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RICHMOND, Ky. – With OVC Tournament seeding on the line in the regular season finale, visiting Tennessee State pulled out a 76-64 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team Saturday afternoon in McBrayer Arena.

With the win, the Lady Tigers (12-17, 9-7 OVC) snatched the No. 4 seed in the upcoming OVC tournament and with it, a bye in the opening round of the tourney. Eastern Kentucky (15-12, 9-7 OVC) dropped its final three games at home this week and will enter the league tournament as the No. 5 seed.

Eastern took a 35-32 lead into halftime, thanks to senior Marie Carpenter's three-pointer right before the buzzer, but the home team went ice cold in the final 20 minutes.

The Lady Colonels shot just 19.4 percent (6-of-31) from the floor in the second half and made just two field goals in the final 11 minutes of action.

Jayda Johnson's jumper with 4:33 left put TSU ahead, 61-55. EKU made one final charge and cut the deficit to one point, 61-60, with three minutes remaining.

However, Johnson hit a key three-pointer with the shot clock winding down on the Lady Tigers' next possession to stretch the cushion back to four points. That play ignited a 13-1 run to clinch Tennessee State's third straight win over EKU.

Chelsea Hudson paced Tennessee State with her 10th double-double of the season (22 points and 13 rebounds). Johnson and Imani Davis each chipped in with 17 points.

For the Lady Colonels, Carpenter notched 23 points, marking the 16th time this season she has reached the 20-point plateau. Fellow senior Pilar Walker added 12 points, while freshman Michaela Hunter came off the bench to score 17 points and grab five rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky will open play in the OVC Tournament on Wednesday, March 5 against the No. 8 seed. Game time in Nashville, Tenn., is set for 1 p.m. ET.