Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team shot 48 percent (28-of-58) from the field and limited host Murray State to just 32 percent (18-of-56) from the field as the Lady Colonels opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a convincing 69-49 win over the Racers on Monday afternoon at the CFSB Center.

Monday’s game was a battle of OVC division leaders, as East leader EKU improved to 7-5 (1-0 OVC) while West leader Murray State dropped to 7-5 (0-1 OVC).

It was Eastern’s first road win of 2012-13. The Lady Colonels are now 4-1 in OVC openers under head coach Chrissy Roberts.

Senior Jade Barber led the way with 12 points and 13 rebounds, her second consecutive double-double and sixth this season. Barber also controlled the paint with four blocks, spearheading a superior defensive effort by the top defensive team in the conference.

Fellow seniors Brittany Coles, Alex Jones and Raechele Gray also delivered strong efforts in the win. Coles went for 13 points and a career-high seven assists, while Jones scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds and Gray scored 13 points while knocking down all three of her three-point attempts.

As a team, Eastern shot a season-high 47 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range.

Keiona Kirby paced MSU with 11 points, while Erica Burgess added 10 points and four steals. Mariah Robinson, the third-leading scorer in the conference (17.2 ppg) was limited to just seven points by the Lady Colonels’ stingy defense.

EKU exploded out of the gate, opening the game with a 16-2 run that was capped by a steal and fast-break layup from senior Jalisa Bryant with 14:01 on the clock. Eastern maintained a double-digit lead for much of the remainder of the first stanza, until Murray State ended the half on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to six, 30-24, at the break.

The Racers pulled to within five, 33-28, when Kyra Watson converted a layup early in the second half; however, the Lady Colonels responded with a 10-1 run and retook a double-digits lead when Jones knocked down a jumper to make it 43-29 with 13:17 remaining in the game.

Murray State would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way, as EKU slowly pulled away late in the game.

The Lady Colonels continue OVC play by hosting SIUE on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 4:00 p.m.