The Evansville Purple Aces had some tired eyes late in Tuesday night’s game as the Eastern women’s basketball team asserted itself when shots started to fall.

The Panthers finished on a 15-6 run in the last 8:15 of the game, holding the Aces at the 51-point mark for almost six minutes. The Panthers cruised to a 70-57 win at Lantz Arena.

Four Evansville players competed in at least 30 minutes of the game, including Khristian Hart who played in 38 minutes, while only Eastern senior guard Ta’Kenya Nixon played 30 or more for the Panthers.

“That helped us at the end,” Nixon said. “They probably got a little tired.”

Eastern head coach Lee Buchanan said Evansville’s tired legs may have contributed to its shooting woes in the second half.

The Aces were 7-of-26 from the field in the second half after making 50 percent of their shots in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Panthers’ shots started to fall — sinking 6-of-14 three pointers and 46.7 percent of shots in the second half.

“When players start to see shots go in, it’s a relief like everything is going to be OK,” Buchanan said.

The Panthers made four consecutive three pointers between the 10:32-mark and 5:44-mark of the second half — from three different players.

Eastern red-shirt sophomore forward Katlyn Payne sank two three pointers on the Panthers way to a commanding lead. Also, junior guard Jordyne Crunk and sophomore forward Sabina Oroszova sank threes.

“When we’re on the same page, shots just start dropping for everybody,” senior forward Sydney Mitchell said.

Payne and Crunk led the way for the Panthers beyond the arc, each sinking two three pointers.

Both players came off the bench as a part of the Panthers’ 31 bench points in the game. The Panthers outscored the Aces off the bench, 31-8.

“I think we’re starting to come together — 31 points off the bench is huge,” Buchanan said. “We got a little contribution from everybody and that’s what a good team is supposed to do.”

Mitchell and freshman guard Danielle Woolfolk were a big part of the bench’s effort in the game.

Mitchell, who has been nursing hamstring issues all season, scored 10 points in the game and grabbed four rebounds.

“I just think I was under the radar because of my performance before this game and (Evansville) didn’t expect me to do anything,” Mitchell said.

In six previous games, Mitchell only scored points in three of them. Her previous season-high was nine points against Dayton on Nov. 25.

“She kind of looked like Sydney again,” Buchanan said.

Woolfolk set her career-high points and rebounds with seven points and six rebounds in nine minutes of play.

“She can do it every game if she wants to,” Nixon said. “She doesn’t play little.”

Woolfolk is only 5-foot-3, but was third on the team Tuesday night with six rebounds.

Four players finished in double figures for the Panthers’ — Nixon, Crunk, Mitchell and senior forward Mariah King.

The Panthers next game is at 7 p.m. Friday against Sacramento State in Lantz Arena.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-2812 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.