College Roundup for Monday, December 17

MACOMB, Ill. – The Panther women’s basketball team dropped a 70-68 decision to in-state rival Western Illinois Monday night at Western Hall. EIU falls to 5-5 on the year.

Ashley Luke hit a jumper with 57 seconds remaining in the game to put the Fighting Leathernecks (5-5) up 70-68, breaking open the game’s ninth tie. EIU missed a game-tying basket with 42 seconds left before Saule Kontautaite stole an EIU pass in the closing seconds to seal the victory for WIU. The Leathernecks improved to 4-0 at home this year.

Mariah King scored a game-high 18 points to pace EIU, going 8-for-12 from the floor. Four other players added nine points in Ta’Kenya Nixon, Katlyn Payne, Kelsey Wyss and Sydney Mitchell. Nixon nearly posted her second career triple-double as she also added a game-high 10 assists and a game-high eight rebounds.

The Panthers return to action at Northern Illinois Wednesday at 7 p.m.

SIUE Men Defeat Eureka

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Jerome Jones scored a team-high 23 points Monday and hit four key throws in the final 20 seconds as SIUE defeated Eureka 77-74 at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars improved to 3-5 with the victory and have a short turn-around for a Wednesday matchup at home against Robert Morris (Springfield). Game time is 7 p.m.

Jones was one of three SIUE players who scored in double figures. Both Michael Messer and Tim Johnson posted season highs for the Cougars finishing with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Jones led SIUE with a career-best five steals. SIUE also finished with a season-high 11 steals.