Tennessee State’s Obiageli Okafor made sure the Panthers did not stage a comeback Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn.

TSU’s sophomore forward made 15 of 16 free throws and went 6 of 6 in the final 30 seconds to give TSU their first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season with a 67-62 victory. Okafor finished the game with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The victory was only the second this season for the Lady Tigers (2-3, 1-1 OVC) and snapped a 21-game conference-losing streak.

Tennessee State’s defense set the tone early in the game. Eastern (4-5, 1-1) scored a season low 62 points despite entering the contest with the fifth best scoring offense in the nation averaging 85 points per game.

TSU’s defense was particularly stifling in the second half. The Panther’s shot a meager 25 percent from the field at halftime, hitting seven of 27 shots. The Lady Tigers defense also forced 25 Panther turnovers, with nine from freshman point guard Jessica Huffman. Huffman was limited to nine points, the first game this season she did not score in double figures.

The Panthers’ shot well in the first half, making 60 percent of their shots but TSU’s defense forced multiple turnovers and Eastern had a slim 32-27 lead at halftime. Eastern held TSU to 34 percent shooting in the game, but Okafor was not the only Lady Tiger who was accurate from the free throw line.

TSU shot 86 percent from the free throw line in the second half (24 of 28).

Meggie Eck was the leading scorer for Eastern with 17 points and five 3-pointers. Ashley Thomas had 10 points and Rachel Galligan added 14, her 17th straight game scoring in double figures.

Ellen Canale led the team with six rebounds but fouled out with 9 minutes remaining in the second half.

The sophomore guard recorded her fourth foul of the game and a technical foul given to her seconds later for arguing with the referee forced her to the bench.

Eastern gets back into action this Friday when they travel to take on Atlantic 10 opponent Xavier.