey from the corner, putting Eastern Kentucky up nine with 27 seconds to play.
Miami hit two late three-pointers, but the Colonels’ lead was enough.
Purvis led the Redhawks with 25 points.
The Colonels are now 3-2 against Miami (Ohio) under Chrissy Roberts. Tuesday’s overtime win marked the first since Eastern defeated Morehead State, 69-66, in OT on February 8, 2014.
Eastern Kentucky (2-1, 0-0 OVC) hosts East Tennessee State University Friday at McBrayer Arena. Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SAMFORD 50, JACKSONVILLE STATE 39
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The lack of depth caught up with Jacksonville State Tuesday night against in-state opponent Samford as the Gamecocks fell to the Bulldogs 50-39.
Head coach Rick Pietri only had seven available players, two of which were freshmen post players, and Samford took advantage by scoring more than half of its points inside the paint while out-rebounding the Gamecocks 40 to 30.
JSU was in contention for most of the game, only trailing by five at halftime, but a 15-5 third quarter by the Bulldogs was one of the major turning points to go along with the Gamecocks' 27.5 shooting percent during the game's 40 minutes. JSU attempted to make a fourth-quarter comeback, but could only get as close as seven points with 1:06 remaining in the game.
The loss snaps a seven-game non-conference winning streak by the Gamecocks at home and drops Pietri's career record at JSU in non-conference home games to 19-10 and 18-5 since January 1, 2014 in home games. It's JSU's 18th loss to Samford and seventh consecutive at home to the Bulldogs.
Briana Benson led JSU offensively with nine points to go along with five rebounds in 30 minutes of game action. It marked the first time this season that Benson was held under double digits in the scoring column. Courtney Strain added eight points and five rebounds in a game-high 37 minutes. Kelly Naughton also had eight points in 31 minutes off the bench for Pietri. Freshman forward Chloe Long had five points, three rebounds and two blocks off the bench as well.
Starter Destiny James finished with six points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Gretchen Morrison hit one 3-point basket for her only points on the night. James' eight rebounds set a new career high for the Gamecock point guard.
For Samford, Amara Mayers had a game-high 16 points, seven rebounds and four steals. She shot 80 percent from the field during the contest. Taylor Reece was the only other player for either team in double figures as she finished with 11 points. Destiney Elliott brought down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs while Krista Stricklin and Lydia McGee both had six points each. Brittany Stevens and Ellen Riggins had five and four points respectively.
Tuesday's performance set a low for the fewest points the Gamecocks have scored thus far this season. JSU's 14 made field goals was also a season-low for a game.
Pietri and his squad will return to action Saturday when the Gamecocks travel to Wofford with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m CST.
ILLINOIS 98, TENNESSEE STATE 43
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team fell to Big Ten member Illinois, 98-43, Tuesday night at Parkland College.
Tennessee State (1-3) struggled with the Illinois (4-0) defense the entire night and could never really get anything going.
Jayda Johnson was the only Lady Tiger that scored in double-digits with 11 points while Samantha Palma had a team-high nine rebounds.
Illinois had six players score in double-digits led by Chatrice White’s 20 points. Kyley Simmons (17), Alex Wittinger (12), Brooke Kissinger (12), Kennedy Cattenhead (11) and Cierra Rice (10) also posted double figures.
The Illinois defense was staggering and back-to-back turnovers followed by a number of empty possessions led to TSU falling into an early 12-0 hole just four and half minutes into the game. The Lady Tigers finally got on the board at the 6:12 mark after Brianna Lawrence connected with Jayda Johnson on a fast break. Two plays later Lawrence banked in a three-pointer to make the score, 16-5, in favor of the Fighting Illini.
The TSU offense continued to struggle with Illinois’ pressure and another flurry of turnovers led to the Lady Tigers falling behind 33-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Tennessee State outscored its opponent, 7-2, in the opening moments of the second period but the home team quickly regained the momentum. Illinois had a commanding, 60-21, lead at halftime.
In the third frame TSU continued to struggle and only managed to make three field goals, including a three-pointer by Naomi Bolasingh. The Lady Tigers trailed 82-31 heading into the final quarter and never recovered.
