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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team will be seeking its first 3-0 start since 2007-08 when the Lady Colonels host UNC Asheville on Saturday afternoon at McBrayer Arena. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

EKU (2-0) opened the season with a pair of home victories over Mid-American Conference opponents. The Lady Colonels surged past preseason MAC East favorite Miami (Ohio), 73-63, in overtime on Friday, Nov. 9, and then stifled Kent State to just 29 percent shooting from the field in a 56-42 win on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Senior Jade Barber has been a dominant presence in the paint for EKU early in the season. The center from Louisville was three blocks shy of a triple-double against Miami (13 points, 21 rebounds, seven blocks) and then went for 16 points and 18 rebounds versus Kent State. Fellow senior Alex Jones has yet to find her scoring touch this season, but that has not prevented her from going to work on the glass. The forward from Elizabethtown, Ky. has grabbed double-digit boards in both games this season and has helped the Lady Colonels gain an +11.5 rebounding margin over their opponents.

Senior guards Raechele Gray (12.0 ppg) and Brittany Coles (11.0 ppg) have also contributed to EKU’s strong start, and their perimeter defense has helped hold Lady Colonel foes to just 17 percent (5-of-30) shooting from behind the three-point arc.

UNCA (0-2) dropped a pair of games at home to start the season, losing to Western Carolina, 58-45, on Saturday, Nov. 10 before being edged by Wofford, 58-54, on Thursday, Nov. 15. Shonese Jones leads the Bulldogs in scoring (15.0 ppg), while Kelli Riles comes into the weekend averaging 7.5 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game.

EKU is 2-0 all-time against UNC Asheville, although the two programs have not met since the 1990-91 season. The Lady Colonels have averaged 95 points per game in their two previous matchups with the Bulldogs.

Following Saturday’s game, the Lady Colonels return to action in Puerto Rico for the San Juan Shootout over Thanksgiving Break.