Final Score: Lipscomb: 54, Eastern Illinois: 47
Location: Charleston, Ill. (Lantz Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: 5-7, Eastern Illinois: 5-6
THE SHORT STORY: Dorie Harrison led Lipscomb with a double-double in a hard-fought road victory at Eastern Illinois Monday afternoon for the Bisons first road victory of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Eastern Illinois and Lipscomb traded blows in the first minutes of the game setting the tone for the remainder of the first half. Harrison scored a quick four points and
Blythe Pearson drained a three-pointer as the squads were knotted up early.
Lipscomb jumped out to its biggest lead of the game when Harrison fought for a second-chance layup and
Maddie Cook drained two free-throws for a five-point Lipscomb lead.
The Panthers heated up to start the second quarter, retaking the lead, but Lipscomb got back within a pair with a deep triple from
Jordan Peete.
Pearson continued to be a consistent offensive presence for the Bisons with a smooth jumper from the free throw line to tie things once again.
EIU responded with a 7-1 run to end the second quarter and took a 32-26 lead into the halftime break.
Lipscomb started to battle back with a 7-4 run to start the third frame to shave the lead to one possession.
The teams continued to trade buckets and Harrison and Pearson entered the double-figure scoring mark during the third quarter.
Lipscomb continued to claw back and a three-pointer from
Jordan Peete put Lipscomb within one. Harrison drew a foul in the post and made a free throw to tie things up with 40 second left in the third quarter.
Lipscomb outscored the Panthers 16-10 in the third quarter for a tie game heading into the final frame.
The Bisons scored the first points of the fourth quarter to take its first lead since start of the first quarter.
EIU answered with a three to retake the advantage, but
Sydney Shelton immediately delivered with her first triple of the night for a 47-45 lead with seven minutes left in regulation.
Lipscomb and EIU continued to battle as the Bisons held a three-point advantage at the final media timeout of regulation.
The Bisons clamped down on the defensive end and held EIU without a bucket for over a minute and took advantage on the offensive end when
Maddie Cook hit a long two-pointer to match Lipscomb's largest lead of the night (50-45) with just under two minutes to play.
After the Panthers got a pair back on its offensive end, EIU put a stifling full-court press on the Bisons. Lipscomb retained its composure and continued to get good looks on the offensive end and second chances with offensive rebounds. With a 53-47 lead and 48 seconds left, EIU inbounded the ball, but Lipscomb held the Panthers scoreless in the possession. Lipscomb shot well from the charity stripe in the final seconds of the game to secure the 54-47 victory.
HERD NOTES:
- The win marked Lipscomb's first on the road of the 2021-22 season.
- Harrison posted her second double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Her 16 points matched a career-high set earlier this season at Colorado State.
- Pearson scored 10, her sixth double-digit performance of the season. She also contributed seven rebounds.
- Lipscomb shot 40.5% from the floor and held the Panthers to under 30%.
- The Bisons out-rebounded EIU 43-29.
- There were seven lead changes in the game.
- Lipscomb held EIU to just 15 second-half points.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will be back in action after Christmas for its final non-conference game of the season. The Bisons will travel to take on Cincinnati on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. CT.
