JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team departs for its last regular season road trip of the 2024-25 season this week facing North Florida and Jacksonville in the Sunshine State.
 
The Colonels will open the trip on Thursday against UNF at 5 p.m. ET and conclude the trip on Saturday facing Jacksonville at 2 p.m.  Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+ or heard over the air on 92.5 WEKY with Wes Chandler courtside on both calls.
 
EKU (18-9, 8-6 ASUN) clinched a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Tournament for the fourth consecutive season after defeating in-state foe Bellarmine, 79-73, last weekend in Louisville.  With the win, the Colonels have won five of their last six games and are currently in fourth place in the conference standings.
 
Entering play on Thursday, EKU freshman guard Liz Freihofer was named the ASUN Conference Player, Newcomer, and Freshman of the Week after averaging a double double with 18.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game across the team's two wins last week.  She is one of two players in ASUN WBB this season to sweep the conference's three weekly awards.
 
On the year, Freihofer is third on the team with 11.6 points per game and is top 75 in the NCAA with 57 made three-pointers and 40.1 three-point percentage.  She's scored in double figures in five of her last six games.
 
Senior guard Kaitlyn Costner continues to lead the Colonels averaging a career-best 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.  She's had 20 games this season scoring in double figures and had double digit efforts in 12 of her last 14 games.
 
As a team, EKU is top 100 in the country in assists per game (15.7), assist to turnover ratio (1.00), free throw attempts per game (18.56), free throw percentage (74.5), free throws made per game (13.8), defensive rebounds per game (39.4), scoring margin (+7.7), scoring offense (73.4), and three-point percentage (34.0).  The Colonels are currently ranked No. 170 in the latest NCAA NET rankings.
 
Scouting North Florida
North Florida enters play on Thursday last in the ASUN Conference with a 4-23 overall record and 0-14 mark in league play—the Ospreys have lost their last 15 games since Dec. 16.  On the year, North Florida is averaging 61.8 points per outing and have an average losing margin of -12.0 points.  Senior guard Jazmine Spencer leads UNF with 11.0 points per game, she had a season-best 26 points two games ago in a loss to Central Arkansas.
 
History vs. North Florida
Thursday's game will be the seventh meeting between EKU and UNF since 2014, the Colonels lead the all-time series 4-2 and 4-1 since becoming conference members.  EKU has won the last four meetings in the series, three of those games by 20 or more points.
 
Scouting Jacksonville
The Dolphins will host Bellarmine on Thursday before EKU comes to town over the weekend.  Jacksonville enters the week with a 13-13 overall record and 7-7 mark in conference play—they will join the Colonels in the ASUN Tournament field once regular season play is over.  JU holds a 9-2 record at home this season and are fourth in the league in rebounding, averaging 38.7 per game.
 
Senior Edyn Battle leads Jacksonville and the ASUN Conference with 20.9 points per game, she's ended in double figures in 11 of her last 12 contests.  Similarly to Battle, sophomore forward Saniyah Craig leads both JU and the ASUN with 11.1 rebounds per game, she's recorded 12 double doubles this year.
 
History vs. Jacksonville
Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between JU and EKU, all coming as members of the ASUN Conference.  With a win earlier this season in Richmond, EKU leads the all-time series 3-1 and are winners in three straight over the Dolphins since 2023.