Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting SIUE earned its fifth straight win Saturday as the Cougars knocked off the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team, 71-61.
 
Sophomore Michaela Hunter (19 points) and junior Shameekia Murray (18) combined for 37 points to pace the Colonels (6-9, 1-4 OVC). Murray also pulled down a team-best nine rebounds, finishing one board shy of her first-career double-double.
 
For SIUE (10-9, 5-1), Sidney Smith came off the bench to score 18 first-half points. The Cougars netted a season-high eight three-pointers in the win.
 
After three ties and seven lead changes early in the contest, SIUE rattled off eight straight points to take a 25-17 lead. The Cougars would not trail the rest of the way.
 
SIUE connected on 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) three-point attempts in the first half. Smith was perfect (6-for-6) from behind the arc before intermission.
 
The Cougars strung together 11 consecutive points early in the second half to stretch their lead to a game-high 21 points, 55-34.
 
EKU kept fighting and battled back to within nine points with 5:12 remaining, 61-52. Murray scored seven straight points at one point to help in the comeback effort.
 
However, Gwen Adams hit SIUE's only three-pointer of the half on the Cougars' with 4:46 left to stop the Colonel rally.
 
Eastern Kentucky will look to return to the win column on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Murray State. That game is the first of four straight road games for the Colonels.