FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After one of the most historic seasons in program history, the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team falls to Purdue Fort Wayne by a score of 83-75 in the First Round of the WNIT on Wednesday night at Gates Sports Center.
 
Wednesday's loss marks the end of the season for EKU (22-12, 9-7 ASUN) coming in a national postseason tournament, just the fifth team in program history to do so.
 
EKU's 22 wins ties the fourth most in a single season in program history and was the first team to accomplish a 20-win season since 2005.
 
Additionally, student-athletes Antwainette Walker, Ivy Turner, Bridgid Fox, NeKiyah Thompson, and Sierra McCullough played their final collegiate basketball game with the loss. 
 
The Colonels were led by Walker, who totaled 20 points for the 13th time this season and 29th time in her career.  She went a season-best 11-for-11 from the free throw line and added seven rebounds to her final line.
 
In her return to the Hoosier State, junior guard Kaitlyn Costner tied the team lead with 20 points going 7-for-9 from the floor.  Fellow guard Recanati scored 10 points with seven rebounds, going 2-of-3 from deep.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne (22-12, 13-7 Horizon) advances to the Second Round in the WNIT, its first national postseason win in program history.  The Mastodons will face Cincinnati on the road on Sunday, March 24.
 
Turner and freshman forward Kailani Lindsey, who tied her career-high seven rebounds against PFW, scored layups in the final two minutes of the first quarter to place EKU ahead 15-12.
 
The Colonels allowed a 16-0 Purdue Fort Wayne run late in the second half until Recanati knocked down a three and Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor put in two free throws.  PFW went into the half up 35-30.
 
Despite the third quarter going all PFW's way, EKU was able to cut its deficit to just one point as Costner banked in a floater with 3:26 left in the frame.  
 
After another Recanati made three to place the Colonels up 48-46, PFW responded with a 7-3 run in the final minute of the third to claim a 53-50 lead heading into the fourth.
 
EKU scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, however, had three players foul-out and couldn't overcome the Mastodons' offensive firepower for an 83-75 final.
 
PFW's Amellia Bromenschenkel ended Wednesday's contest with a game-high 22 points shooting 67 percent from the floor and going a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.
 
The Colonels were forced into 21 turnovers to PFW's 10, leading to 27 points for the home team.  EKU widely outrebounded the Mastodons 40 to 25 and 14 to 4 offensively.