LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — In a low-scoring defensive struggle, the East Tennessee State Lady Buccaneers held off the Eastern Illinois Panthers for a 60-54 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at KFC Yum! Center.

The Lady Buccaneers, led by a dominant performance from Daniela López, never trailed but were unable to fully shake the persistent Panthers, who closed the gap to two points in the final minutes before East Tennessee State secured the win from the free-throw line.

East Tennessee State improved its season record to 3-6, while Eastern Illinois fell to 1-7.

López, a guard from Barcelona, Spain, was the engine for the Lady Buccaneers, finishing with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Her scoring, particularly from beyond the arc, provided crucial momentum for East Tennessee State throughout the contest. She was supported by Anala Nelson of Columbia, South Carolina, who added 12 points and four rebounds, including key free throws in the waning seconds.

The game was characterized by offensive struggles for both sides, with scoring coming in fits and starts. East Tennessee State established an early lead, capitalizing on Eastern Illinois turnovers and missed opportunities. The Panthers, however, stayed within striking distance thanks to their own defensive efforts and timely scoring.

Eastern Illinois was led by Tiny Lewis of St. Cloud, Minnesota, who scored 14 points. Ava Stoller of St. Petersburg, Florida, was a force on the boards, pulling down nine rebounds to go with eight points and four assists. The Panthers’ interior defense was bolstered by 6-foot-10 center Abbie Boutilier of Flower Mound, Texas, who recorded two blocks and altered several other shots during her 12 minutes on the court.

The Lady Buccaneers built their largest lead in the second quarter, going up by as many as 10 points after a 3-pointer from López. Eastern Illinois chipped away, and a 3-pointer from Clara Glad late in the third quarter cut the deficit to just three points heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair. With just over a minute remaining, a jump shot by Meghan Downing of East Tennessee State extended the lead to 54-50. Lewis answered immediately for the Panthers with a jumper of her own, making it a two-point game with 33 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, López drove to the basket for a critical layup, pushing the lead back to four with 41 seconds on the clock. After an Eastern Illinois timeout, the Panthers were forced to foul. Nelson was sent to the line twice in the final 23 seconds, coolly sinking all four free throws to ice the game for the Lady Buccaneers. Downing added two more free throws in the final seconds to set the final margin.

Kennedy Younkin of Ashville, Ohio, provided valuable minutes off the bench for East Tennessee State with four points and three rebounds. For Eastern Illinois, Alanna Phillipo of Millbury, Massachusetts, contributed four points, while Meioshe Mason of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Ella Lune of Brimfield, Illinois, each scored six points.

The game was part of a multi-team event held at the neutral site. East Tennessee State will look to build on the win when it returns home to face Southern Indiana on Dec. 6. Eastern Illinois will hit the road for its next contest, a matchup at Illinois State also on Dec. 6.