Women v. Eastern Illinois

Eleven minutes to tip-off and I’m going back to the tried and true live blog. I don’t believe this game is cast on TV, so I’ll continue to be as descriptive and informative as possible.

The Cougars are 3-1 against Ohio Valley Conference teams this season, but Eastern Illinois is No. 1 in the conference with a 10-1 record. It will definitely be a battle for the Cougars, and a good indication of how they stack up against the top teams in the conference.

From the eye test – Eastern is big. Much bigger than the Cougars. It’s not like its been different than any other game this season though – SIUE knows they have to press and push the basketball. Six minutes to tip-off, stay here for (near) play-by-play.

Starting line-ups –

Eastern has – Wyss, Nixon, Sims, Kloak and Pressley

SIUE – Duncan, Stahlberg, Bey, Meade, and Herrod

One big thing before tip-off – Eastern has four, count em four, players averaging over five rebounds this season.

Eastern off to a 5-0 lead. Both teams are taking good shots, but SIUE can’t convert.

SIUE converts on a couple fast breaks – they’ll need to continue that tonight. Duncan drives on another to draw the foul. The Cougars are definitely pushing the ball up the floor and playing tight defense. They already have three steals in five minutes.

Bowles and McCleary providing some heckling against Eastern’s free throw shooter, but to no avail as they convert both.

Perfect encapsulation of this team – Eastern had a 3-1 fast break on Kenner, she forced the pass and Bey hustles down the court and tips the shot for the turnover. This team never gives up on a play.

Despite the hustle, SIUE is down 17-6. They’ve made a few mental error resulting in turnovers. Part of that is Eastern is just really good.

Is anything as American as the Dash for Cash? I can’t think of anything.

Cougars still down 20-8, but they’ve come back from bigger. Still plenty of time left – 10 minutes left in the half.

Both teams have scored most of their points in paint so far. Eastern has two three-pointers, but that’s been it.

Annd….Kenner hits one from outside. SIUE has had open shots, but Kenner’s been the only one to drain one. Eastern has been playing good defense inside. They haven’t allowed anything, whether closing off the lane or a hard foul.

Six steals for SIUE, with five players in on the action.

Michaela Herrod is so aggressive on offense, tonight it has paid off for four points. She doesn’t miss a chance to take a shot.

Meade hits a three to close the gap to 28-23. The Cougars have clawed their way back into this game. They’ve taken some punches, but they always struck right back. SIUE getting scoring from nearly everyone on the team – only Affourtit doesn’t have points, but she hasn’t taken a shot yet. SIUE has forced 11 turnovers.

Three minutes left in the half  –  Cougars within four. SIUE in double digit steals already.

16 points for SIUE off of turnovers – this is keeping them in them game. They have out-hustled Eastern all game so far. Eastern has just shot much better – 66 percent.

34 seconds left in the half, Panthers still in front 33-27. They have shot extremely well, with several mid-range jumpers falling their way.

SIUE with stifling defense, forces a shot clock violation and Duncan just misses a last second lay-up. SIUE has a ton of energy, hopefully they can keep it up in the second half.

Weird stat – SIUE has 14 rebounds to Eastern’s 18, but the Cougars have 10 offensive rebounds.

Duncan is 0-5 from behind the three-point line, but she’s hitting everything in warm-up right now. If that can carry over to the game, SIUE will be right in this.

Two minutes in, Cougars still playing hard, Eastern still shooting well. Not much has changed. Eastern increasing their lead a bit to 12, as they hold a 41-29 lead. SIUE needs to really clamp down here.

Levens takes a timeout, and a good one. SIUE is overexerting themselves, forcing bad passes and playing too fast. Eastern with a 43-29 lead.

Eastern is now in the bonus, SIUE has been called for seven fouls in under five minutes.

This has just turned into a track meet now, and Eastern is in control. They’ve dumped a couple of lay-ups in to push the lead to 14.

Ashley Bey is putting everything on the line right now. She missed a steal and picked up a foul, hitting the floor in frustration. She’s trying to take the game into her hands, but they just haven’t hit their lay-ups.

Like I said before, Michaela takes charge as much as Ashley does. She hit a lay-up and one to keep the game from getting out of hand. SIUE is shooting 30 percent to Eastern’s 62 percent right now.

Cougars getting a little hotter, they’ve almost got the gap to single digits. Eastern hits a lay-up though and brings the gap to 14.

Eastern’s continuing to work the inside, working the high-low to their advantage. They’ve got the size to do it.

Ashley Bey fouls out as she trips up on a fast break. Six and a half minutes to play and Eastern still ahead 63-48. The Cougars are going to have a bit more trouble keeping up their pace with Bey out, she runs that quick offense well.

Every time SIUE gets it to 10 or 11, Eastern answers. The Cougars just can’t seem to get over the 10 point hurdle. Eastern is just crashing the paint right now, and they’re getting the calls.

3:51 and the last media timeout is underway. Eastern is leading 67-55 and SIUE has the ball. If they can convert here it will be big. The Cougars are shooting much better in the second half – 42 to 30 percent, but Eastern is hitting 57 percent of theirs. Cougars need to get a few keep rebounds to stay in this.

Duncan smacks into a Panther and is a slow to get up, Kenner hits a three! Cougars are now in single digits. Bey fouling out may have been a blessing in disguise. They’ve slowed down a bit and are hitting shots.

Raven Berry has fouled out as well, putting two of the three leading scorers on the bench.

Michaela Herrod is absolutely lighting it up right now. She has 20 points and leading the Cougars in scoring right now.

1:12 and Cougars down by 10. Ref calls possession for Eastern – except he’s 40 feet from the play.

Men’s basketball team doing their best Barkley impression. “Kenny that was tuurble.”

Time winding down, Eastern will pull this out 74-63.