Eastern women’s basketball went on a 14-0 run in the second quarter and did not lose the lead as the Panthers beat UT Martin 66-62 on Saturday afternoon in Groniger Arena.

Redshirt sophomore forward Ella Lune helped lead the charge in the second quarter as she had three of her seven points and was able to get three steals and two blocks.

“I think, you know, just having that first steal and block really gets your confidence going,” Lune said. “So yeah, the first quarter, first half was really big, and I just had a lot of confidence and energy after that.”

Eastern was able to outscore UT Martin 18-6 in the second quarter and held the Skyhawks to only one field goal.

“Just felt like we did a good job speeding them up,” Eastern’s head coach Marqus McGlothan said. “Did really good in our press on the defensive side. Yeah, I mean we had their point guard to 10 turnovers and so they just really locked in, bought into the game plan and just hats off to the players.”

At halftime, Eastern was up 35-24 and held on to the lead for the rest of the game.

However, UT Martin tried to come back in the fourth quarter.

The Skyhawks went on multiple runs including a three-minute 13-2 run that cut Eastern’s lead to three.

“We got sloppy,” McGlothan said. “[We were] moving a little bit too fast and not making our reads.”

With two minutes left in the game, Eastern was leading 57-53 and then senior forward Macy McGlone proceeded to score the last nine points for Eastern as the Panthers held on to the lead.

“They were leaving me open underneath the basket,” McGlone said. “That’s kind of where I, you know, score most of my points. So, it just happened to me that I was the one who was scoring and then obviously they were fouling. So, I hit some free throws, which was good and we needed.”

McGlone finished the game with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Eastern was able to get a much-needed win as the Panthers stayed in third place and only one game behind first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Panthers were able to get the win without senior guard Kiyley Flowers. Flowers is the lead playmaker on the team as she has been averaging 4.3 assists and 2.8 steals a game. Without her, Lune and redshirt sophomore guard Lyric Johnson had to step up.

“Just knowing Ky being out, she plays a huge role in our team, so knowing other people have to step up and just trying to do my part to contribute to the win,” Johnson said.

Eastern keeps its undefeated streak at home alive after its win against UT Martin. The Panthers are 11-0 at home but will not be back at home until the last two games of the regular season.

Eastern has to go on a road trip for the next two games. Eastern previously went 1-3 over the last road stretch that it had.

Eastern plays Southern Indiana on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Evansville, Indiana.

Patrick Schmitz can be reached at 581-2812 or at pfschmitz@eiu.edu.