RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team preps for a crucial Atlantic Sun Conference home series hosting Stetson on Thursday and FGCU on Saturday inside Baptist Health Arena.
Thursday's game against Stetson is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. ET and will be the program's Play4Kay game sponsored by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Fans are encouraged to wear pink united in the fight against all cancers affecting women. Tickets can be purchased online
here.
Saturday's game against FGCU will begin at 2 p.m. and is Youth Sports Day at the arena. Tickets are available online
here.
For fans not able to be in attendance, both games will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available over the air via the EKU Sports Network on 92.5 WEKY.
EKU (15-8, 5-5 ASUN) enters this week's slate of games on a two-game winning streak, defeating the other two Florida schools, Jacksonville and North Florida, by wide 88-75 and 78-44 margins, respectively.
Senior guard
Kaitlyn Costner was the highlight for the Colonels last week scoring 24 points, 18 assists, and 12 rebounds across the wins. The Hoosier native had a career and season best 12 assists against UNF, tying the fourth-most assists in a single game in program history.
Additionally, senior
Alice Recanati and freshman
Liz Freihofer continue their hot streak heading into the week, both combined for over 24 points across EKU's wins over JU and UNF last week. Fifth year forward
Raphaela Toussaint also had 23 points in the wins coming off the bench.
Of note, Saturday's game against perennial power, FGCU, will be the first time since EKU joined the ASUN Conference that the Eagles will have played a game in Richmond. Since 2021-22, EKU has traveled to Fort Myers for four consecutive years without FGCU returning a game. The Colonels will be seeking their first win over FGCU since 2007, having lost all four previous meetings on the road.
Scouting Stetson
Stetson enters play on Thursday with a 12-10 overall record, 6-4 in conference play, and are winners of three of its last four games—including a win over EKU, 83-68, in DeLand on Jan. 23. The Hatters are averaging 68.4 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from the floor. On the defensive side of the ball, Stetson tops the league in three-point defense, holding its opponents to just 29 percent from long range. Junior guard Cameron Thomas is second in the conference in scoring averaging 17.5 PPG, she's scored double figures in her last five games with two 25-point performances.
History vs. Stetson
Thursday's game in Richmond marks the ninth meeting between Stetson and EKU since 1986. The Hatters lead the head-to-head series 6-2 and are winners of the last two meetings between the schools.
Scouting FGCU
The ASUN's current undefeated and No. 1 ranked Eagles will travel to Louisville on Thursday before heading to Richmond on Saturday. As of Wednesday, FGCU is 19-3 overall, 10-0 in ASUN play, and have won its last 12 games. Offensively, the Eagles are averaging 71.0 points per game and are holding its opponents to a league-best 52.2 points per game—with an average margin of victory of 18.8 points. The ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, Emani Jefferson, leads the team with 14.0 points per outing. Standing 5-foot-6, Jefferson had 21 points and 16 rebounds two games ago in a win over Lipscomb.
History vs. FGCU
Saturday's game marks the fifth meeting between EKU and FGCU since 2007. The Eagles lead the series 4-1 and have won the last four meetings between the schools, all on their home floor in Fort Myers. EKU last defeated FGCU on Nov. 24, 2007, by a score of 74-56.
