Two players have reached the 1,000-point club in Eastern head coach Brady Sallee’s tenure.

Megan Sparks in the 2006 season and junior forward Rachel Galligan this season.

Galligan finished with a career-high 31 points as the Panthers defeated EKU 86-81 in overtime on Saturday night.

Galligan became the 19th member of the Panther 1,000-point club on Saturday night. She tied a program record for free throws made in a single game (15). Galligan also had five rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Sallee told Galligan at the end of last season she could be the player of the year.

Galligan is showing the potential to be one. She is averaging 18.1 points per game and six rebounds per game.

And Galligan has been consistent and explosive at the offense since she returned from her toe injury toward the end of the non-conference season and the beginning of the conference season.

Sallee said Galligan has the potential to be one of the best players to come through the program in a long time.

After all, Galligan is fifth all-time on career free throws made (294) and third all-time in blocked shots (123).

What makes Galligan and the rest of the team special this season is they understand how to use her and how to feed her the ball inside.

Sallee was pleased with the fact the team was able to execute its offense around Galligan. After Saturday night’s game against EKU, he praised junior forward Lindsey Kluempers for looking for a diagonal pass to Galligan.

It’s smart play like Kluempers and the rest of the team that will help the Panthers (8-9, 7-2 Ohio Valley Conference) be successful in the league.

After all, they’re off to one of their best starts and matched last year’s number of total league wins with 11 conference games left to play.

With Galligan at their side, it’s impossible for this team not to do well. But she has to remain consistent on the scoring end and still pull down the rebounds.

She’s progressed each year she’s been at Eastern. She was the 2006 OVC Freshman of the Year. She made the 2007 All-OVC First Team and this season she was a preseason All-OVC selection.

With the points and rebounds she puts up now, it’s hard not to make her a selection for the first team or even player of the year. On Monday, she was a unanimous selection for the player of the week.

If she continues this trend, there’s no reason the Panthers can’t go dancing in March.

Kevin Murphy may be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.