CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois kept pace in the hunt for the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference championship Thursday night, claiming a 76-56 homecourt win over Tennessee Tech in Lantz Arena.

The Panthers (14-7 overall) improved to 8-2 in the league, placing them just a half-game back of Murray State. The Golden Eagles saw their record slip to 4-17 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
Meagan Lyons and Blair Bowens each scored 14 points to lead the Golden Eagles in scoring. Bowens added seven rebounds, and raised her career scoring total to 968 points as she aims to become the 25th player in school history to hit the 1,000-point mark.

Guards Allison Price and Tacarra Hayes added seven points each for the Golden Eagles.

Center Rachel Galligan was the big weapon Thursday for the Panthers. She was 6-for-7 from the field and made all 10 of her free throw tries on the way to a game-best 22 points.

Maggie Kloak also reached double figures, going 3-for-4 from the field and 9-for-10 at the line for 15 points. Ellen Canale, Ashley Thomas and Lindsey Kluempers chipped in with nine points apiece.

Eastern Illinois shot the ball well, hitting 56 percent from the field (21-for-37). The Panthers were 29-for-33 at the free throw line for 88 percent. Tech hit 35 percent (19-for-54) from the field and 65 percent (13-for-20) at the line.

The Golden Eagles wrap up their four-game road stretch with a game Saturday evening at Southeast Missouri. Tech returns home to Eblen Center next Thursday when it hosts Eastern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for the game are available at the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center, or by calling (931) 372-3940.