Eastern loses big to SEMO

Sophomore+guard+Grace+Lennox+has+232+points+in+26+games+averaging+8.9+per+game+on+the+season.

Jason Howell

Sophomore guard Grace Lennox has 232 points in 26 games averaging 8.9 per game on the season.

Mark Shanahan, Staff Reporter

A poor shooting performance led to an 82-52 loss for women’s basketball against Southeast Missouri on Saturday night.

The Panthers scored nine points in both the first and second quarters and allowed SEMO to take over the game from the start. SEMO led 34-18 at the end of the first half. Eastern lost its second straight game as they fall to 3-23 on the season and 2-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Panthers ended their 21-game losing streak to SEMO Feb. 6 when they won 64-59. Eastern went on to take down Austin Peay the following game. The winning streak ended Wednesday night with an overtime loss to Murray State 74-71.

With the win, the Redhawks improve to 15-12 overall on the season and 8-6 in OVC play. The Panthers tied the game 9-9 at the 2:56 mark with a three pointer from freshman Halle Stull.

SEMO went on to score the final seven points of the quarter and led 16-9 after the first quarter. They followed up in the second quarter with a 9-0 run. Sophomore Jalisha Smith ended the run, and she was Eastern’s leading scorer with 12 points and five rebounds.

Eastern cut the lead down to 10 with a little over three minutes remaining in the first half, but SEMO closed out the half with a 7-1 run and they led 34-18. The Panthers shot 17 percent in the first half, while SEMO shot 45 percent.

Eastern put up a fight to start the second half, but they trailed 59-33 with 1:55 left in the third quarter after SEMO went on a 14-3 run. The Redhawks led the Panthers 64-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

The largest lead came in the final period after SEMO scored the first five points to make the score 69-38. Eastern was able to cut into the lead by scoring eight straight points, but that wasn’t enough for them to get back into the game.

Eastern finished with a 26 percent shooting average. SEMO outscored them in the paint 44-18. SEMO had four players score double-digits led by Brianna Mitchell with a team high of 22 points. Erin Bollman had 15 points and four rebounds. Imani Johnson led SEMO in rebounds with 10.

The Redhawks also had 34 points off the bench, and Eastern had 17.

Sophomore Grace Lennox had nine points, four rebounds and three assists for the Panthers. Junior Erica Brown finished the game with eight points and six rebounds.

The Panthers will play their final road game of the season on Wednesday against UT Martin.

Eastern will end the season on Feb. 27 in Lantz Arena against Southern Illinois Edwardsville.

This will also be Eastern’s third straight losing season.

 

Mark Shanahan can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].