CHICAGO – Upon six Colonels scoring in double figures, EKU women's basketball secures win No. 20 on the season handling Chicago State in its final non-conference game of the season by a score of 85-63 on Tuesday night at Jones Convocation Center.
 
With the win, EKU (20-8, 8-5 ASUN) reaches the 20-win mark on the season for the first time since 2004-05. That season, Larry Joe Inman's squad won 23 games, conference regular season title, conference championship, and was the last Colonel team to appear in the NCAA Tournament.
 
EKU's Kaitlyn Costner (13), Althea Kara Angeles (12), Ivy Turner (11), Sierra McCullough (11), Antwainette Walker (10), and Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor ended Tuesday's game in double figures, its second time this season having six student-athletes with 10 or more points.
 
Walker shined in her homecoming in front of 50+ supporters, her 20th game this season and 56th game of her career in double figure scoring.
 
EKU's frontcourt of McGinnis-Taylor and McCullough recorded double doubles, each totaling 11 rebounds apiece.  The Colonels last time having two players ending with double doubles was last season to end the regular season at North Florida.
 
EKU and Chicago State (1-26) played to a 10 to 10 standstill at the first quarter media timeout.  Angeles hit a three-pointer out of the whistle, which held as the last made basket of the first half and a 20-16 Colonel lead.
 
A back-and-forth scoring barrage ensued, but Chicago State was unable to match the Colonels attack as EKU went up seven points off three scores in three possessions.  EKU's Bridgid Fox gave the visiting team their largest lead of the first half (17) draining a three near the halftime buzzer, forcing a 49-32 lead at the break.
 
As EKU switched to a press to begin the second half, Costner, who led the team in scoring, made a driving transition layup to bring the Colonels to a 21-point, 55-34 lead.  Despite CSU narrowing the gap to 13 points, EKU was able to withstand the Cougars' attack and after 30 minutes led 68-51.
 
The Colonels remained at a 22-point lead as McGinnis-Taylor and Angeles made layups, taking both programs to the under-five media pause and a 80-58 EKU lead.  EKU's press forced Chicago State into four turnovers in the final four minutes of play, while sending the Colonels to the free throw line three times, holding out for a 85-63 win.
 
Chicago State ends its season with a 1-26 overall record and will not qualify for postseason play being unaffiliated with a current NCAA DI conference.  The Cougars are scheduled to join the Northeast Conference (NEC) next season for its inaugural season of affiliated play with the league.
 
EKU ended Tuesday's game with 43.6/23.5/57.5 shooting splits while taking 40 free throws to CSU's 18.
 
The Colonels out-rebounded Chicago State 48-33 while forcing the Cougars into 19 turnovers.  EKU's 48 rebounds was its fifth largest total of the season.
 
EKU returns to Atlantic Sun Conference action on Saturday facing its in-state rival, Bellarmine, to begin a three-game home stand to conclude regular season play.  Saturday's game is scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. EST, fans can purchase tickets starting as low as $5 on the Colonels' website.
 
As a reminder, EKU students receive free admission to Baptist Health Arena for all Colonel home basketball games with a valid student ID, doors open one-hour prior to tipoff.