Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Frenchburg, Kentucky native Emma Hacker hit all seven of her shots from the field, including 6-of-6 from long range, surpassed her previous career-high 13 minutes into the game and finished with 22 points as Eastern Kentucky remained unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play with an 80-69 victory over Eastern Illinois on Wednesday in McBrayer Arena.
 
Hacker also had a career-best seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.  The sophomore's previous career scoring best was 10 points earlier this season at Louisville.
 
Anysa Jordan also had a career-high 18 points for EKU (4-3, 3-0 OVC), going 6-of-7 from the field and 5-for-6 at the stripe.
 
A jumper by Lariah Washington early in the third quarter gave Eastern Illinois a 10-point advantage, 47-37, with 8:44 showing on the clock.  The Colonels however scored eight straight to stay in the game.  Bria Bass and Hacker each had a 3-pointer and Amerah Steele polished off the quick spurt with a jumper at the 6:50 mark to make it a 2-point game, 47-45.
 
Eastern Kentucky trailed by three before scoring the final seven points of the third quarter.  A pair of free throws from Corriana Evans with 1:11 remaining in the third tied the score and put EKU up one, 54-53.  Another make from the charity stripe by Evans with four ticks to go finished off a third quarter in which Eastern Kentucky out-scored Eastern Illinois 22-10.
 
The Panthers scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to go back in front by three.  A triple from the right wing by Jordan knotted the score again, 60-60.
 
Alice Recanati's baseline jumper with 7:02 remaining tied the game for the fifth and final time.  The basket began a 12-0 run for EKU.  The Panthers (3-4, 1-1 OVC) went nearly four and a half minutes without scoring after Taylor Steele gave the visitors a 62-60 lead with two free throws at the 7:23 mark.
 
Recanati scored four points and Jordan scored five during the run.  Jordan's lay-up with 3:22 left capped the game-changing run and gave Eastern Kentucky a 72-62 lead.
 
Bass contributed 14 points and a game-high nine points for the Colonels.  Recanati finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
 
EKU shot 53 percent from the field, including 53 percent (10-for-19) from behind the arc.  Eastern Kentucky made 82 percent of its free throw attempts (18-for-22).  The Colonels turned the ball over 24 times, but battled to a 22-22 tie in points off turnovers.  EKU out-rebounded Eastern Illinois by 15, 37-22.
 
Karle Pace led the Panthers with 21 points.  Steele had 16 points and five assists.  EIU made 41 percent of its shots from the field.
 
Eastern Kentucky continues OVC play on Saturday at Austin Peay.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.