Eastern Illinois: Live Stats I Live Video I Live Audio I Live Tweets I Game Notes

SIUE: Live Stats I Live Video I Live Audio I Live Tweets I Game Notes

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team is back home at McBrayer Arena this week to host Ohio Valley Conference foes Eastern Illinois and SIUE.
 
EKU (6-7, 1-2 OVC) will host EIU on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and SIUE on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Both games are the front ends of women's/men's doubleheaders.
 
The Colonels split a conference road trip last weekend, losing to defending OVC champion UT Martin, 76-63, on Thursday before bouncing back to beat Southeast Missouri, 57-54, on Saturday.
 
Junior Shameekia Murray averaged a team-best 11.0 points-per-game during the two-game road swing. She leads EKU at 14.7 points-per-game during conference play.
 
Sophomore Alexus Cooper re-entered the starting lineup at SEMO and the led the Colonels to victory with a career-high 12 points. EKU's two leading scorers – Murray and sophomore Michaela Hunter – only combined to play 38 minutes in the win due to foul trouble.
 
EIU (6-11, 3-1 OVC) is off to a strong start in conference play. The Panthers beat preseason OVC favorite Belmont, 77-72, on Saturday in Charleston.  Sabina Oroszova averages a double-double for EIU (15.5 points-per-game, 10.3 rebounds-per-game).
 
The all-time series between EKU and EIU has been extremely tight, with the Panthers leading, 17-16. However, EKU has won two of the last three, including a 75-52 win in the first round of last year's OVC Tournament. Hunter scored 17 points and dished out a career-high seven assists, while sophomore Cierra Drake scored a career-high 12 points in that win.
 
SIUE (8-9, 3-1 OVC) is also playing well. The Cougars have won three straight, including a 91-83 versus Tennessee State on Saturday. Newcomer Shronda Butts leads SIUE at 13.5 points-per-game.
 
SIUE leads the all-time series with EKU, 5-2. The Colonels defeated the Cougars, 59-54, last year in Edwardsville, though.