Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky fell to Western Michigan, 66-58, on New Year’s Eve at McBrayer Arena. Sophomore Brittany Coles led the Lady Colonels (4-8) with a career-best 25 points.

Sophomore Alex Jones finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for EKU. Miame Giden led the Broncos (4-9) with 15 points. Forward Brenna Banktson added 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky shot just 27 percent from the field, including 22 percent from three-point range. WMU made 43 percent of its shots.

Western Michigan led by as many as nine in the first half while making four three-pointers and limiting EKU to 21 percent shooting. However, the Lady Colonels kept the score close by out-scoring the Broncos by nine at the free throw line, turning the ball over only six times and out-rebounding the visitors by two. Eastern ended the first half with a 7-1 run, five of which came at the charity stripe, and trailed by only three, 30-27, at intermission.

Jones registered her 11th career double-double in the first half, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds at the break.

A three-pointer by Coles a minute and a half into the second period closed the gap to a single point, 32-31, but that is as close as the Lady Colonels would get. Kimmy Dominique’s three-pointer with 4:03 left in the game stretched the Bronco lead to double digits for the first time, 57-46.

The Lady Colonels turned the ball over only 12 times, compared to 17 for Western Michigan, but poor shooting allowed Eastern to turn the Broncos turnovers into only 16 points. WMU finished with a two-rebound advantage, 40-38, despite 15 offensive rebounds by EKU.

The Lady Colonels step back into Ohio Valley Conference play on Thursday when they host Jacksonville State. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.