Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three post players combined for 47 points and 30 rebounds in Eastern Kentucky’s 67-56 victory over Chicago State on Saturday in the consolation game of the Aces Winter Classic hosted by the University of Evansville.

Forwards Alex Jones and #LaRa`e Allen along with center Jade Barber# helped EKU (3-5) out-rebound the Cougars (0-9) by 17 and out-score CSU 34-16 in the paint.

Jones led the Lady Colonels with 20 points and 11 rebounds, her 18th career double-double.  Barber contributed 14 points and 11 boards, her third double-double in the last five games.  It marked the first time two players recorded a double-double in the same game for Eastern since March 2005.

Allen, a junior college transfer, made her first start as a Lady Colonel.  She finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Eastern Kentucky took control midway through the first half.  Trailing 10-5, the Lady Colonels held Chicago State scoreless for almost six minutes while scoring 10 unanswered points.  Carla Booth’s three-pointer from the top of the key made it 15-10 in favor of EKU at the 9:52 mark.  The Lady Colonels stretched their run to 16-4 to build a seven-point advantage, 21-14, with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half.

EKU shot 50 percent from the field (13-for-26) in the first half and led by eight at the break, 32-24.

The Lady Colonels opened the second half with a 12-3 run to take its largest lead of the game.  A three-pointer by Marie Carpenter capped the run and gave EKU a 17-point lead, 44-27.  Moments later her lay-up gave Eastern its second 17-point lead, 46-29, with 15:54 remaining.  The sophomore finished the game with 15 points.

Chicago State slowly whittled the lead down to three points.  Back-to-back three-pointers by Natalie Marlowe made it a 54-51 game with 7:06 left to play.  That is as close as the Cougars would get.  Jones scored Eastern’s next seven points, including five at the free throw line, to stretch the lead back to nine, 61-52, with 4:48 showing on the clock.

EKU shot 41 percent for the game, but made just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) from three-point range.  Eastern knocked down 19-of-22 from the free throw line, compared to Chicago State’s 17-for-30 performance.

The Lady Colonels will be back in action at home on Tuesday against future Ohio Valley Conference member Belmont.  The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.