TSU went 15-of-69 from the field and only hit three of 21 three-point attempts. The Lady Tigers had 24 turnovers and also struggled from the free-throw line (52.6 percent).
Following the holiday, the Lady Tigers return action at home when they host the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic. TSU will face Texas Southern on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. before matching up with North Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. in the Gentry Center.
BELMONT 78, ALABAMA A&M 28
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Belmont Women's Basketball (4-1) is off to their best start since 2009-10 with a dominating victory over Alabama A&M (0-4) Tuesday evening. Sophomore Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) paced the Bruins to a 78-28 victory by setting a career-high with 19 points.
more to come....
LIPSCOMB 93, MURRAY STATE 85
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Lipscomb had three players score 20 points or more and the Lady Bisons hit 12-of-22 from 3-point range as the Murray State women fell on the road Tuesday night in Nashville to LU 93-85. The loss is the Racers' third consecutive.
A total of five Racers scored in double figures. Ke'Shunan James led the Racers (2-3) with 20 points and 11 rebounds. The double-double is the first this season for an MSU player. James also added a team-best five assists. LeAsia Wright scored 17 while Abria and Kyra Gulledge and Jashae Lee each had 10 points. Eight of Abria Gulledge's points came in the first quarter and sparked the MSU bench. Lee also added nine boards in the loss.
LU (2-3) shot 53 percent (31-for-59) from the field while MSU was 32-of-76 (42 percent). The 42 percent shooting is a team-high this season for the Racers. The Lady Bisons were 19-of-23 at the free-throw line while MSU hit 16-of-21. The Racers went just 5-of-30 from beyond the arc.
MSU had a big edge in paint points, outscoring Lipscomb 42-26 inside. The Racers also had a 20-12 edge in second-chance points and the bench outscored the LU reserves 29-8. Murray State again forced its opponent into more turnovers as LU had 17 turnovers to the Racers 13. However, Lipscomb held a 20-16 advantage in points off of those turnovers.
Lipscomb got off to a fast start, scoring the first eight points of the game in the first two minutes. Gulledge and Lee came in off the bench to spark the Racers and MSU led 23-19 with just under two minutes left in the opening quarter. LU led after one 24-23. The Racers continued its strong run in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Bisons 23-20 and taking a 46-44 lead into halftime.
The Racers came out of the break slow as LU went on a 14-4 run to open the second half and led 68-65 at the end of the third. The fourth quarter went much the same as the third, as Lipscomb started the quarter fast, before MSU reeled the Lady Bisons back in. MSU ran out of gas down the stretch however, and LU closed on an 11-5 run.
MSU continues its two-game road swing Saturday as the Racers travel to Conway, Ark., to face Central Arkansas for the second time in a week. The Sugar Bears defeated Murray State Nov. 21 61-51 in Murray.
MISSOURI 75, SIUE 56
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri hit 10 three-pointers in the first half and pushed past SIUE women's basketball 75-46 Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers improved to 5-0 with a strong first half. Missouri led 50-17 at halftime after shooting 50 percent from the behind the three-point line (10-20).
SIUE outplayed the Tigers over the final 20 minutes.
CoCo Moore led the Cougars with 13 points, scoring 11 in the second half. Gwen Adams added 11 points, including eight in the second half.
SIUE's defense held Missouri to 26.9 percent (7-26) shooting in the second half, including 1 of 12 from three-point range. Morgan Stock led the Tigers off the bench with 14 points behind a team-leading four three-pointers. Kayla McDowell scored 11, and Sophie Cunningham was Missouri's only starter in double figures with 10 points.
More than 55 percent of Missouri's shots were from three-point range. SIUE won the battle in the paint overall with a 24-22 edge.
SIUE continues its busy week with two more games in the state of Missouri. The Cougars head west to take for the Plaza Lights Classic in Kansas City, Missouri. SIUE faces Stephen F. Austin in a 3:30 p.m. game Friday followed by a 3:30 p.m. contest Saturday against tournament host UMKC.