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Game Notes

RICHMOND, Ky. – It’s been eight years since a top-25 women’s basketball team visited Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena, and 18 years since a top-10 team came to town.  Those streaks will end on Thursday when the Lady Colonels play host to No. 9 Louisville.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.  General admission tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for only $8.  Call the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122 for more information. 

The live radio broadcast of the game is available in the Richmond area on WEKY 1340 AM, and can be heard worldwide on EKUSports.com.  A live video broadcast of the contest is available on OVCSports.TV.

No. 11 Georgia is the last top-25 team to visit McBrayer Arena, on Dec. 30, 2003.  The last time the Lady Colonels played host to a top-10 team was Feb. 24, 1993 when No. 1 ranked Tennessee paid a visit to Richmond.

Louisville is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 10 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

UofL leads the all-time series between the two programs 17-13, but the Lady Colonels are 6-4 against the Cardinals in Richmond.  Louisville has won three straight in the series.  EKU’s last victory over UofL was on Dec. 15, 1990 in Richmond (71-68).

On Tuesday, Eastern Kentucky beat Lincoln Memorial, 80-75, in its second exhibition game.  The Lady Colonels (0-1) officially began their 2011-12 regular season last Saturday at Xavier. 

EKU had Xavier, a team receiving votes in both preseason top-25 polls, on the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout blow in a 66-61 loss.  The Lady Colonels had a one point lead with less than four minutes left in the game, but couldn’t hold on.  Freshman Carla Booth led Eastern with 15 points.

Against Lincoln Memorial, Alex Jones finished the night with 23 points and 15 rebounds.  Marie Carpenter went 4-for-6 from behind the three-point arc on her way to a 16-point performance.  Raechele Gray registered seven of Eastern Kentucky’s 20 assists and scored eight points.

Louisville is 1-1 on the season after beating Missouri State 73-64 and losing at No. 6 Texas A&M 76-58.

However, the Cardinals have yet to put their full assortment of weapons on the court at the same time.  Sophomore point guard Shoni Schimmel (15.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 97 three-pointers in 2010-11) has missed the first two games of the season due to an NCAA suspension.  She is eligible to return against the Lady Colonels.

Returning starters Monique Reid (6-foot-1, Sr., F) and Tia Gibbs (5-foot-9, Jr., G) both missed the Texas A&M game due to injuries.  Reid led the team in scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg) last season.  She played 22 minutes against Missouri State but went 2-for-10 from the field and scored four points.

Gibbs (8.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg in 2010-11) played just four minutes against Missouri State and scored one point.

Against Texas A&M, Bria Smith led the team with 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  She made 8-of-11 attempts from the field.  Becky Burke finished with 13 points, nine of which came on three 3-pointers.  Cierra Warren added 12 points and seven rebounds.  Warren had a game-high 18 points against Missouri State.

In two games this season, the Cardinals have made just 26 percent of its three-pointers, but have held their opponents to 16 percent shooting from deep.  UofL is averaging 46 rebounds per game.

Louisville returned four starters from last year’s 22-13 team that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished ranked No. 19 in the nation.