Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – In a game that featured an exchange of runs by both teams, Eastern Kentucky used a 19-4 run late in the second half to pull away for a 60-46 victory over Belmont on Tuesday night at McBrayer Arena.

EKU (4-5) held the visiting Bruins (2-8) to 14 second half points on 21 percent shooting.  In the first half, Belmont shot 40 percent from the field and was 4-for-10 from three-point range, but went 0-for-10 from deep in the second half.

Marie Carpenter led the Lady Colonels with 14 points to go along with six rebounds and four steals.  Junior Alex Jones recorded her second straight double-double, finishing with 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.  Jade Barber added 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks off the bench.

Haley Nelson was the only Bruin to score more than seven points, finishing with 22 points on 10-for-20 shooting.

Despite the 14-point final margin, the lead changed hands 14 times during the game.  The battle of runs began when Eastern Kentucky used a 9-0 spurt early in the game to turn a 15-12 deficit into a 21-15 lead.  Carpenter capped it with a three-pointer followed by a steal and lay-up.  Belmont went more than five minutes without scoring.

The Bruins answered by scoring five straight points to key a 15-2 run.  Following their own run, the Lady Colonels missed a shot and then turned the ball over on five straight possessions.  A lay-up and free throw by Katie Brooks with 2:27 remaining in the first half polished off the Belmont run and gave the visitors their largest lead of seven points, 30-23.

Then it was Eastern’s turn.  The Lady Colonels went on a 10-2 run over the final two minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second half.  Carla Booth got it started with a three-pointer.  A lay-up by Jones put the finishing touch on the run and moved EKU in front by one, 33-32. 

Belmont’s first second half points didn’t come until Nelson’s jumper at the 16:13 mark, but that basket began the Bruins final run of the game.  A 6-2 spurt put the visitors in front 38-35 with 14:17 left to play.

EKU missed on a lay-up on the other end, but Barber’s offensive rebound and put back with 14:44 remaining began the Lady Colonels’ game-changing 19-4 run.  After taking its three-point lead, Belmont scored only four points over the next 10 and a half minutes.  A jumper by Brittany Coles put Eastern in front by 12, 54-42, with 4:52 to go. 

Eastern Kentucky shot 42 percent from the field for the game and 44 percent (4-for-9) from three-point range.  The home team held a 43-34 rebounding edge and out-scored Belmont by eight in the paint.

The Lady Colonels will play their final game on Saturday at Miami (Ohio) before breaking for next week’s finals.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.