After a disappointing loss against Indiana State over a week ago, the Eastern women’s basketball team rebounded against Illinois-Chicago winning 78-72 Thursday night.

Never trailing in the game, the Panthers started off the game with a three-pointer by senior guard Sarah Riva. Three’s turned out to be big for both teams, but the Panthers were on the winning end of the shootout at Lantz Arena.

The Panthers (2-2) shot 10-18 from beyond the arc as junior guard Megan Sparks went 3-8 on three-pointers.

Sparks finished the game with 18 points second-best for the Panthers as senior center Pam O’Connor had a game high 19 points.

Head Coach Brady Sallee said he challenged O’Connor at half-time to make an impact, and she responded to his call.

“Pam stepped up in the second half by either turning to the basket for a score or getting fouled and going to the free-throw line,” Sallee said.

In the second half, both teams were in the bonus with fouls with over 10 minutes remaining. Eastern had plenty of chances to get to the line to maintain their lead.

Eastern has struggled this year at the free-throw line, shooting 48 percent from the line. But against the Flames, the team showed signs of improvement, shooting 22-30 as a team.

This game also proved to be big for the psyche of the Panthers after losing big to Indiana State.

“Mentally, we weren’t in the ISU game, so it was big for us to turn it around and get this win,” Sparks said.

Eastern never surrendered their lead to UIC (1-5), but the game was anything but an easy victory. Every time Eastern seemed to make a big shot to increase on their lead, UIC would answer.

During one stretch in the second half at about the seven-minute mark, both teams exchanged three-pointers five times in a row and three different Panthers made three-pointers.

Sallee said it was an exciting stretch of basketball but difficult for the defense to respond to.

With just over a minute left, the Flames got to within three points, but the Panthers held on and made big free throws down the stretch.

“This team is still learning how to win,” Sallee said. “Last year this team wasn’t winning these games, so to get a win like this is big.”

Two other Panthers finished the game in double figures along with O’Connor and Sparks. Riva scored 15 and sophomore guard Melanie Ploger added 11 points.

Eastern next hosts Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, or IUPUI, on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.