26 Dec 2024 EIU slips past Trojans, 59-56

Posted at 12:34 PMh in Sports by

The Little Rock women’s basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit in the third quarter but couldn’t quite pull off the comeback in a 59-56 loss to Eastern Illinois at the Jack Stephens Center Dec. 21. 

The Trojans never led the game in the second half but tied it twice before the Panthers (5-6, 2-0) took the lead for good with 47 seconds left. 

By Mark Wagner

Jordan Holman led the Trojans (3-8, 1-1) with 18 points. She also dished out 3 assists and nabbed 4 steals. Faith Lee added 12 points and 5 rebounds. Jayla Brooks chipped in 8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

EIU star post player Macy McGlone scored 19 points and pulled down 12 boards. 

Lalani Ellis’ three-pointer with 4:24 to play in the third quarter gave EIU a commanding 41-29 lead. The Trojans came storming back with a 10-3 run that cut the lead to 44-39 on a Holman layup with just under a minute left, and the five-point EIU cushion stood heading into the final quarter. 

A Brooks three-pointer immediately in the fourth quarter cut the lead to two. The Panthers scored on back-to-back possessions to push the lead to six, but Alaina Payne’s bucket made it 48-44 with 8:38 to play. 

The lead again moved to six, but then Holman scored a bucket and hit a free throw on consecutive possessions to make it a 50-49 game with 5:31 to play. 

EIU tried to keep the Trojans at arm’s length and again led by four, but Brooks’ free throws with 2:37 left tied the game. EIU took the lead again moments later, and this time Sug Williams tied the game at 56 with two free throws with 1:56 left. 

Two free throws by Little Rock native and Joe T. Robinson graduate Alex Rouse gave EIU the lead for good with 47 seconds to play.

Maglone only managed one of two free throws with less than a second left to make the score 59-56. The Trojans called an immediate timeout and set up an inbound play at midcourt. However, Holman’s three-pointer at the buzzer was blocked. 

Little Rock is off for the holiday break and resumes play on Jan. 2 at Tennessee-Martin with a road tilt at Tennessee State set for Jan. 4.