Everyone knows about Rachel Galligan.

The senior forward is breaking through the Eastern record books on a game-by-game basis and is easily the focal point of opposing teams when preparing for the Panthers.

But lately opposing teams have had to worry about another force in the post in junior forward Maggie Kloak.

Kloak’s 18-point, six rebound effort in Thursday’s 78-44 victory against Eastern Kentucky is just another example of her emergence as an offensive scoring threat in the post. Kloak continuously gave fits to Colonels 6-foot-1 junior forward Colette Cole and 6-foot-3 junior center Sonjia Hoston.

Eastern Illinois head coach Brady Sallee said after the victory that he has been impressed with Kloak’s play.

“(Kloak) is a force,” Sallee said. “You can’t guard her one-on-one.”

Galligan said that she knows teams are going to focus on stopping her and having Kloak as a complement is a great attribute for the team.

“It’s no surprise that people know who I am and they’re going to double, triple team me,” said Galligan, who had 16 points in the victory. “For (Kloak) to come in and do what she’s done is tremendous. It helps take some pressure off of me, off of the guards. She’s playing really well right now.”

Kloak, who has come off the bench in every game this season except for two (when senior forward Lindsey Kluempers was out with a broken pinkie), is most often used as Galligan’s replacement when she exits due to rest or foul problems, but when the two are on the court together, it’s something that Sallee says is a real benefit for his team.

“When you have to double-team (Galligan) and you have to double-team (Kloak), it’s something that we have that’s an advantage that not a whole lot of people have,” Sallee said. “We did a great job of taking advantage of it tonight.”

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].