Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s women’s basketball team shot 57 percent in the second half on its way to a 79-59 victory over visiting Tennessee State on Saturday at McBrayer Arena. 

Eastern held TSU to 27 percent shooting and 28 points in the second half.  After getting out-rebounded by 15 and out-scored by four in the paint in the first half, the Lady Colonels out-rebounded the Lady Tigers by three and held a 16-point advantage in the paint in the second half.

With the win, EKU (6-6) remains unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play at 2-0.

After a three-pointer by Tennessee State’s Jasmin Shuler made it a two-point game, 49-47, in favor of Eastern with 10:45 left to play, the Lady Colonels went on an 11-2 run to take control.  A trey by Raechele Gray capped the run and made it an 11-point game, 60-49, with 8:04 remaining.

Another three-pointer by Gray, with 44 seconds to go, capped the scoring for both teams and made the final margin EKU’s largest lead of the game.

Marie Carpenter led Eastern Kentucky with 17 points.  #LaRa’e Allen# finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Gray contributed 12 points and seven assists.

Tayla Foster led Tennessee State (5-9, 1-1 OVC) with 21 points.

The first half featured a battle of runs.  EKU tied the score, 13-13, with an 8-1 run before Tennessee State used a 13-4 run to go on top 26-17 with five minutes remaining.  The Lady Colonels then closed out the half with a 13-5 run to get within one, 31-30, at the break.

After hitting just 2-of-12 from the field to start the game, Eastern ended the half by making 11-of-17 attempts.  The Lady Colonels shot 45 percent from the field, including 50 percent from three-point range.  The Lady Tigers out-rebounded EKU by 15, including 12 boards off the offensive glass, but made just 34 percent of its first half shots, including 2-of-13 from behind the arc.

Eastern scored the first seven points of the second half to stretch its run to 20-5 and take a 37-31 lead.  TSU went five minutes without scoring its first second half points.  The Lady Tigers tied the game once, 44-44 with 12:10 left to play, but would never lead again.

Tennessee State finished with 19 offensive rebounds but held only an 11-10 advantage in second chance points.  TSU shot 31 percent for the game, while Eastern Kentucky made 51 percent of its shots.  EKU went 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from behind the arc while limiting the Lady Tigers to 21 percent (5-for-24) from deep.

The Lady Colonels continue their three-game home stand on Monday when Austin Peay visits McBrayer Arena.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.