Final Box

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's women's basketball team dropped its season opener against Saint Louis University, 70-43, at McBrayer Arena on Friday.
 
Abby Wright only needed 27 seconds to get the Colonels ahead with a three-pointer from the top of the key. The Billikens traded baskets with Eastern, eventually taking a 6-5 lead off a layup by Ciaja Harbison with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter. A steal by Wright set up Teri Goodlett for a shot behind the arch to put Eastern ahead by two. An SLU free throw cut into the Colonels lead, but a Bria Bass trifecta gave Eastern their largest lead of the game, 11-7.
 
The two teams battled back and forth for the next three minutes, as neither team could establish a clear advantage. Jordyn Frantz hit a three-pointer with 2:12 left to play in the first to give Saint Louis a 19-17 advantage. The Billikens never trailed again.  SLU led 23-17 at the end of the quarter.
 
EKU (0-1) was led by Wright's eight points and five rebounds. Bria Bass contributed six points and a team-high six rebounds.  
 
Two free throws in the first quarter gave freshman Hailey McCoy the first points of her career. Freshman Aasiya Berry scored her first points as a Colonel off a layup with 7:28 left in the second quarter. Freshman Mashayla Cecil's jumper with under eight minutes left in the third marked the first of her seven points as a Colonel.
 
Saint Louis (1-0) was led by Kendra Wilken's game-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Harbison added on 17 points for the Billikens, hitting all seven of her shots from the free throw line. Frantz contributed a game-high nine rebounds along with her 12 points.
 
The Colonels will be on the road Tuesday at Miami (Ohio).  Tip-off in Oxford is scheduled for 7 p.m.