Box Score

Eastern's women's basketball team started hot, but ultimately fell to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, 77-72, Saturday afternoon in McBrayer Arena.

EKU (10-8, 4-3 OVC) led for the much of the first three and a half quarters of the game, but a late fourth quarter run would help the Golden Eagles pull away.
A jumper by Mariah Dean sparked a quick 6-to-0 Golden Eagle run that turned a one-point deficit into a five-point lead.  Lindsey Jennings made a jumper and then hit two free throws to put the visitors in front 64-59.

Tennessee Tech led the rest of the way.  Back-to-back baskets by Jalen O'Bannon and Shameekia Murray got the Colonels within two, 74-72, with 22 seconds to go.  However, Tech made 3-of-4 four from the free throw line in the final 20 seconds to secure the victory.

Eastern was down 58-53, when O'Bannon knocked down a jumper from the top of the key. On the following possession, Murray blocked a three-point attempt by TTU, drove the length of the floor, was fouled and converted two free throws to pull within one. On the next EKU possession, an O'Bannon layup gave the Colonels a 59-58 lead before Tennessee Tech made its game-changing run.

EKU was led in scoring on the afternoon by O'Bannon, who scored 28 points on a blistering 12-of-13 shooting and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. This was her third straight game with 20 or more points.

Murray contributed 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, hitting seven of her first eight shots. She also contributed a team-high five assists.
EKU shot 53 percent from the floor and scored 44 points in the paint, but Tennessee Tech (7-14, 3-5 OVC) forced the Colonels into 19 turnovers and scored 24 points off of them.

Samaria Howard led Tennessee Tech in scoring with 31 points.

Eastern returns to action on Wednesday at home against Jacksonville State.  Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.