CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Indiana State women's basketball dropped its opening exhibition contest to Eastern Illinois, 77-70 inside Lantz Arena Friday night as part of a Hurricane Relief Charity event.
 
The Sycamores could not overcome a 17-2 fourth quarter run by the hot-shooting Panthers. During the run, EIU's Grace Lennox hit a pair shots from downtown as she lit up the scoreboard for the home squad.
 
EIU drained 13 3-pointers in the game while ISU was held to just five.
 
Heading into the fourth quarter, Indiana State led 58-56. ISU scored the first points of the fourth on a triple from Ashley Taia, but would be held to just nine points the remainder of the period.
 
The Sycamore offense was led by senior forward Wendi Bibbins who scored a team high 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
 
Eastern Illinois took the opening tipoff and jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Sycamores were able to get on the board. Bibbins played a key role helping the Sycamores back into the game and keeping them there as she scored seven of the first 11 points in the game. Fellow Sycamore Regan Wentland added four points during the ISU 11-2 run as Indiana State captured its first lead of the game.
 
Indiana State shot 47 percent (7-of-15) in the first quarter and continued their hot shooting in the second, jumping out to a six-point lead with 3:33 left before halftime thanks to free throws from AJ Thomas and Alexis Delgado.
 
The Panther defense would be out in full force midway through the second, as EIU did not allow the Sycamores a field goal for the final 5:02 of the second quarter as they used an 8-2 run to knot the game at 35 at the break.
 
Bibbins led the Sycamores at the break with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting while sophomore Ashli O'Neal added six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
 
The Sycamores shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the field while EIU shot 46.8 percent (29-of-62).
 
Freshman AJ Thomas and Tierra Webb added 13 points each while Taia added 10. Sophomore Ashli O'Neal scored nine points on a trio of 3-pointers
 
EIU was led by Lennox who had a game high 25 points including four triples. Carman Tellez added 17 for the Panthers.
 
The Sycamores return to Terre Haute to open their home slate Sunday afternoon in an exhibition contest against Illinois-Springfield. Tip is slated for 2 p.m. ET at the Hulman Center.

Indiana State men's and women's basketball tickets are available for purchase at GoSycamores.com/tickets, by calling 812.237.3737 or by visiting the ISU Ticket Office daily between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.