CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball shot 54 percent from the field and enjoyed a plus-27 rebounding advantage, blowing the game open early and cruising to an 85-48 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Jacksonville State Saturday evening at Lantz Arena.

Ta'Kenya Nixon scored 15 of her career-high 21 points in the first eight minutes of the game. She also tallied eight assists, four steals and only one turnover in 28 minutes. Maggie Kloak added 11 points and seven rebounds. Ashley Thomas chipped in 10 points and the quartet of Dominique Sims (9), Chantelle Pressley (8), Sydney Mitchell (8) and Mariah King (8) teamed up for 33 points.

Destiny Lane connected on four of JSU's eight 3-pointers and scored 14 points. Kelsey Johnikin led all bench scorers with nine.

The victory was EIU's sixth straight against the Gamecocks (3-9, 0-2 OVC). The Panthers (6-8, 2-1 OVC) also snapped their four-game losing streak. It was the first time EIU out-rebounded an opponent since winning its Dec. 3 OVC opener at Tennessee State. The final rebounding tally was 49-22.

 

Eastern dominated points in the paint (42-14) and second-chance scoring (27-4). The Panthers tallied 23 assists on their 35 field goals, setting up numerous easy baskets for teammates along the way. Eleven of the 12 EIU players tallied at least one assist. Eastern also turned its 15 offensive rebounds into 27 points.

 

“We talked a lot about tough teams and tough players, they make that extra pass; they work for our shot, not their shot,” EIU head coach Brady Sallee said. “I thought we did a great job of that. Now part of that was definitely playing in transition. We played off our defense, we controlled the boards and we were able to get out in transition. We were able to drive it and play two-on-one and three-on-one a lot. We've got to continue to share the ball. Over the past couple years, when our assist numbers have been good, we've been tough to beat.”

 

“Before the game, [Sallee] told us that tough players make the extra pass for the best shot,” Pressley said. “So I think we really focused on getting that extra pass in.”

 

The Panthers committed only 13 turnovers and were not whistled for a foul until the 9:47 mark of the first half. Nixon had already made 7-of-7 at the free throw line by that juncture.

 

Nixon outscored JSU 15-10 in the game's first eight minutes. She registered 11 points during a 16-3 EIU run that stretched the lead to double figures for the first time.

 

“They weren't really stopping the ball or talking on defense, so nobody knew who was guarding who,” Nixon said. “And I saw the open spots and just attacked. I was just trying to focus on keeping up the intensity and playing hard the whole time I was in.”

 

Later in the first half, the Panthers pushed the lead to 20 with an 11-1 surge. Five different EIU players scored during that spurt.

 

Eastern led by as many as 42 in the second half on the heels of a 17-3 run. Six different Panthers scored during that stretch.

 

Eastern's 50-point first half was the team's biggest in the first 20 minutes of an OVC game since scoring 56 in a Dec. 10, 2005 home win against Tennessee State.

The Panthers return to action Monday when they host Tennessee Tech at 5:30 p.m.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID