Over winter break, Eastern’s women’s basketball team had a 3-3 record, with the three losses being at the tail end of a four-game losing streak. On the other hand, the three wins highlight the Panthers’ current win streak.

The current three-game winning streak matches the team’s season high. The previous streak took place between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3. Eastern (8-8, 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference) defeated Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, Brescia (Ky.), and Tennessee State during this run.

During this stretch, the Panthers have tallied their second highest point total of the season, scoring 85 points against Jacksonville State. A high score is great, but according to head coach Brady Sallee, the games are being won by tough defense.

That’s undoubtedly true, and the two three-game win streaks tell that story very well.

During the first streak, Eastern held its opponents to 49.6 points per game. Now, its strong defense is allowing 51.6 ppg.

While defense wins championships, there is one thing about this run that makes me believe it will last much longer than the previous.

Senior forward Maggie Kloak is scoring 15 ppg and grabbing nine rebounds per game during this streak, and she’s doing it efficiently by shooting 57.7 percent from the field. Without a doubt, Kloak has hit her stride.

Over the course of the first win streak, Kloak averaged 8.3 ppg and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 37 percent from the field.

For Kloak, the two streaks don’t compare to each other because she is playing much better during the last three contests.

Kloak has said Sallee is always telling the team to get the ball into the post as much as possible. This is because the post, Kloak’s position, is the spot that Eastern’s motion offense runs through.

When Kloak is ‘on,’ so are the players that surround her.

Another aspect that could potentially benefit the Panthers in extending this streak is that they are in the heart of their conference schedule. Eastern’s OVC record and its non-conference record are very black and white.

Against OVC opponents, Eastern is 4-1 so far, 3-0 at home. In non-conference play, the Panthers are 4-7, 2-2 at home.

Sallee said he thinks the team is getting better, and the team’s current win streak is the best evidence to prove it.

The four-game losing streak before shows there is room for improvement.

Also, there’s no telling how the lingering injury to sophomore guard Pilar Walker will affect the team.

Yet, one thing is certain.

With Kloak and her teammates hitting their stride in OVC play, this hot streak could be in for an extended stay in Charleston.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.