CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought game to Chattanooga (11-1) by a score of 52-44 on Sunday night at McKenzie Arena.
 
With the loss, EKU falls to 9-3 on the season and is 1-2 on its four-game road swing before the start of the 2024 portion of the schedule.  EKU's three losses this season have come against teams ranked inside a national poll (Associated Press; No. 4 Utah, RV Tennessee and CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25; No. 8 Chattanooga). 

Chattanooga moves to 11-1 on the season with the win and is on a nine-game win streak since Nov. 15.
 
Graduate guard Ivy Turner was the only Colonel in double figures with 13 points and two made three pointers. Senior forward Sierra McCullough ended with a team-high 10 rebounds for the sixth time this season.
 
The Colonels pushed a 10-2 run to open Sunday's top NCAA women's basketball mid-major contest, jump started by a Brie Crittendon made three-pointer, her 15th of the season.  Chattanooga found its equalizer with 3:36 in the first quarter, scoring off four-straight possessions.  Despite the Mocs' hot hand after the media timeout, EKU closed the frame with a 15-14 lead after a three-point swing by NeKiyah Thompson.
 
Chattanooga and EKU combined for 12 points in the second quarter to close out the first half with a UTC 22-19 lead.  EKU's four points in the second quarter was the fifth lowest value in program history.
 
Back-to-back McCullough made layups cut the deficit to two at 29-27 to bring the Colonels back in the game with 6:30 left on the clock out of the half.  Crittendon, who ended the night with five points, scored EKU's lone basket in the final six minutes of the third period, that ended in a 34-30 lead for Chattanooga.
 
EKU tied the game at 39 with consecutive made three pointers from Turner, but the Colonels failed to mount the comeback effort to drop its road match by a final of 52-44.
 
Chattanooga forced EKU into 24 turnovers over the duration of Sunday's match, but was outrebounded by EKU by a wide 35-26 margin.  UTC shot 40 percent from the floor and 74 percent from the charity stripe.  Graduate guard Jaida Guinn led the Mocs with 19 points going 8-of-17 (.470) from the floor.
 
EKU ends its four-game road swing on Tuesday visiting Southeast Missouri State at Show Me Center.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST and can be viewed on ESPN+.