The Eastern women’s basketball team answered a 7-0 run by Southeast Missouri to begin the game by scoring 18 consecutive points on its way to beating the Redhawks, 68-43.

Out of those 18 points, sophomore guard Ta’Kenya Nixon scored the first seven on her way to 13 total points in the game.

Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said Nixon played well in a number of different areas. The best area Nixon played, Sallee said, might have been setting up her teammates.

“She helped get Mariah (King) going,” Sallee said.

Nixon got King going, as King scored 17 points in the game to lead all scorers. Sophomore forward Sydney Mitchell also notched double figures for the Panthers, scoring 13 points.

“I thought Sydney played really, really hard,” Sallee said.

The leading scorer off of the bench was freshman guard Jordyne Crunk, who scored nine points. Sallee said Crunk provided good energy coming off of the bench.

“The game was won on defense,” Sallee said. The Panthers held the Redhawks to 30 percent shooting from the field. In the second half alone, the Redhawks struggled, shooting 28 percent.

“I think the kids did a good job of sticking to the game plan,” Sallee said.

The Panthers won the battle in turnovers and rebounds. The Panthers turned the ball over only 17 times, while forcing 22 on the Redhawks. The 22 turnovers led to 16 points off of turnovers for the Panthers.

Although the Panthers were winning the battles, Sallee said the game was not an easy win.

“It wasn’t as easy as we would’ve liked it,” Sallee said.

In the second half, the Panthers outscored the Redhawks, 41-24. The lead only changed hands once, when Eastern took the lead in the first half after a 7-0 run by the Redhawks.

The two other Panther starters, sophomore guard Kelsey Wyss and junior forward Chantelle Pressley, were not able to reach double figures. Wyss notched five points, while Pressley notched four.

Along with 13 points, Nixon handled 12 rebounds to notch a double-double. Nixon also added six assists.

Mitchell led the team in steals, with five. Mitchell also had seven rebounds.

Sallee said junior forward Hillary Held played well off the bench despite only playing for eight minutes.

The Panthers were 3-2 over winter break, and will be playing at home Thursday against Eastern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. in Lantz Arena.

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