Box Score I Box Score (PDF)

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Senior LaRa`e Allen poured in a career-high 18 points as the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team edged in-state rival Morehead State, 66-64, on Saturday evening at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.

With the key road win, EKU improves to 14-8 (8-3 OVC), while Morehead State drops to 8-17 (4-7 OVC). It is only the Lady Colonels’ second win in Morehead in the last eight years.

Allen made the most of her first start of the season, leading four different Lady Colonels in double-figures with 18 points, while also grabbing nine rebounds and blocking a career-high four shots.

Senior Brittany Coles, meanwhile, went for 16 points, while senior Raechele Gray and junior Marie Carpenter contributed 12 points apiece. Senior Alex Jones scored only six points, but led EKU with 14 rebounds. Jones is now 54 rebounds shy of becoming just the second Lady Colonel ever to record 1,000 career boards.

As a team, EKU shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the field, its best shooting outing since Dec. 31, 2012 at Murray State.

Terrice Robinson led Morehead State with 26 points, 24 of which came in the second half. The Eagles connected on 10-of-21 three-pointers (47.6 percent) in the loss.

EKU led by as many as 16 points in the first half, as the Lady Colonels used a 12-0 run to take a 23-7 advantage following a fast-break layup by Gray with 5:37 on the clock. Back-to-back three-pointers by Kelsey Funderburg, however, got Morehead State back in the game and cut EKU’s lead to 10, 28-18, at halftime.

MSU carried that momentum into the second half and took its first lead of the game, 41-39, on a pair of free throws by Robinson with 10:17 remaining in the game. The lead went back-and-forth over the waning minutes of play, until two more free throws by Robinson tied the game for the final time, 52-52, with 4:17 on the clock. Carpenter responded with a jumper and then knocked down a three-pointer off a steal by Jones, giving the Lady Colonels a lead they would not relinquish.

Allen and Carpenter knocked down two free throws each in the final 10 seconds of play to hold off MSU and seal the win.

EKU will play its next three games at home, beginning with Jacksonville State on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 4:00 p.m. The Lady Colonels are 10-1 at McBrayer Arena this season.