THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Illinois 67, North Dakota 55
@Lindenwood 71, Eastern Michigan 64
EASTERN ILLINOIS 67, NORTH DAKOTA 55
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women’s basketball jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the opening two minutes on Thursday afternoon and pulled away for a 67-55 win over North Dakota during Kid’s Day at Groniger Arena.
A total of 2,546 local school aged students witnessed EIU win its second straight improving to 3-6 on the season. North Dakota fell to 3-6 as well.
The Panthers shot 60 percent in the second quarter expanding a 22-7 lead after one quarter into a 46-20 lead at the intermission.
Ellie Buzzelle had all 15 of her points in the opening half connecting on 4-of-4 from 3-point range. EIU was 4-of-8 in the second quarter from long range finishing the day 5-of-18. North Dakota shot just 3-of-22 from 3-point range and ended the game connecting on 32 percent from the field for the contest.
Macy McGlone added ten first half points finishing with 16 while pulling down 13 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double.
Charita “Tiny” Lewis was the final Panther in double figures scoring 14.
The Fighting Hawks made a small run in the second half outscoring EIU 18-10 in the third period taking what at one time had been a 28-point EIU advantage down to 18 points with ten minutes remaining.
North Dakota cut the lead down to ten points twice in the final ten minutes. The first with 7:38 left in the game on free throws by Nevaeh Ferrera Horne. The second on free throws by Kiera Pemberton with 7:22 to play. Horne and Pemberton both reached double figures leading North Dakota with 13 and 11 points.
EIU answered the final North Dakota challenge with back-to-back baskets by Lewis and McGlone to keep a comfortable margin down the stretch for the win.
LINDENWOOD 71, EASTERN MICHIGAN 64
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood women's basketball team (1-6, 0-0 OVC) picked up win number one of the season on Thursday night, defeating Eastern Michigan (1-6, 0-0 MAC) by a score of 71-64.
It was an evenly matched first 10 minutes with both teams making five field goals in the opening quarter. Kaliyah Sain came out hot, knocking down a pair of three pointers in the opening frame, but Lindenwood trailed by one, 15-14 heading to the second.
Lindenwood opened the second quarter with a quick 6-2 run, capped off by a Celina Arnlund layup which forced an Eastern Michigan timeout. The Lions pushed their lead to eight at 27-19, capped off by another Sain three. Lindenwood's defense was solid in the quarter, holding the Eagles to just two field goals and they would take a slim three-point lead into halftime.
It was a back and forth third quarter as each team traded buckets throughout. Lindenwood was able to gain some separation late in the frame after back-to-back threes by Ellie Brueggemann pushed the Lions lead to 46-41. As a team, Lindenwood shot 50 percent in the frame.
The Lions were able to maintain a slim lead throughout the fourth quarter and seal the game with clutch shooting at the free throw line, going 11-of-13 from the charity stripe as a unit. This gave Lindenwood a 71-64 win and sealed the first victory for head coach Amy Eagan.