After back-to-back 100 point games by Eastern opponents, the Panthers’ defense improved drastically at the State Farm Tiger Classic in Columbia, Mo.

“It was a pretty enlightening weekend,” said head coach Brady Sallee. “We showed that we are very capable of holding teams in the 30s shooting-percentage wise.”

Alabama A&M shot 39.2 percent in Saturday’s 67-66 loss and Creighton was limited to 32.4 percent in a 81-71 victory on Sunday evening.

While the defense stepped up their play in both games, head coach Brady Sallee said his team’s overall play in the two games were “polar opposites.”

“The first game we were lethargic and we lost by one (point) to a team we all feel like we should have beat,” Sallee said. “The next day was 100 percent different and we put it on a solid Missouri Valley (Conference) team.”

With it’s defensive improvement, the Panthers lowered their points allowed average almost six percentage points, from 89 before the tournament to 83.2 after.

Galligan earns OVC award

Sophomore forward Rachel Galligan was named the Ohio Valley Conference’s player of the week for her efforts in the Panthers’ three games last week. Eastern played at Illinois State on Nov. 28 then played Alabama A&M and Creighton at the State Farm Tiger Classic on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Galligan turned in three straight 20-plus point performances and averaged six rebounds in those three games. Her best game came against Creighton on Sunday with a career-high 27 points to go with nine rebounds and 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.

Galligan made 17-of-18 free throws in the two tournament games and went 10-13 from the charity stripe against ISU.

The last Eastern player to earn OVC player of the week honors was Megan Sparks early last season.

Line-up change

Ellen Canale’s first game for the Panthers this season was against Indiana State on Nov. 21. After coming off the bench again against Illinois State, Canale was reinserted to the starting line-up against Alabama A&M and Creighton. The 5-foot-9 guard started all 29 games last season for Eastern as a freshman. Sallee pulled forward Meagan Scaggs from the starting line-up to make room for Canale.

The move has the Panthers using a four-guard line-up that includes fellow guards Jessica Huffman, Ashley Thomas and Meggie Eck. Galligan is the lone forward and the only starter over six-foot tall. The Panthers’ small line-up could be an issue against Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles start two 5-foot-10 guards in addition to their post players.

One more road trip

The Panthers took part in the State Farm Tiger Classic not only to improve their play in Sallee’s new offense but to get another road trip under their belts. The Panthers open up their Ohio Valley Conference season Thursday night with a six-hour trip to Cookeville, Tenn., to play the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech.

Sallee said it was important for his team to gain experience playing in games on the road and in large arenas.

“It makes teams tougher, going out to battle on the road,” Sallee said.

Eastern played both their games last weekend in the Mizzou Arena, which has a seat capacity of 15,061. The team has prepared for the beginning of the conference season by playing in larger capacity gyms because, while not as large as the Mizzou Arena, the majority of OVC schools do have larger facilities than Eastern’s 5,300-seat Lantz Arena. Tennessee Tech’s Hooper Eblen Center has a seating capacity of 10,152.