RICHMOND, Ky. – Behind a 15-point, 11-rebound double double from fifth year forward Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor, EKU women's basketball overcomes a 14-point deficit late in the contest to defeat Stetson by a score of 77-70 on Thursday night at Baptist Health Arena.
 
With the win, EKU (16-8, 6-5 ASUN) splits the season series with Stetson and moves to above .500 in league play with seven games left in the regular season.  The Colonels have won their last three games inside Atlantic Sun Conference play, the team's longest win streak on the year since winning 10-straight from Nov. 17-Jan. 2.
 
McGinnis-Taylor dropped her 11th career double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds going 6-for-13 from the floor.  The Omaha, Nebraska native also led the Colonels with a career-high four assists in 34 minutes of action.
 
Four other Colonels ended in double figures, led by a game-high 18 points from Alice Recanati followed by 12 points by Raphaela Toussaint, Kaitlyn Costner, and 11 points from Althea Kara Angeles.
 
EKU shot a season-high 36 free throws in Thursday's win, knocking down 28 in the final tally for a 78 percent showing from the stripe.  As a team, the Colonels went 22-for-58 (.379) from the field and made five 3-pointers.
 
Stetson (12-11, 6-5 ASUN) was led by Cincinnati native Diawna Carter-Hartley, who had a 17-point, 11-rebound double double.  The Hatters outshot EKU nearing 44 percent from the floor, however, were forced into 24 turnovers which accounted for 34 of the Colonels' points towards their loss.
 
In the first quarter, EKU jumped out early to a 10-2 run off layups by Recanati, McGinnis-Taylor, and threes from Costner and Angeles.  Stetson would quickly counter the Colonels offensive output going on a 18-3 run, ending the frame up 20-13.  Stetson won the second quarter 18-15 to go into the halftime break up 10, 38-28.
 
The Colonels cut its deficit to just one point with 7:14 left in play in the fourth quarter, sparked by a pair of made free throws from Recanati and Toussaint.  Just three sequences later, EKU would hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to claim the lead with 5:19 left to play.
 
Another made three by Angeles, who led the Colonels with three on the night, would give EKU a four-point led as both teams arrived at the under-five media timeout.  The Hatters' effort would fall short as Recanati made a gritty floater from 8-feet out and McGinnis-Taylor made a pair of free throws to secure a seven-point, 77-70 comeback win to move EKU to 2-0 in the month of February.
 
The Colonels outrebounded Stetson, 38-36, in the physical affair which resulted in a total of 61 free throws being attempted between the two teams.  EKU's plus two rebound margin in Thursday's win marks 15-of-24 (.625) games this season the Colonels have outrebounded their opponent.
 
EKU returns to action on Saturday wrapping up a four-game home stand against the ASUN's leader, Florida Gulf Coast.  Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be Youth Sports Day at Baptist Health Arena.  Fans can purchase tickets online here.