CHARLESTON, Ill – Despite going 18-of-19 from the free throw line, Omaha dropped a 77-66 decision to Eastern Illinois at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill. on Friday evening.
The loss dropped the Mavericks to 3-4 on the season, while Eastern Illinois improved to 3-4 overall.
Omaha scored the first four points of the game on a pair of free throws by Brianna Bogard and a jumper from Mikaela Shaw. The Mavs increased their lead to 13-9 with 12:59 remaining in the first half. Shaw had an early nine points to spark the initial run.
Eastern Illinois responded with a 13-2 run to take a 22-15 lead with 9:11 remaining in the half, fueled by eight points from Phylicia Johnson. Shaw cut the lead to four points when she converted a free throw after being fouled on a lay-up. Remy Davenport cut EIU's lead to two points with a fast break lay-up. Sabrina Oroszova responded with five points to push the lead back to double digits with 3:31 left in the half. Lanese Bough and Madi Robson scored for the Mavs to cut the lead to 36-28 at the half.
Eastern Illinois opened the second half with an 8-0 run, led by three baskets from Arnisha Thomas. The Panthers increased their lead to 18 points (50-32) with 14:23 remaining in the game.
Omaha's Felicia Anderson scored 18 points off the bench in the second half to fuel the comeback attempt. Omaha cut the lead to 11 points with 12:06 left to play in the game on seven straight points from Anderson.
Omaha closed the gap to single digits three times down the stretch. Robson hit a pair of free throws to get Omaha within 63-54, but the Mavs were unable to complete the comeback.
Shaw had a game high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. She als?o had six rebounds and two assists. Anderson was 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc for 18 points. Robson also finished in double figures with 11 points.
Eastern Illinois had three players reach double digits, led by Sabina Oroszova's 19 points and 12 rebounds. Shakita Cox had 14 points, while Phylicia Johnson added 13.
Omaha finished the game shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the free throw line.
The Mavericks travel to Milwaukee, Wisc. to take on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
