RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team ends the 2023 non-conference schedule with its 11th win and seventh consecutive victory at home over Samford by a score of 59-54 on Friday night inside Baptist Health Arena.
 
EKU will head to Atlantic Sun Conference play with an 11-3 record for the first time since 1974.
 
Senior forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor lead EKU with 13 points going 5-of-8 from the floor and eight rebounds.  McGinnis-Taylor has brought down eight or more rebounds in four games this season, including three of her last five games.
 
Ivy Turner was the other Colonel in double-figures, scoring 11 points behind three three-pointers.  Turner also dished out a team-leading four assists.
 
EKU opened Friday's game on an 11-2 run off made baskets by Brie Crittendon, Kaitlyn Costner, and McGinnis-Taylor.  The Bulldogs fought back to narrow their deficit to just four points, 11-7, in the final two minutes of the first quarter.
 
Made layups by Alice Recanati and McGinnis-Taylor kept the Colonels two possessions ahead of Samford to open the second quarter.  Samford would claim the lead at 16-15 at the under-5 media timeout.  A made three from Costner and two additional baskets kept EKU in the game with a 24-24 score heading into the break.
 
Turner highlighted a back-and-fourth third quarter making a three with 1:53 left on the clock to bring both teams to 41 points at the end of the third.  EKU shot nine free throws during the third period.
 
The Colonels scored seven unanswered points to begin the fourth quarter, five of which from McGinnis-Taylor.  Samford narrowed the gap to just two points with less than a minute left in regulation but sent EKU to the charity stripe twice to end the game at 59-54 in the home team's favor.
 
Samford outshot EKU from all three areas of the floor, including a 78 percent to 55 percent total from the free throw line.  The Colonels claimed the advantage in rebounds (40-31) and scored 24 points in the paint.
 
EKU will open the New Year's on the road for three straight games of ASUN competition, beginning with Lipscomb on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. EST and can be viewed on ESPN+ or heard over-the-air on 92.5 WEKY.