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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team was defeated on the road at UNC Asheville, 71-63, on Saturday night at Kimmel Arena.

EKU (2-2) trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, but switched to a full-court press with 12 minutes remaining in the game and began to claw back in it. The Lady Colonels pulled to within three when freshman Mariah Massengill dished it off to sophomore Miranda Maples, who laid it in to make it 56-53 with 6:50 on the clock.

UNCA (2-1), however, responded by scoring eight unanswered points, as a pair of free throws by Brittany Gwyn stretched the Bulldogs' lead back to double digits, 64-53, with 4:23 to play.

EKU never got closer than six the rest of the way.

Senior Marie Carpenter – who poured in 41 points versus Alabama A&M on Thursday – led Eastern with 15 points, while Maples and fellow sophomore Shelly Harper combined to score 24 points and grab 11 boards. Senior Pilar Walker contributed a team-best six assists and five steals.

Gwyn led all players in the game with 17 points, while Paige Love scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for UNCA.

EKU led UNCA late in the first half, as sophomore Jasmine Stafford knocked down a jumper to give the Lady Colonels a 31-28 advantage with just over a minute on the clock. However, UNCA responded with six unanswered points in the final minute of play – including a buzzer-beating layup by Love – to storm into the locker room leading by four, 35-31.

EKU returns to action on Monday when the Lady Colonels host Davis & Elkins at McBrayer Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.