NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind four Colonels scoring in double figures and a dominating second half performance, No. 5 seed EKU women's basketball advances to the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals with a 99-68 win over No. 4 seed Lipscomb on Saturday night at Allen Arena.
 
With the win, EKU (22-10, 9-7 ASUN) moves on in the ASUN Championship and awaits its opponent and destination as results finalize from across the league.  Saturday's win marks EKU's first appearance in the semifinals as a member institution in the league.
 
Behind the 31-point win, First Team All-ASUN selection Antwainette Walker dropped a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting and three made three-pointers.  Her totals Saturday marked the 17th double-double of her career.
 
Alice Recanati scored 16, Ivy Turner scored 14, and Althea Kara Angeles scored 13 en route to EKU's largest point total against an opponent in a conference tournament game in program history.
 
The Colonels had 11-of-12 players on the floor tonight score over two points.
 
Lipscomb led 14-10 heading into the first quarter media timeout, halted by an Angeles made three and transition jumper from forward Sierra McCullough.  EKU ended the first with a 26-21 lead as Walker hit her first three of the game with five seconds left on the clock.
 
The Colonels pushed their lead to seven off a Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor made layup with 6:22 left in the first half.  After trading blows near the media timeout, EKU was able to keep its 7-point lead to the break, as McGinnis-Taylor knocked down two free throws, giving the visiting team a 48-41 lead at halftime.
 
A Walker made three, Raphaela Toussaint scoring off a Lipscomb turnover, and made layup by McGinnis-Taylor gave EKU its largest lead of the game, 19, with 2:06 left in the third. The Bisons scored on their two final possessions of the quarter, but the Colonels still led by 16 at 71-55.
 
The fourth quarter was all EKU, propelled by a 14-3 run off two made three from Angeles and two floaters from Kaitlyn Costner in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.  EKU kept its relentless effort as Angeles and Walker drained threes, pushing a reversed 85-58 score over Lipscomb.  
 
EKU reached the 90-point mark with 3:19 left in the fourth, pushing the century mark off an and-one from Kailani Lindsey and a made bucket from Brie Crittendon.  The Colonels ended Saturday's game with a 99-68 victory over the No. 4 seeded Bisons.
 
EKU shot 55.4 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from deep, while dominating Lipscomb 52-26 on the glass.  EKU's 52-rebound performance was the team's second highest total of the season and highest total against a conference opponent this season.
 
The Colonels outscored Lipscomb 56-14 in the paint and 22-9 off turnovers.  
 
No. 5 seed EKU returns to action on March 12 against a to be determined opponent at a to be determined location in the ASUN Championship semifinals.  Fans are encouraged to visit ASUNSports.org for the most up-to-date information regarding the tournament.