RICHMOND, Ky. – On a night honoring the legendary 2004-05 EKU women's basketball team and hall of fame head coach Larry Inman, the Colonels got back in the win column with a 91-75 victory over in-state foe Bellarmine on Saturday evening at Baptist Health Arena.
 
With the win, EKU (13-6, 3-3 ASUN) moves to even in Atlantic Sun Conference play, 3-1 against rivals, and 2-0 against in-state competition this season.  The Colonels wrapped its three-game home stand at the newly renovated BHA winners of two of three games.
 
Senior guard Alice Recanati led the Colonels with a season-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting and a 7-for-8 mark from the free throw line.  The Italian padded her stat line, nearing a triple double, with eight rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal.  EKU's all-time leading assister has had five or more assists in 11 of her last 12 games and is up to 629 in her career.
 
Aiding in the Colonels' 91-point barrage was senior guard Kaitlyn Costner who dropped the first double double of her career with 10 points and a career-best 10 assists.  Saturday's performance marked her 13th game this season ending in double figures.
 
Freshman guard Liz Freihofer had her third consecutive game scoring in double figures with 16 points against Bellarmine.  Seniors Althea Kara Angeles added 13 points off three made three-pointers and forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor had 12 and nine rebounds in only 16 minutes of action.  All five starters in the Colonels' lineup ended in double figures.
 
As a team, EKU connected on 32-of-64 (50 percent) field goals for the fifth time this season and second time in its last three games.  The Colonels also brought down 45 rebounds marking the fifth-straight game EKU has had 40 or more rebounds.  EKU had assists on 66 percent of its made field goals and shot 82 percent (18-for-22) from the free throw line.
 
The Colonels won the first quarter 20-10 off eight made field goals, two from sophomore forward Kailani Lindsey and made threes from Angeles and freshman guard Mya Wardle.
 
EKU won the second quarter, 19-18, despite a clawing effort from the Knights.  Freihofer went 3-for-4 from the floor in the period to give the Colonels a 39-28 lead at the break.
 
Bellarmine refused to quit and won the third period 30-22, the largest scoring period of Saturday's game, off 11 points from Kentuckian Ashlee Harris behind three made threes.  EKU had nine points from Recanati and six points from McGinnis-Taylor to soften the damage from Bellarmine.
 
Even with the added pressure from BU, the Colonels would go on to win the fourth quarter by 13 points, 30-17, and secure the 91-75 victory over its in-state conference opponent.  EKU shot 52 percent from the floor, 87 percent from the free throw line, and knocked down three 3's to keep the Knights at bay.  Costner had five assists over the period.
 
Bellarmine was led on Saturday by Skylar Treadwell who had 24 points and 15 rebounds.  The Florida native and Stetson transfer went 8-for-19 from the floor and 2-for-3 from deep to record her season-high values in scoring and on the glass.  Ashlee Harris had 17 points and Hayley Harrison scored 13.  Saturday's game featured 10 student-athletes from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
 
EKU will head to the Sunshine State for its next two on Wednesday to prepare to play Stetson and perennial favorite FGCU.  Both games will be available to stream live on ESPN+ and can be heard on 92.5 WEKY.