Box Score
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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Sabina Oroszova and
Kelsey Wyss both scored 14 points to lead the Panther women's basketball team over Jacksonville State, 76-53, on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena. EIU extended its win streak in the series history to 11 games with the victory.
The Panthers (9-7, 3-1 OVC) raced out to an early 17-2 lead in the game's opening minutes before leading by as much as 26 (35-9) with 8:23 left on the clock before halftime. EIU had a double-figure advantage for the duration of the game and took a 46-23 lead into intermission.
Jacksonville State (0-17, 0-5 OVC) used a 4-0 run to start the second half and get within 19 (46-27), but could not overcome the early deficit. JSU and EIU both scored 30 points in the second stanza.
All 12 Panthers players who saw action in the contest scored a point.
Jordyne Crunk scored nine points and
Ta'Kenya Nixon added eight points.
Mariah King and
Sydney Mitchell both chipped in seven points. Nixon also dished out a game-high four assists.
Defensively, the Panthers posted 10 more rebounds (57-47) than the Gamecocks while collecting 10 steals and forcing 17 turnovers. EIU scored 18 points off of the Jacksonville State miscues. Oroszova and
Morgan Palombizio led the Panthers on the glass as both players had eight rebounds.
The Panthers sank a season-high 20 free throws on the day, going 20-for-35 from the charity stripe. EIU also went 25-for-70 from the floor and 6-for-14 from behind the arc.
Marikate Gardler led three Jacksonville State players in double figures with 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Candace Morton added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Gamecocks finished the contest only hitting 29 percent of their field-goal attempts (20-for-69).
The Panthers return to action on Monday, Jan. 14 against Tennessee Tech. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside Lantz Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear white as the game will serve as the team's annual “WHITE OUT” event with the first 300 fans in attendance receiving a free, long sleeve white t-shirt.
