JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – To win its fourth straight conference game, the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team outlasts Jacksonville by a score of 59-51 on Thursday night at Swisher Gymnasium.
 
With the win, EKU moves to 15-5 on the season and 4-2 in Atlantic Sun Conference play.  EKU's 15-5 record is tied for the third best 20-game start to a season in program history.
 
Alice Recanati led the Colonels with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, achieving a double-double for the second time in her career.
 
Following Recanati, Antwainette Walker recorded a game-high 17 points going 7-of-13 (.538) from the floor. She added seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists to her final line.
 
Adding to EKU's stat sheet was guard Ivy Turner, who scored nine points and brought down seven rebounds. Forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor scored eight points with five rebounds.
 
EKU and Jacksonville battled for the duration of the first quarter.  Five points from JU's Edyn Battle ended the opening period, 15-13, in the Dolphins favor.
 
The Colonels scored on their first five possessions of the second quarter, extending a 10-0 run off two made baskets from Walker and McGinnis-Taylor.  A Jacksonville counter was halted by Turner who knocked down a three-pointer, bringing the score to 26-19 EKU.  Walker made two layups ending the first half with the visiting team up, 32-26.
 
Despite Jacksonville keeping the score close out of the halftime break, EKU's Brie Crittendon hit a three to push the team's lead to eight points at the under-5 media timeout.  Recanati beat the buzzer with a made floater to bring the Colonels back to a 10-point, 47-36, lead at the end of three.
 
With 5:27 left in regulation, Jacksonville narrowed the gap to just two points, 49-47, off a made basket by Jalisa Dunlap, who tied Battle for JU's team lead in points with 12.  EKU scored on four possessions, including back-to-back three-pointer from Recanati, to secure its second straight road conference win over JU by a score of 59-51.
 
EKU outperformed Jacksonville in all three areas of the floor, shooting 44 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three, and 71 percent from the charity stripe.  The Colonels held the Dolphins to a cool 2-for-16 (.125) mark from deep and 9-for-16 (.563) mark from the line.
 
For the second straight game EKU out-rebounded a conference opponent by 10 or more rebounds, grabbing 38 boards to JU's 28.  Two games ago against UNA at home, the Colonels brought down 50 rebounds to the Lions' 32.
 
With two assists in Thursday's game against Jacksonville, Recanati needs just seven rebounds to become EKU's program leader in career assists (487), held by Angie Cox in 1992.
 
EKU will remain in Jacksonville to face North Florida on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside UNF Arena.  Fans can catch the contest streamed live on ESPN+ or over-the-air on 92.5 WEKY (Richmond area) with Wes Chandler on the call.