Pace, Steele Guide EIU To Victory

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Karle Pace and Taylor Steele combined for 46 points through the first three quarters to outscore the entire Purdue Fort Wayne team. Both finished just shy of their career highs leading the Panthers to a 72-63 win over the Mastodons. EIU improves to 3-1 on the year while Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 2-2.

The Panthers went on an 18-0 run to close out the first quarter holding the Mastodons scoreless from the 6:02 minute mark. Grace Lennox started the run with her first jumper of the game. Pace reached double-figures with 10 points in the first 10 minutes. Steele followed behind with nine points on 3-of-7 from the field.

EIU led at halftime 47-26. The Mastodons saw their only offensive production coming from Kierstyn Repp. Repp had 11 points going into the third quarter and made three of her four three-point attempts. EIU led by as much as 28 points in the third quarter, but Purdue Fort Wayne was able to score 17 points to keep the Panthers lead under 25 points.

In the fourth quarter, the Mastodons held the Panthers to 18 percent from the field and only six points scored while putting up 20 points. Lennox hit two jumpers including EIU's last field goal at the 3:02 mark. Despite Purdue Fort Wayne's offensive spark in the last 10 minutes, the Panthers secured their second straight win at home.

Pace finished with a game-leading 28 points on 10-of-19 from the field, while Steele fell one point shy of her career-high with 20 points. Jennifer Nehls fell short of a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds. She also tallied three assists. Lennox finished with six points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

EIU capitalized on their opponents turnovers once again scoring 31 points of the Mastodons 26 turnovers. Even though Purdue Fort Wayne out-rebounded EIU 44-35, the Panthers were able to score 15 second chance points.

Repp finished with a team-high 17 points and was 5-for-10 from three point range. De'Jour Young added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Panthers will be back in action after the holiday with a road match on Wednesday Nov. 28 vs. Bradley at 7 pm.