Box Score (PDF)

MARTIN, Tenn. – A slow shooting start doomed the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team in a 76-63 loss at defending Ohio Valley Conference champion UT Martin on Thursday at the Elam Center.
 
The Colonels (5-7, 0-2 OVC) made just 3-of-13 from the field to start the game and turned the ball over eight times in the first 13 minutes while the Skyhawks (6-9, 2-0 OVC) built a 28-10 lead.
 
Four points from Nicole Bowers and a three-pointer by Michaela Hunter fueled a 12-4 EKU run that got the visitors within 10, 32-22.  However, UT Martin scored the next six.
 
Eight points by Shameekia Murray, including a pair of three-pointers, in the final two and a half minutes of the first half sent Eastern to the locker room down by 10, 40-30.
 
After starting the game 3-for-13, Eastern Kentucky finished the half 9-of-19 (47 percent) from the field.
 
The Colonels cut the deficit to eight on a pair of baskets early in the second half by Shelly Harper, but UTM scored seven unanswered and led by double digits the rest of the game.
 
Murray finished with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting.  She made 3-of-6 from behind the three-point arc.  Harper contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five assists.
 
Ashia Jones scored a game-best 36 points for the Skyhawks.  She hit on 12-of-17 from the field and knocked down 12-of-14 at the free throw line. 
 
As a team, Eastern Kentucky shot 40 percent from the field.  UT Martin made 46 percent of its shots and turned 15 offensive rebounds into 22 second chance points.  The Colonels scored just seven off their 15 offensive boards.
 
EKU returns to action on Saturday at Southeast Missouri State.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET.