The Panthers recorded their first loss to Southern Indiana since the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 2024 with the final score of 66-46 on Thursday evening in Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana. 

After scoring only four points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers dropped their fourth Ohio Valley Conference game of the season. 

Southern Indiana was dominant throughout the first quarter, limiting the Panthers to nine points. 

The second quarter for the Panthers showed more production throughout the team. 

Redshirt sophomore forward Sydney-James Desroches went on a groove of her own, stealing the ball from the Screaming Eagles for a mid-range jumper on the other end of the court. 

Desroches also recorded a layup from the assist from sophomore guard Lalani Ellis. 

At the end of the first half, Desroches led the team in points with seven. Senior forward Macy McGlone was second with five of her own after the first half. 

At the start of the third quarter, every time Southern Indiana scored, Eastern had an answer back for the Screaming Eagles. 

Graduate forward Meredith Raley started the third quarter with a layup, put the Screaming Eagles ahead of the Panthers by 13. 

Eastern’s senior guard Alex Rouse answered with a jumper of her own, helping the Panthers gain some momentum throughout the third quarter. 

“I think the team did well as far as our transition runs,” junior guard Tiny Lewis said. “We got in transition, and we got open looks. We executed off plays we ran correctly.” 

Eastern cut Southern Indiana’s lead to nine points at the end of the third quarter. 

Ultimately, Eastern never obtained a lead throughout the game. 

“I think we struggled a little bit,” redshirt sophomore Ella Lune said. “Our identity is defense, and we just weren’t doing the right things we should’ve been. Just couldn’t get in the groove tonight.” 

Although the Panthers didn’t record the win, one player in particular was in a groove within the second half: freshman guard Alanna Phillipo. 

Phillipo recorded a career high of nine points against the Screaming Eagles. 

Phillipo and Desroches led the team in one of their lowest scoring conference game this season and their third lowest scoring games overall in the 2024-2025 season. 

“Honestly, this game didn’t go as planned,” Lewis said. “It didn’t go the way we wanted it to go. Just a lack of energy from everybody, just not communicating on things we normally communicate on.” 

With this loss, the Panthers are now 16-10 overall and 13-4 in the conference. 

Eastern still has a third place standing in the conference, and their hope for a top four seed in the OVC Tournament is still alive. 

The Panthers are traveling to Morehead, Kentucky to compete against the Morehead State Eagles on Saturday. 

“I think we’re going to come back hungry,” Lune said. “Today, we weren’t dawgs like we usually want to be, so Morehead [State]’s a big game. We weren’t ourselves out there, so it’s about coming out and playing hard.” 

Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. Central Standard Time. 

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.