Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Twelve Colonels scored as a balanced Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team won its third consecutive home opener, pulling away from visiting Asbury, 73-48, on Tuesday night at McBrayer Arena.
 
EKU (3-3) leads the Ohio Valley Conference in field goal percentage defense (38.3 percent), and the Colonels lived up to that billing on Tuesday night. Asbury shot just 23.6 percent (13-of-55) from the field and 17.9 percent (5-of-28) from the field in the second half. EKU, meanwhile, shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the floor.
 
Junior Shelly Harper led the Colonels' balanced effort on Tuesday night, notching her second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Michaela Hunter added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, while junior Shameekia Murray tallied 11 points and came up with a team-best six steals.
 
The win was not easy, though. Behind a deep bench and a frenetic pace, Asbury (6-1) jumped out to an early lead. The Eagles used a 14-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 18-11, on a three-pointer by Brittany Warren with 14:37 to play in the first half.
 
EKU absorbed the early blow and slowly began to find its composure, as a three-pointer by Hunter tied it, 22-22, with 8:37 on the clock.
 
The Colonels then ended the back-and-forth first half with a run of their own – this one of the 6-1 variety – and headed into the locker room up by seven, 39-32.
 
EKU took its first double-digit lead of the game, 49-38, on a three-point play by junior Jasmine Stafford less than five minutes into the second half.
 
The Colonels then used a 14-1 run to put the game away, as another three-point play – this one by sophomore Amadi Brooks – made it 67-43 in favor of EKU with just over five minutes to play in the game.
 
Warren paced Asbury with 18 points, all of which she scored in the first 13:38 of action.
 
The Colonels return to action on Saturday, Dec. 6, when they host Marshall at McBrayer Arena at 4:00 p.m.