RICHMOND, Ky. – Behind a 22-point performance from Antwainette Walker and nine made three-pointers, EKU women's basketball completes a season sweep of its in-state Atlantic Sun Conference rival, Bellarmine, by a score of 72-67 on Saturday inside Baptist Health Arena.
 
With the win, EKU moves to 21-8 on the season and 9-5 in ASUN play while continuing its chase towards a host-bid in the ASUN Championship beginning March 8th.
 
Additionally, with the win over Bellarmine, EKU has swept the Knights in two of its three seasons in the ASUN Conference.  EKU moves to 5-1 over Bellarmine since 2022.
 
Walker led the Colonels with 22 points while knocking down two threes and a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the free throw line.  Walker's double-digit scoring effort was her 57th career game in double figures and her 26th time scoring 20 or more points.
 
EKU guards Ivy Turner and Kaitlyn Costner dropped 13 points in the win, while Alice Recanati added 11 points of her own to the tally.  The three guards combined for seven of EKU's nine made three-pointers.
 
Defensively, forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor neared a double-double with 11 rebounds and seven points.  Sierra McCullough rejected three Bellarmine shots to lead all players on Saturday.
 
After a 6-4 Bellarmine start to open Saturday's game, EKU responded with four made threes to claim the first quarter by a narrow 22-20 score.
 
EKU's success from beyond the arch continued into the second quarter as Turner knocked down her second of the game with 7:14 left in the half, marking a 27-25 Colonel lead.  After the media timeout, the Colonels scored 3's on three of their next four possessions to take an 8-point lead over Bellarmine.  The Knights scored on the final possession of the half to cut the deficit to six at 40-34, EKU.
 
The Colonels reclaimed an 8-point lead out of the break as Walker scored a jumper from 14 feet out. However, EKU went cold for the remainder of the third quarter going 3-of-19 (.158) from the floor, ending in a 53-46 advantage for the Knights.
 
Bellarmine kept its attack and continued to lead well into the fourth quarter, snapped by a McGinnis-Taylor layup off an offensive rebound.  Four score changes later, EKU went up by two off a Recanati made three, reclaiming a 67-65 lead with 1:29 left on the clock.
 
The Colonels were sent to the line three times in the final 90 seconds of play, converting on 5-of-6 free throws to complete the season sweep of Bellarmine, 72-67.
 
Despite the win, EKU was out-shot by Bellarmine from both the floor and the three-point line.  The Colonels claimed the advantage from the line shooting 85 percent to BU's 78 percent while also out-rebounding Bellarmine 45-35.
 
EKU returns to action next week starting with Austin Peay on Thursday, Feb. 29 back at Baptist Health Arena.