For the second game in a row, Eastern Illinois women’s basketball started the game down 12-0 to their opponent.
Unlike their previous loss, the team was unable to bounce back from their slow start.
EIU was defeated by the Lindenwood Lions 87-55 Sunday afternoon. The loss drops Eastern’s record down to 1-12 overall and 0-2 in conference.
“We gotta be able to just finish and execute,” head coach Marqus McGlothan said. “We missed open layups, open shots, and open passes. We had 25 turnovers against a team that doesn’t press. We just gotta do a better job of executing on our opportunities.”
The Panthers gave up 30 points off turnovers and 15 second chance points to the Lions.
A major factor in the team’s slow start this season is health. The team has been battling injuries the whole season, including the loss of junior guard Lalani Ellis, who is out for the rest of the season.
Ellis had 16 points in a game against Purdue earlier this season, which is the last full game she played in.
The team is also missing two other starting-caliber players in redshirt junior forward Sydney-James Desroches and redshirt sophomore center Abbie Boutilier.
Boutilier went down with a knee injury against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Thursday and was not in the arena on Sunday.
“We got 22 points per game on the bench right now with Ellis and [Desroches],” McGlothan said. “Some people are forced to be put in situations that they wouldn’t be in if we were fully healthy, but they gotta be able to step up in those roles.”
Stepping up and leading the Panthers in points was senior guard Tiny Lewis, who ended the game with 14 points and six rebounds.
“Most of the time we’re just beating ourselves,” Lewis said. “I think we just need to take some time, go back, work on some things and get back to it.”
Right behind her in scoring was junior guard Clara Glad who chipped in 11 points for the Panthers.
“I think we just really have to lock in and focus on the little things,” Glad said. “I think we let a lot of things go that we think don’t matter, and they end up mattering.”
The team gets a break for the holiday season and won’t have to play again for 11 days.
“That’ll be just a big part for us to all just have time to ourselves,” Glad said. “Look in the mirror and know what we have to do when we come back and come together as a team and get it done.”
The team resumes play on New Year’s Day where they will be heading to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to play conference opponent Southeast Missouri.
The game will tip off at 5 p.m.
Aaron Coffin can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
