The Eastern women’s basketball team hadn’t been held under 40 points in a game in more than a decade, at least, but in new head coach Lee Buchanan’s debut game, the Panthers scored 39.

The Panthers were 4-of-25 from the field in the first half and 1-of-9 from the free throw line as they went into the half trailing Indiana State 36-9.

The deficit was too much too overcome, let alone too steep to reach 40 points by the end of the game.

Had the Panthers reached 40 points, they’d be in a little bit better company — even in a loss.

The lowest scoring Panther team in recent memory was when they scored 41 points against Southeast Missouri on Feb. 14, 2008.

They lost that game, but the difference was that they held the Redhawks to 46 points.

The Sycamores offense was working on Friday, scoring 69 points to cap a 30-point win to open the season.

“It’s not rocket science,” Buchanan said. “You have to put the ball in the hole. We’re not going to win unless we make shots.”

Some part of Buchanan may have seen this coming, saying on Thursday that it’s hard to make shots in Indiana State’s arena.

The Panthers haven’t shot the ball well in most of their recent games in Terre Haute, Ind.

“It’s a huge, huge arena,” Buchanan said. “We don’t play in those size arenas. The background is different (behind the backboard).”

Only senior guard Ta’Kenya Nixon reached double figures in scoring Friday night, recording 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the floor.

Maybe the arena and the Panthers’ history against Indiana State had something to do with the poor outing, but the Sycamores weren’t slouches on defense either.

“Their defense was in our shorts and wouldn’t let us get off open looks,” Buchanan said. “The hard part of it is we didn’t make free throws.”

The Panthers were 5-of-16 from the free throw line, while Indiana State went 13-of-19 to help its cause.

While Eastern was struggling, the Sycamores’ star players were having big games — something Buchanan’s scouting report of them showed they’d do.

Buchanan and his players said they’d have to defend the Sycamores’ Anna Munn, Taylor Whitley and Rachael Mahan score in double figures in the game.

Munn led the team with 18 points, while Whitley had 14 points and five assists. Mahan finished the game with a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“We didn’t do a good job defending,” Buchanan said. “Those three players will shoot it. That’s the head of their monster.”

The head of Eastern’s monster, Nixon and senior forwards Mariah King and Sydney Mitchell, didn’t keep pace.

Nixon scored 12 points, but King only scored four on 2-of-5 shooting.

Mitchell came off the bench, still battling lingering injuries, and was held scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting.

The Panthers are facing a quick turnaround, coming home to play another Missouri Valley team Monday.

Eastern will host Bradley at 7 p.m. Monday in Lantz Arena.

The Panthers beat Bradley in Peoria last season, 59-58.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].