CHARLESTON, Ill. – SIUE women's basketball led by three entering halftime at 33-30, but Eastern Illinois began the third quarter on an 8-0 run and never trailed to down the Cougars, 80-66, on Tuesday night at Groniger Arena.
SIUE falls to 5-25 overall and 2-15 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. EIU improves to 14-16 and 11-6.
The Panthers took an early 6-0 lead before the Cougars responded with an 11-2 run to claim their first lead of the game. The first quarter saw both teams exchanging points, resulting in four ties before EIU ended the quarter ahead by three at 17-15.
Trailing by four with 3:06 to go in the second period, back-to-back three pointers by Ava Gugliuzza and Sofie Lowis lifted SIUE by a pair at 30-28. EIU would tie the contest on the next possession before Lowis knocked down another from deep to give SIUE a three-point lead entering the locker room.
SIUE shot 52 percent (13-25) in the first two quarters compared to Eastern Illinois' 41 percent (12-29). The Cougars went 5-10 from three-point land in the first two frames, three of which were scored by Lowis.
The Panthers began action after halftime on an 8-0 run over the first two minutes of the third for a five-point lead at 38-33. Gugliuzza tied the contest at 41 on a three ball with 5:31 remaining in the period before EIU used another 8-0 run over the next two minutes. The Panthers, who led by as many as 12 in the quarter, outscored SIUE, 26-14, in the third.
The Cougars cut their deficit to six at 60-54 with just under six minutes remaining in the final quarter of play before the Panthers countered with a 7-1 run to go up 12 with 4:29 to go. SIUE fought and cut its gap to single-digits three more times before the Panthers took their largest lead of the game at 14 and final score.
SIUE concluded the contest 43 percent (25-58) overall and 10-23 from three-point range while going 6-8 at the free throw line. EIU shot 47 percent (31-65) and outrebounded the Cougars 38-31. The Panthers also scored 31 points off 20 SIUE turnovers.
The Cougars were led offensively by 17 points from Sofie Lowis. The junior went 6-14 from the field and 3-7 from three-point territory while going 2-2 at the stripe. She also dished out three assists while collecting a pair of rebounds.
Ava Gugliuzza (12) and Brianna Wooldridge (10) also finished the contest in double-figures. Wooldridge and Macy Silvey commanded SIUE on the boards with seven rebounds apiece.
Eastern Illinois was led by Macy McGlone's 22 points and 15 rebounds.
SIUE plays its final game of the 2023-24 season on Saturday, Mar. 2 at Western Illinois. Action is set to get underway at 1:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUEWBB on X, @SIUEWBB on Instagram, and SIUE Women's Basketball on Facebook.
