Women’s basketball teams’ perfect season continues against Wright State

Hannah Fergurson

After Makiya Miller (3), a freshman guard for the Wright State Rowdy Raiders, stumbles over herself and loses the ball, Julia Bengtson (20), a sophomore guard, recovers the ball to push the offensive during the women’s basketball game against the Rowdy Raiders at Lantz Arena Monday afternoon. Bengtson had four rebounds, two assists and scored nine points. The Panthers won 96-67 against the Rowdy Raiders. The Panthers have won seven games in row.

Autumn Schulz, Sports Editor
November 29, 2022

The Eastern women’s basketball team continues its perfect season as it secured a 96-67 win over Wright State Monday night in Lantz Arena, moving it to 6-0 on the season. 

It is the Panthers’ best start to the season in 40 years. 

The Panthers are first in the OVC and first in multiple OVC categories as their first OVC matchup will be against Lindenwood on Dec. 29. 

They are first in scoring offense, averaging 78 points per game. For field goal percentage, the Panthers have a .472 on the season, earning them the first-place spot in the OVC. 

The Panthers are 24th in the nation in field goal percentage. 

The Panthers had three players in double digits against the Raiders.  

Senior guard Lariah Washington led the Panthers with 23 points, two rebounds and two steals. Her performance allowed her to surpass Sabina Oroszova for 15th on EIU’s all-time leading scorers list. 

Lariah Washington (22), a senior guard, puts the ball up during the women’s basketball game against the Rowdy Raiders at Lantz Arena Monday afternoon. Washington scored 23 points and had two steals and rebounds . The Panthers won 96-67 against the Rowdy Raiders. The Panthers have won seven games in row. (Hannah Fergurson)

Sophomore guard Miah Monahan had a new career high of 17 points, three rebounds and five assists, going 7-of-9 from the field.  

Sophomore forward Macy McGlone recorded her first double-double of the season as she had 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also had a career-high of four steals. 

Senior froward Morgan Litwiller and Sophomore guard Julia Bengtson both recorded nine points and four rebounds while Litwiller also added two assists and two steals. 

The Panthers also had some players come off the bench and add to the fiery offense. Sophomore forward Taris Thornton had seven points and four rebounds while junior forward Hannah Purcell had six points and five rebounds. 

The Panthers outrebounded the Raiders 43-21 and outscored them 24-2 with 54 of the Panthers’ points coming in the paint and 19 points coming from fast breaks. 

Overall, the Panthers shot 39-of-67 with a season high 58.2 shooting percentage.  

With their performance against the Raiders, it is no surprise that the Panthers are first in the OVC in rebounding offense with 241 rebounds, averaging 40 offensive rebounds per game. 

They are also first in rebounding defense with 185 defensive rebounds on the season, averaging 30.8 per game.  

Washington and McGlone continue to be a dynamic duo this season.  

Washington is first in the OVC in scoring with 111 points this season, averaging 18 points per game. McGlone is sixth in scoring with 76 points this season, averaging 12.7 points per game.  

McGlone is fourth in the OVC in rebounding with 43 on the season while averaging 7.2 per game. She is first in the OVC in field goal percentage with a .561 percent and also first in the OVC in assists with 35, averaging 5.8.  

The Panthers will be back in Lantz Arena on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to take on Northern Illinois. The Panthers beat the Huskies last season in the Compass Tournament 87-81. 

Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or acschulz@eiu.edu