RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team returns to Richmond for a crucial Atlantic Sun Conference home series facing Jacksonville on Thursday and North Florida on Saturday at Baptist Health Arena. 
 
Thursday's game against JU is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. ET, students are encouraged to stick around at the end of the game for Post-Game Student Bingo courtesy of EKU athletics marketing.  Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will be Superhero & Local Hero Day at the arena.  Fans can purchase tickets at the door or online here starting at just $5.
 
Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available over the air via the EKU Sports Network on 92.5 WEKY.  Saturday's game against UNF will also be available on WBON-TV for local cable customers.
 
EKU (13-8, 3-5 ASUN) has lost five of its last seven games and enters this week's slate ninth in the ASUN Conference standings.  However, the Colonels have scored 90 or more points in their two wins against North Alabama and Bellarmine in the losing stretch.
 
Senior guard Kaitlyn Costner reclaimed the team lead in scoring for EKU with 15 points last time out against FGCU.  The Osceola, Indiana native is averaging 13.0 points per game this season and has ended in double figures in seven of her last eight games.
 
Fifth year forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor notched her 10th career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the 30-point loss to the Eagles last Saturday.  The Omaha product is averaging a career-best 10.6 points and 8.0 rebounds this season.
 
As the regular season winds down, the Colonels are 3-5 in conference play with six of their last 10 games inside Baptist Health Arena.  Under fourth-year head coach Greg Todd, EKU is 39-13 (.750) at home, including an 18-10 (.642) mark against conference foes.
 
Scouting Jacksonville
Jacksonville enters play on Thursday with a 10-10 overall record and are 4-4 in ASUN Conference play winners of its last three games over Austin Peay, West Georgia, and Queens.  The Dolphins are led by senior guard Edyn Battle, who leads the conference in scoring averaging 21.4 PPG.  Since her return to action on Jan. 16, Battle has scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games with a season-high 31 points against Lipscomb 13 days ago.
 
History vs. Jacksonville
Thursday's game in Richmond marks the fourth meeting between JU and EKU since the two programs became conference members during the 2021-22 season.  The Colonels lead the head-to-head series 2-1 and have won two straight over the Dolphins.
 
Scouting North Florida
UNF will travel to face Bellarmine on Thursday before coming to Richmond.  The Ospreys are currently in last place in the league with a 4-17 overall record and 0-8 mark in conference play.  Senior guard Jazmine Spencer leads the team with 10.9 PPG, she had a conference-high 19 points four games ago against Central Arkansas.
 
History vs. North Florida
Saturday's game is the sixth meeting between the Colonels and Ospreys since 2014.  EKU leads the series 3-2 and has won the last three meetings over UNF.