The Eastern women’s basketball team shot 60.4 percent from the floor (29-of-48), but fell to Tennessee-Martin 103-84, Monday night in Martin, Tenn.

The 60.4 percent was the highest shooting percentage on the season and the 84 points scored was also the highest scoring total for the Panthers this season.

This was the fourth time in the past five games that the Skyhawks scored more than 100 points.

The Skyhawks started off the game on a 9-0 run and kept building their lead from there.

In the first half, they shot 65 percent on 20-of-31 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-11 from the 3-point line, which was good enough for 51 points.

The Skyhawks would go on a 29-17 run to give them a 21-point lead at the seven minute mark of the first half, capped off by a jumper from Jasmine Newsome.

Newsome finished the game with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor.

After the Skyhawks had their largest lead of 23 points, the Panthers would end the first half on a 12-5 run, capped off by a couple of free throws by Arnisha Thomas.

Thomas had an impressive first half, which provided a spark for the Panthers. She scored 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting and was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.

In the second-half, the Panthers had no problem scoring the basketball, but stopping the Skyhawks was a problem.

The Panthers cut the lead down to 15, three times in the second-half, but as soon as that would happen the Skyhawks would score on the other end of the floor.

Panther guard Katlyn Payne said the Skyhawks were very athletic and they struggled to keep them in front.

“When we would help, they would kick it out and knock down 3’s,” Payne said.

The Skyhawks shot 11-of-24 from the 3-point line for the game.

Eastern shot a staggering 70 percent in the second-half, on 17-of-24 from the floor.

Payne broke out of her shooting slump in Monday’s game. After starting the game 2-of-9 from the floor, she finished the game 7-of-11.

She scored 26 points in the game, which were mostly from the 3-point line, where she shot 7-of-16.

Payne tied a school record for 3-pointers made and attempted in a game.

Payne credited her teammates for her shooting performance, because they told her to keep shooting.

Her teammate Sabina Oroszova, who had 22 points on the day on 10-of-14 shooting, was impressed by the way Payne played in Monday’s game.

“She did a great job with recognizing a good shot and when it was time to slow down,” she said. “She definitely stepped up for our team and gave us confidence we can compete with this team.”

Oroszova added with both her and Payne on the floor, it is hard for teams’ to guard them both.

“If I’m on the block and they are doubling me, I can rely on her to be ready to shoot the ball and make points for us,” she said.

Ohio Valley Conference scoring leader and Skyhawk guard Heather Butler scored 28 points on 10-of-24 shooting and 4-of-11 from the 3-point line.

Bob Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or rjreynolds@eiu.edu.