Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior Marie Carpenter poured in a game-high 27 points and senior Jade Barber was three blocks shy of a triple-double as the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team defeated Miami (Ohio), 73-63, in a season-opening, overtime thriller on Friday night at McBrayer Arena.

EKU (1-0) trailed Miami (0-1), 58-57, with less than two minutes to play in regulation, before Barber converted a layup to give the Lady Colonels the lead and Carpenter added to that lead with a jumper in the paint that made it 61-58 with 27 ticks on the clock.

On Miami’s ensuing possession, however, Kirsten Olowinski banked in desperation three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the score and force overtime.

Undaunted, the Lady Colonels outscored the visiting RedHawks 12-2 in overtime to convincingly knock off a team that was picked to win the Mid-American East Division this season.

Carpenter, EKU’s leading scorer from last season and a Preseason All-OVC selection, recorded 27 points in the win, two points shy of her career high. It was Barber, however, that controlled the paint against a large and imposing Miami frontcourt, scoring 13 points, grabbing a career-high 21 rebounds and blocking seven shots. Behind Barber’s effort, EKU outrebounded Miami, 57-45, on the night.

Senior Raechele Gray, meanwhile, contributed 15 points and dished out a team-high five assists, while senior Brittany Coles chipped in with 10 points. Senior Alex Jones did not score, but added 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win.

Twelve Lady Colonels saw action in the game.

Miami had three players record double-doubles in the losing effort. Courtney Osborn led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Olowinski finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds and Erica Almady with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Colonels experienced opening-night jitters early on, connecting on just of two of their first 13 field goal attempts and allowing Miami to take a commanding 20-10 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. However, EKU recovered and reeled off the game’s next 10 points, as Carpenter converted a three-point play to make it 20-20 just before the final media timeout of the half.

After Miami established another lead with a 7-1 run of its own, Carpenter struck again, this time knocking down a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Lady Colonels’ deficit to just three, 27-24, at halftime.

EKU carried the momentum from Carpenter’s three-pointer out of the locker room, as the Lady Colonels shot 5-of-7 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers by Gray, to take the lead early in the second half. Gray’s second triple made it 39-31 in favor of EKU with 15:23 remaining in the game.

Miami did not go away, though, as the RedHawks clawed back into the game and took the lead, 45-44, on a free throw by Haley Robertson with 8:50 on the clock. The game went back-and-forth the rest of the way until Olowinski’s three-pointer forced overtime.

EKU returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 14, when the Lady Colonels host Kent State at McBrayer Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.