DUBLIN – Eastern Kentucky women's basketball fired on all cylinders in the second half against Rider, handing the Broncs a 85-64 defeat in the MAAC/ASUN Dublin Challenge on Saturday night at National Basketball Arena.
 
With the win, EKU moves to 3-2 on the season and returns home to face Midway University and a road trip with No. 11 Tennessee before Thanksgiving break.
 
Antwainette Walker once again led the Colonels with 25 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double. Walker's values on Saturday night solidified her as the national leader in that respected category at five.
 
Danielle Rainey and Alice Recanati dropped 16 points in the win going 13-of-24 from the floor.
 
Eastern Kentucky dropped the first quarter by a score of 18-16. Despite the point differential, EKU outrebounded the Broncs 15-8.
 
Rider continued their offensive display well into the second half, the Colonels fought back and cut the deficit to four with three minutes remaining. A Kalissa Lacy three-pointer and three consecutive Rider turnovers reduced the Broncs' lead to just one.
 
Eastern Kentucky went on a 14-4 run to conclude the first half, Walker scored on back-to-back possessions, including a buzzer beater to send the Colonels to the locker room up 35-30.
 
The Colonels continued their hot streak and pushed their run to 19-7 midway through the third quarter. However, Rider went on a run of its own and cut the EKU lead to just four with over a minute remaining in the third frame.
 
Walker reached her fifth-straight double-double on back-to-back possessions with a rebound in the fourth quarter and the Colonels defeated Rider by 21 points.
 
Bridgid Fox made her first start of the 2022-23 season in the win and Abbey Morton made her collegiate debut late in the fourth quarter.
 
EKU returns to action next week at home against Midway and on the road against No. 11 Tennessee.

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