Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla.— A solid defensive effort saw the EKU women's basketball team force 18 North Carolina State turnovers, but a late 6-0 run helped the Wolfpack to a 73-62 win at the Gator Holiday Classic on Sunday.
 
The Colonels trailed by 14 in the opening minutes of the final period before Mariah Massengill forced a turnover and took it the length of the floor for the score, sparking a 12-3 Eastern run.
 
Eastern forced another N.C. State turnover on the Wolfpack's following possession, as Jalen O'Bannon converted on the old-fashioned three-point play to cut the lead to nine, 58-49.
 
Shameekia Murray followed suit out of a media timeout with 4:58 left to play, as Murray laid it in and drew the foul. Murray connected on the free throw to pull the Colonels within seven, 61-54.
 
Murray forced yet another N.C. State turnover and laid it in to cut the Wolfpack lead to five with 3:53 left to play, capping a 12-3 Eastern run.
 
N.C. State strung together a 6-0 run over the next 2:30 to close out the win.
 
The opening period was back-and-forth as the score was tied on three occasions with six lead changes.
 
Redshirt junior Alexus Cooper drained a long ball at the 8:17 mark to give the Colonels their first lead of the contest.
 
After N.C. State built a seven-point lead, Eastern responded with an 11-0 run capped by a jumper from O'Bannon, putting the Colonels up 19-15.
 
However, the Wolfpack responded with an 11-0 run of their own to regain the lead for good.
 
In the closing seconds of the opening period Murray connected on a three-pointer, cutting the N.C. State lead back to four. The Wolfpack outscored the Colonels 21-11 for a 47-33 lead at the half.
 
The Colonels (4-5) converted 18 Wolfpack turnovers into 24 points and Eastern's bench outscored the N.C. State bench 29-13.
 
The Colonels tallied 28 rebounds, as O'Bannon pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Jennifer Mathurin led the way for the Wolfpack, scoring 20 points and finishing with nine rebounds.
 
EKU will take on Saint Francis University on Monday. Monday's game is scheduled for a noon ET tip.