On Senior Night at Lantz Arena, Eastern was able to stay close to the conference leading Austin Peay Governors, but in the end could not hold on in a 68-56 loss. After holding Austin Peay against the ropes for most of the first 20 minutes, the Governors overall athleticism took over in the second half.

The Panthers went into halftime holding a two-point lead after playing solidly against the Governors for most of the first half. Strong performances were put in by freshman guard Megan Sparks and sophomore center Allison Collins. Sparks put in six of her 10 points and chipped in with 3 rebounds, while Collins scored six of her eight points and added two rebounds.

The second half was a different story as soon as the two teams came out of the locker rooms. The Governors put on the full-court press that they use as a tool when the team is struggling.

Up to that point, the Panthers had been doing a good job of executing their offense against the Governors. But the press was put on and the Governors’ size and atheticism started a run for them that put the Panthers on their heels.

The full-court trap turned the game into an up-tempo match that Eastern could not handle.

“I was proud of our team’s effort tonight,” head coach Linda Wunder said. “You take away a couple of stretches and we come out on top in this game.”

But the Governors sensed the momentum switch and were able to separate themselves from the Panthers by seven points with only five minutes remaining. The faster Austin Peay played, the better they seemed to get.

Compared to the second half, the Governors were able to put up 42 points to only the 26 they put up in the first half. Austin Peay also put up 20 more shots than the Panthers, and while they did not shoot as well as the Panthers, the sheer number of shots they put up compensated for that.

“We knew the press was coming and we simulated against it in practice,” said senior center Brooke Gossett. “But you can’t simulate for that. Their size and athleticism really changed the momentum.”

Eastern kept trying to get the ball inside to slow the game down and were somewhat successful. Gossett led the team in points with 12 and had eight of those in the final 20 minutes.

But on this Senior Night, the result was disappointing for the departing seniors.

“I wish we could’ve pulled this one off,” Gossett said. “It was an emotional game and an emotional night.”