Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s women’s basketball team battled its way to a 61-56 victory over Austin Peay Thursday night at McBrayer Arena. The Lady Colonels out-rebounded the Lady Govs by one, got to the free throw line 11 more times and committed three fewer turnovers.

Eastern (5-14, 2-8 OVC) was clinging to a 51-49 lead when sophomore Brittany Coles converted a transition lay-up and added a free throw to build a five-point cushion with 1:36 left in the game.

After a free throw by Jasmine Rayner cut the margin to four, 54-50, Austin Peay (7-15, 6-4 OVC) missed two chances to make it a two-point game. Rayner missed a jumper in the paint with 52 seconds remaining. EKU then missed two free throw attempts with 41 seconds on the clock, but Cherie White grabbed the offensive rebound. After that the Lady Colonels made 6-of-8 attempts from the line to hold off the visitors.

White finished with a game-high 12 rebounds. Austin Peay out-rebounded EKU by 18 when the teams met earlier this season. On Thursday the Lady Colonels held a 42-41 rebounding edge.

A trio of guards led EKU in scoring and helped the team snap a 10-game losing streak. Sophomore Shakeyia Colyer scored a season-high 17 points, grabbed four boards, made four steals and had three assists. Freshman Marie Carpenter added 14 points and Coles finished with 12.

Dalila Thomas came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points for APSU.

Eastern Kentucky converted 16-of-25 attempts at the free throw line while the Lady Govs made 9-of-14.

The Lady Colonels will host Tennessee State on Saturday at 4 p.m.