Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The EKU women's basketball team fell to the University of Richmond, 81-62, in its season opener Sunday at the Robins Center.
 
Shameekia "Polly" Murray, Michaela Hunter and Jalen O'Bannon all scored in double-digits for the Colonels. Murray netted a team-high 19 points, along with 17 from Hunter and 11 from O'Bannon.
 
Murray added six rebounds, along with four steals in the loss. O'Bannon pulled down eight rebounds, as Hunter logged two assists and a steal.
 
Eastern Kentucky took a 5-4 lead with 8:21 left in the first period on a deep ball from Mariah Massengill. Two free throws from O'Bannon put the Colonels up 7-4 for their largest lead of the game. The Spiders slowly built a 10-point advantage as time wound down in the first period. Murray converted a bucket off a Richmond turnover for the layup as the buzzer sounded as the Spiders led 21-13 at the end of one.
 
Richmond added to its lead to go up 39-16 with 5:12 in the first half. Hunter was called for her third foul of the half, sending her to the bench for the remainder of the period.
 
The Spiders closed the half on a 12-5 run, putting Richmond on top 51-23 at the break.
 
Back-to-back buckets for the Colonels narrowed the Richmond lead to 66-45 with 3:17 left in the third. Jada Triplett laid it in for her fifth point of the night before Hunter connected on the ensuing possession pulling the Colonels within 21.
 
In the final period, Miranda Maples forced a Richmond turnover and found Hunter for the lay-up. Following another Spider turnover, Hunter and the Colonels connected from behind-the-arc, putting the Spiders up 74-56 with 5:47 remaining.
 
A three-pointer from Alexus Cooper cut the Richmond lead to 16, 78-62, with :39 left in regulation.

Lauren Tolson led Richmond with 21 points. The Spiders finished Sunday's contest 28-for-52 from the floor, while shooting 8-for-14 from deep.
 
The Colonels (0-1, 0-0 OVC) host Western Carolina University Saturday at McBrayer Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.