Preview: Struggling Eastern Illinois Faces Illinois State in Nonconference Finale NORMAL, Ill. (Interstat) — The Eastern Illinois Panthers will look to snap a five-game losing streak when they visit the Illinois State Redbirds in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Sunday at Redbird Arena. The Panthers (1-7) enter on the heels of a 60-54 home loss to East Tennessee State last Sunday. Their lone win this season came at Bellarmine, 68-63, on Nov. 29. Illinois State (4-5) seeks to rebound from a 68-54 road defeat at Northern Iowa on Wednesday, which extended its own skid to four games. Eastern Illinois will lean on guard Tiny Lewis, who has been a consistent scorer during the difficult stretch. Lewis is coming off a 14-point effort in 37 minutes against ETSU and has averaged 12.2 points over her last five contests. The Redbirds counter with guard Trista Fayta, who has been a workhorse and primary facilitator. Fayta logged 40 minutes and scored a team-high 19 points with seven assists in the loss to Northern Iowa. She averages 12.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. Illinois State holds a distinct advantage in the early season results, with its four victories including a 101-52 rout of Chicago State and a 59-44 win at Loyola Chicago. Eastern Illinois has faced a tough schedule, with losses to power conference foes Louisville, Michigan State and Purdue by wide margins. This game concludes the nonconference slate for both in-state programs. Eastern Illinois begins Ohio Valley Conference play Jan. 1 at Southeast Missouri State. Illinois State opens Missouri Valley Conference action Jan. 2 at Murray State. Sunday’s tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CST at Redbird Arena.