RICHMOND, Ky. – After ending a two-game losing skid on Thursday, Eastern Kentucky will try to build a two-game winning streak on Saturday when Samford visits McBrayer Arena. Eastern (9-6, 4-4 OVC) is coming off a 92-71 win over Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs (13-5, 6-2 OVC) beat Morehead State on Thursday and are among the conference leaders.

The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Eastern Kentucky leads the all-time series 5-4. The Lady Colonels won the first five games in the series but Samford has won the last four.

On Thursday, Eastern Kentucky shot nearly 60 percent in the second half and 52 percent for the game in route to beating Jacksonville State, 92-71. Led by Ashley Cazee’s 21 points, six players scored in double figures for the Lady Colonels.

Crystal Jones contributed 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals for EKU. Shavonne Jones and freshman Cherie White each scored 11 points. Jones added a team-best eight rebounds. Niki Avery chipped in with 10 points to go along with six assists and five steals. LaTanya Stokes also scored 10 points and grabbed six boards.

Eastern Kentucky made 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) second half shots and led by 25 points on multiple occasions. The Lady Colonels made 10 of 21 shots from beyond the arc for 47.6 percent.

Three of EKU’s first four baskets were three-pointers as the Lady Colonels jumped out to an early 14-5 lead. All five starters scored in the opening six minutes. Jacksonville State recovered and answered with an 11-4 run of its own to close the gap to two points. A tip-in by Courtney Chessher capped the run and made it 18-16 with 8:38 remaining in the first half.

Over a two minute span late in the first half the Lady Colonels out-scored JSU 11-1 to pull away. EKU converted four lay-ups during the run. Cazee’s lay-up and free throw put the home team in front by 12, 36-24, with 3:26 to go before intermission. Eastern would take an 11-point lead, 42-31, into the locker room at the break.

The Lady Colonels were aided in the first half by 11 offensive rebounds. Eastern Kentucky held a 21-14 advantage on the boards after the first 20 minutes of play.

Avery opened the second half with a three point and EKU never looked back. A 10-1 run put the game out of reach. Crystal Jones began the run with a lay-up and accounted for five of the 10 points. White capped it with a three-pointer to put the Lady Colonels in front by 21, 61-40, with 13:27 left in the game.

A pair of free throws by Avery with 8:36 showing on the clock made it a 25-point game, 74-49.

In her last five games, Crystal Jones is averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals. The senior guard has made 59.4 percent of her shots from the field, including 62.5 percent from beyond the arc, during that five-game span.

Samford enters Saturday’s game as one of three teams in the conference with two league losses. EIU sits at the top at 8-2 while Southeast Missouri and Samford are close behind at 6-2.

The Bulldogs have won six straight games, including five straight conference contests. Samford hasn’t lost an OVC game since opening conference play with back-to-back home court losses to Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri.

Included among Samford’s 13 wins this season is a 48-46 victory over Alabama and a 65-49 win against Missouri.

The Bulldogs rank first in the conference in scoring defense (58.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (43.8 percent).

Freshman Emily London leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. The Lexington, Ky., native has made 51.8 percent of her shots from the field and 48.6 percent from three-point range. Savannah Hill leads the team in rebounding at 4.8 boards per game. As a team the Bulldogs average only 30.4 boards per game.

In its last game Samford beat Morehead State 61-49 on Thursday. Senior forward Alex Munday led the team with 18 points and added six rebounds. London contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs knocked down 11 three pointers in 25 attempts against the Eagles.