Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky freshman Alex Jones recorded her fourth double-double in the last five games, but Cincinnati opened the second half with a 14-2 run and defeated the Lady Colonels 62-49 Friday night at Fifth Third Arena. EKU (5-5) trailed by just five at the break before the Bearcats (5-5) pulled away early in the second half.

Jones finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Talisha Davis led Eastern with a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds. Senior Colette Cole contributed 11 points and three rebounds.

The Lady Colonels held a 34-32 rebounding edge, but committed 22 turnovers, compared to 13 for UC.

Shareese Ulis led Cincinnati with 13 points. Carla Jacobs added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. The Bearcats shot 52.4 percent in the second half.

Ulis, UC’s leading scorer on the season, didn’t score her first points until the 9:51 mark of the first half. Her jumper gave the Bearcats an 18-12 lead. The Lady Colonels answered with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game. A three-pointer by Davis, her third of the game, capped the run and put EKU on top 19-18 with 5:40 remaining in the opening half.

Cincinnati ended the first half on an 8-2 run and took a 26-21 lead into the locker room at the break. The two teams were nearly equal in all categories at halftime. EKU went 9-for-29 from the field while the Bearcats made 9-of-28. Both teams were 3-for-10 from behind the arc. Cincinnati had two more rebounds and two fewer turnovers. The difference came at the free throw line where UC went 5-for-7 while Eastern missed its only attempt from the charity stripe.

Cincinnati began the second half with a 14-2 run, going on top by 13 after a basket by Ulis with 15:44 left in the game. The Bearcats led by double figures the rest of the way.

The Lady Colonels closed within 12, 45-33, on a three-pointer by Cole and a free throw by Jones with 8:22 on the clock, but the visitors wouldn’t get any closer.

Eastern Kentucky shot 38.8 percent for the game. EKU connected on 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from behind the three-point arc.

The Lady Colonels will close out the 2009 calendar year on Tuesday with an afternoon tilt against Central Arkansas. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is set for 2 p.m. All EKU faculty and staff are invited to attend the game for free.

Notes
Freshman Alex Jones recorded her fourth double-double in the last five games.

Eastern Kentucky senior Colette Cole will return to Richmond and participate in EKU’s fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday. Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management in three and a half years.

The Lady Colonels have out-rebounded eight of their 10 opponents this season.

EKU had held four straight opponents to 60 points or less. Cincinnati broke the 60-point barrier with 30 seconds left in the game.

Junior Nadia Mossong made her first start of the season.

Head coach Chrissy Roberts used her sixth different starting line-up in 10 games this season.

Cincinnati moved ahead in the all-time series between the two teams 9-8. The Bearcats have won nine of the last 11 meetings between the two squads.