The Eastern women’s basketball team shot 32 percent from the field, leading to its 75-52 loss to Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn., at the Municipal Auditorium.

The Panthers struggled shooting in both halves, making 7-of-22 attempts in the first half and 9-of-28 in the second half. The shooting woes also extended out to the 3-point range, where they shot only 11 percent (1-of-9).

Eastern junior guard Katlyn Payne made the only 3-pointer with 7:53 left in the second half, cutting the Panthers’ deficit down to 12.

The Panthers did not make a 3-point field goal in the first half, missing all six of their attempts.

Eastern Kentucky’s defense played the Panthers close throughout the game, limiting space between itself and the Eastern ball handlers.

Eastern Kentucky coach Chrissy Roberts said the Lady Colonels were clicking on all cylinders on defense.

“That is all we talk about is defense,” she said. “I felt like (Wednesday) we played with a lot of confidence, not only in ourselves but in our teammates.”

The Panthers had a tough time stopping the Eastern Kentucky duo of senior Marie Carpenter and freshman Michaela Hunter, as both combined for 41 points.

Eastern coach Debbie Black said Carpenter is one of the best guards in the conference.

“She can elevate over about anyone in this league,” she said. “You pretty much have to hope she misses some shots.”

Carpenter started the afternoon making her first three shots and finished the game 9-of-17 from the field and 2-of-5 from the 3-point line.

In the first half with the Panthers trailing 25-22, the Lady Colonels proceeded to end the half on a 12-3 run. The Panthers had a chance to cut the lead back down to single digits, but in one trip down the floor at the end of the half the Panthers missed three shots and four free throws.

Morgan Palombizio missed a 3-pointer, Jordyne Crunk and Sabina Oroszova missed a jumper and Deanna Willis missed four free throws during that span.

The Lady Colonels shot 48.4 percent in the first half and 2-of-5 from the 3-point line, ending the game 28-of-65 from the field (43.1 percent).

The Panthers scored two points in the first six minutes of the second half, which allowed the Lady Colonels build a 17-point lead.

Eastern Kentucky had its biggest lead at 25 with 2:30 minutes left to play.

Hunter came off the bench for the Lady Colonels, scoring 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from the 3-point line.

Hunter has had her best stretch of play, which spans her last four games, in which she has scored double figures in three of those four games, shooting more than 40 percent.

Black said not only did just Carpenter and Hunter score, but the Colonels got other contributions from key players as they outscored Eastern 38-8 in bench points.

“I think their other players hurt us as well,” Black said. “Their other players really hurt us. Hunter had a heck of a game. I think when your role players step up, I think it makes it easier for your stars to score.”

The Panthers struggled in bench points all season, because the lack of depth they have.

Eastern entered the tournament averaging 9.7 bench points per game this season.

With the Panthers struggling from the field for the game, their big top three scorers had a tough time scoring as well. Payne went 2-of-9 from the field and scored 10 points.

Orosozova shot 6-of-17 from the field and scored 15 points, while Crunk shot 4-of-10 in her final game in her college career.

Black said the reason for the Panthers’ struggles from the field is that the Lady Colonels made them start faster than they wanted too.

“We started the game kind of wired,” she said. “They sped us up and made us go fast. We knew that and we tried to kind of settle into our offense. We missed a lot of free throws in the first half, which would have helped us if we made some of those.”

The Panthers finished their season at 12-16 overall in Black’s first year at Eastern.

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