RICHMOND, Ky. – A balanced effort lifted the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team to a 69-53 victory over West Georgia in its Atlantic Sun Conference opener Thursday night inside Baptist Health Arena.
 
With the win, EKU improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in ASUN play, moving to 4-1 all-time in conference openers as a member of the league.
 
Sophomore guard Liz Freihofer led all scorers with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting while adding six rebounds. Early in the game, Freihofer knocked down the 100th 3-pointer of her career, becoming the third-fastest player in program history to reach the milestone.
 
Senior forward Joseana Vaz followed with 14 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Senior guard Ndidiamaka Ndukwe rounded out the Colonels in double figures, scoring 11 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting performance off the bench.
 
EKU controlled the interior throughout the contest, outscoring West Georgia 46-40 in points in the paint. The Colonels also created separation from beyond the arc, knocking down five 3-pointers to the Wolves' one. Both teams finished the night shooting 41 percent from the floor.
 
The Colonels were sharp defensively, holding their sixth opponent of the season to 60 points or fewer. EKU forced 19 turnovers and limited West Georgia (7-5, 0-1 ASUN) to just 14 percent shooting (1-for-7) from 3-point range.
 
EKU set the tone early, opening the game on a quick run and holding the Wolves to 12 points in the first quarter. Freihofer scored six points in the period, including her milestone 3-pointer, while Vaz added four as EKU took a 19-12 lead after one.
 
West Georgia responded in the second quarter behind Asia Donald, who scored nine of her game-high 21 points in the period. Destiny Jones added five points as the Wolves outscored EKU, 17-13, trimming the Colonels' lead to 32-29 at halftime.
 
Defense took over coming out of the break, as EKU limited West Georgia to just six points in the third quarter. Vaz scored six points in the frame, and Ella Bradley controlled the glass as the Colonels rebuilt separation and carried a nine-point, 44-35, advantage into the fourth.
 
Bradley filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Kenleigh Woods chipped in seven points and three assists. West Georgia was led by Donald's 21 points and six rebounds, but the Wolves were unable to overcome EKU's late surge and the Colonels pulled away with a 16-point, 69-53 victory.
EKU shared the rock well in the win, dishing out 18 assists on 29 made field goals.
 
Angeles led the Colonels with five of their 18 total assists, she's led the team in assists in eight of the last 10 games, six of those with five or more assists.
 
EKU returns to action on Saturday continuing ASUN Conference play at home against Queens University (N.C.). Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.