Box Score (PDF) | OVC Tournament Bracket

RICHMOND, Ky.  – On the final day of regular season Ohio Valley Conference play, the EKU women's basketball found itself in a must win scenario in order to secure a berth in next week's OVC Tournament Championship in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. The Colonels answered the call in front of the Senior Day crowd with a 78-65 win over Tennessee Tech University at McBrayer Arena.
 
Senior guard Alexus Cooper netted a career high 26 points on 8-of-12 from deep, finishing one three pointer shy of tying the program record for most treys in a single game. Shavontae Naylor (18), Jalen O'Bannon (15), and Mariah Massengill (10) also finished in double figures, marking the sixth straight game four Colonels have scored in double digits.
 
Massengill also dished out a career high 10 assists in EKU's victory for her first career double-double. Her 10 assists marked the first time since January 25, 2014 (Pilar Walker, vs. Belmont) a Colonel recorded 10 or more assists in a game.
 
The Colonels found themselves down 10 in the opening quarter, before the EKU offense found its groove. EKU shot 62.5 percent from three-point range in the first stanza, helping the Colonels to a 23-7 run in the final 3:52 and Chrissy Roberts' squad never looked back.
 
Cooper connected on her first from deep with 3:52 to go in the first, as Massengill found Cooper for the score. Following a TTU basket, Massengill found Cooper, again, from deep as the Colonels cut the lead to six.
 
Cooper then forced a TTU turnover before Massengill found sophomore Abby Wright in the paint for the layup, trimming the lead to four.
 
Another EKU steal allowed Massengill to find Cooper for her third straight three pointer, as the Colonels narrowed the TTU advantage to one.
 
Tennessee Tech's Brittany Cooper's jumper pushed the Golden Eagles' lead back to three. However, Massengill decided to display her skills from deep, tying the game at 18 with 1:27 left in the first.
 
Following a TTU miss, Wright pulled down a defensive rebound and found Naylor, who found Cooper from deep for her fourth long ball of the period, as the Colonels' took their first lead of the game. Eastern would not trail again.
 
EKU built a double digit lead in the second period—and led by as many as 16—and kept the Golden Eagles at bay for the duration of the contest.
 
Eastern seniors contributed 71 of EKU's 78 points in the win.
 
The Colonels (10-19, 7-9 OVC) will take on Morehead State University in Wednesday's first round. The teams split the regular season meetings where the home team won in each. Wednesday's tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.