EIU halts comeback bid to top Skyhawk women

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Junior guards Jasmine Newsome and Heather Butler each eclipsed the 20-point mark Monday night at Eastern Illinois, but the Skyhawks couldn’t complete their comeback attempt in an 84-79 loss at Lantz Arena.
UT Martin (10-13, 5-4 Ohio Valley Conference) led by 10 points in the first half before Eastern Illinois took the lead for good at the 7:42 mark in the first half. The Skyhawks whittled their deficit to two points twice in the last 3:23 but that was as close as they could get.
Newsome ended her night with 28 points — 23 in the second half — to go along with seven assists and three steals. Butler, who tied an NCAA record with her 69th consecutive game making a three-pointer, compiled 25 points, canning five 3-pointers and tallying a career-best eight assists.
Skyhawk senior Rick-iesha Bryant compiled 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double in OVC play. Senior forward Shelby Crawford also added nine points and seven rebounds for UT Martin, which shot 45.5 percent from three-point range and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Eastern Illinois (13-8, 7-2 OVC) was led by Mariah King, who tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Mitchell (17 points), Kelsey Wyss (14 points) and Ta’Kenya Nixon (eight points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) also paced the Panthers.
The Skyhawks kick off a three-game homestand Monday when they host Eastern Kentucky, tip-off  set for 7 p.m. Published in The WCP 1.29.13

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