MONROE, La. – Eastern Kentucky suffered its first loss of the 2007-08 season, falling to Syracuse University, 88-67, today at the Taco Bell Warhawk Classic in Monroe, La. The Orange used a 31-9 run to close the first half and break open a close game. Syracuse benefited from easy baskets, shooting 62 percent in the first half and holding a 38-16 scoring advantage in the paint for the game.

Crystal Jones led EKU (3-1) with 17 points on five of 10 shooting from the field. The senior was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc and connected on all four of her free throw attempts. Niki Avery finished with 16 points and four assists. The point guard turned the ball over only twice in 34 minutes on the court. Ashley Cazee added 11 points and six rebounds.

Back-to-back three pointers by Avery and Jones gave the Lady Colonels an early 8-5 advantage. Two more treys by Jones and Avery on consecutive EKU possessions made it a 5-point game, 16-11, with 14:41 to play in the first half.

After a jumper by Lindsey Waters put Eastern in front by five with 11:06 before intermission, Syracuse tied the game twice and then took a 2-point lead. A three-pointer by Ilona Muszak put the Lady Colonels back on top, but it would be their last lead of the game.

Syracuse (4-1) scored 11 unanswered points to begin a 31-9 run to end the first half. The Orange made 11 of 12 free throw attempts during the run including seven straight points from the line. Chandrea Jones accounted for 15 of SU’s final 31 points.

Jones had 17 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 27. She made 11 of 13 free throw attempts and added a game-high seven rebounds.

The Orange finished the first half of play with a 24-6 advantage in the paint.

Eastern Kentucky never got closer than 20 points in the second half despite limiting Syracuse to 39.3 percent (11-of-28) shooting in the final 20 minutes of play.

The Orange entered the game averaging nearly 14 rebounds per game more than their opponents, but finished with only a one-board rebounding advantage, 40-39. The Lady Colonels made a season low 14 turnovers, however Syracuse gave the ball away just 11 times.

SU finished the game having made 25 of its 35 free throw attempts, while EKU went 14-for-19 from the charity stripe.

Fantasia Goodwin came off the bench to score 17 points for the Orange. Nicole Michael added 14 points and six rebounds.

The Lady Colonels will play Alabama State for third place on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.