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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team will look to continue its strong play on the road this weekend, as the Lady Colonels travel to face Ohio Valley Conference foes Jacksonville State on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Belmont on Monday at 7:00 p.m.

EKU (9-6, 3-1 OVC) is currently in third place in the OVC East, but right on the heels of division leaders Belmont (10-8, 5-1 OVC) and Tennessee Tech (10-8, 4-1 OVC). The Lady Colonels are one of only four teams in the OVC with one conference loss, and three of those teams reside in the East Division.

Senior Jade Barber has led the way for Eastern so far this season. The 6-2 center from Louisville is the reigning OVC Player of the Week after going for 21 points and 19 rebounds in the win over in-state rival Morehead State last Saturday. Barber, who is ranked third in the country in field goal percentage (61.5), is the only OVC player currently averaging a double-double (13.9 ppg, 10.7 rpg) this season.

Fellow seniors Brittany Coles, Raechele Gray and Alex Jones have also been key factors in Eastern’s strong start to conference play. Coles, who poured in 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc against Morehead State, has yet to leave the floor in 2013, playing in every minute of each of the Lady Colonels’ last three games. Gray, who had a career-high 18 points when EKU faced Jacksonville State last year in Jacksonville, is now third in the league in assists-per-game (4.7). Jones, meanwhile, is expected to start her 100th career game against JSU this Saturday. The EKU record for games started is 113, held by Laphelia Doss (1994-98).

Junior Marie Carpenter is the wildcard for the Lady Colonels this season. Carpenter was EKU’s lone preseason All-OVC selection heading into 2012-13, but she suffered a hand injury in a 27-point performance against Miami (Ohio) in the season opener and she missed the next 11 games. Her return to form has been gradual; however, she has scored in double-figures in two of Eastern’s last three games and she notably saw 31 minutes off the bench against Morehead State.

Jacksonville State (0-18, 0-6 OVC) has yet to win a game this season. The Gamecocks played OVC East leader Belmont tight (68-62) at home on Jan. 7 but most recently fell at SIUE, 80-58. Miranda Cantrell leads JSU at 7.3 points-per-game.

EKU is 14-6 all-time against JSU, including a wild, 80-76 overtime win over the Gamecocks in December of 2011.

Belmont’s only conference loss this season was at Tennessee Tech. The Bruins most recently defeated Murray State, 59-50, on the road and will host Tennessee State on Saturday before facing the Lady Colonels. Belmont is paced offensively by Katie Brooks (10.3 ppg) and Jordan Coleman (9.7 ppg).

Belmont, which joined the OVC this past offseason, is 6-2 all-time against EKU, although the Lady Colonels defeated the Bruins, 60-46, in their last meeting (Dec. 6, 2011). Barber, Jones and Carpenter all scored in double-figures in that game.

Following this weekend’s OVC East road trip, EKU returns home to host Belmont and Tennessee State at home next weekend. The Lady Colonels are 8-1 at McBrayer Arena this season.