JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Behind a double-double from Antwainette Walker and double-figure scoring from Marissa Mackins and Emma Hacker, EKU bounces back after a loss last time out to defeat Jacksonville State by a score of 64-58 at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday night.
 
With the win, EKU women's basketball (14-12, 7-6 ASUN) snaps a six-game losing streak at JSU dating back to Feb. 17, 2016 and an eight-game losing streak in the head-to-head series.
 
Walker scored 22 points and brought down 13 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season. Her 22 points marks 24 consecutive games in double-figure scoring, 13 of those games with 20-or-more points.
 
With 22 points, Walker etches her name in the EKU record book moving into 10th in program history in points scored in a single season at 506, passing Angie Cox.
 
Alice Recanati tallied a team-leading four assists for the 20th time this season and the 64th game in her career. Her four assists move her into sole possession of sixth in EKU program history in single season assists at 136.
 
Recanati needs one assist to pass EKU legend Peggy Gay in the record book in career assists and two assists to pass her own season-high 137 assists recorded last year, which would place her in fifth all-time.
 
Mackins and Hacker notched 10 points each and combined for four made 3-pointers.
 
JSU and EKU traded baskets throughout the first five minutes of Saturday's contest, Danielle Rainey's hot hand in the first half recorded the first seven points for the Colonels. A Mackins jumper, her first made basket of the game, propelled EKU to end the first frame on a 7-4 run and the score at 14-11.
 
The Gamecocks equalized the game at 14 all in the first two minutes of the second quarter. Ariel Kirkwood, who made her first start since Dec. 20, 2022, helped EKU with back-to-back layups to make the score 21-15. Made three-pointers from Mackins and Kalissa Lacy late in the frame extended EKU's lead to 10 before JSU made free throws as the horn sounded and the score 31-23, EKU.
 
Walker made six of EKU's nine field goals in the third quarter, pushing her point total to double digits and keeping EKU 18 points out of reach. 
 
Jacksonville State made the first three field goals to kick off the fourth quarter and dive back into contention at 52-42. Walker tallied her seventh and eighth made basket to push EKU to a 22-point lead, its largest of the game. An eight-point Gamecock swing narrowed the gap to just five points under the two-minute mark, however, EKU held on for its 14th win of the season.
 
EKU shot 39 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line, outshooting JSU with splits of 30 percent from the floor and 18 percent from deep.
 
The Colonels dished out 12 assists to JSU's six, the fewest EKU has allowed all season.
 
EKU returns to action next week for its last two regular season home games against North Alabama and Central Arkansas. Women's basketball tickets are available for purchase starting as low as $5 on the Colonels' website.
 
Follow Us
Keep up with everything EKU women's basketball on Instagram (@ekuwbb) and Twitter (@EKUWBB).