RICHMOND, Ky. –
Kirsten Lewis-Williams scored 20 points, and
Kailani Lindsey recorded a double-double as the Eastern Kentucky University's women's basketball team defeated Southern Illinois, 71-57, on Thursday night at Baptist Health Arena.
The Colonels (4-1) continue a five-game home stand unbeaten and earned their fourth consecutive victory, shooting 52.9 percent from the field and outscoring the Salukis 50-34 in the paint.
Lewis-Williams finished 9-for-12 from the floor with eight rebounds and three assists.
Lindsey totaled 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while
Kenleigh Woods added 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting and made five of her six free-throw attempts.
Liz Freihofer contributed eight points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. EKU finished with a 48-29 rebounding advantage and seven blocks while limiting Southern Illinois to 32.9 percent shooting.
Lindsey scored EKU's first six points, helping the Colonels establish an early lead. After five ties in the opening quarter,
Luna Ueda made two free throws with four seconds remaining to give EKU a 17-15 advantage.
Southern Illinois (0-3) scored the first four points of the second quarter to move ahead, 19-17, before the Colonels answered with an 11-2 run. Lewis-Williams scored on consecutive possessions during the stretch, and Freihofer's jumper pushed the lead to 28-21 with 4:19 remaining.
EKU closed the half with six unanswered points on baskets by Lewis-Williams,
Michelle Ugwah and Woods to take a 37-26 lead into the break. The Colonels shot 66.7 percent in the second quarter and outscored the Salukis 20-11.
Lewis-Williams scored eight points in the third quarter, and Woods converted a three-point play in the closing seconds to send EKU into the fourth with a 52-38 advantage.
The Colonels carried that momentum into the final period, scoring the first seven points to extend their lead to 59-38.
Rylee Kalocay supplied four points during the stretch before Lindsey connected from beyond the arc and Kalocay added two free throws to give EKU its largest lead, 64-40, with 5:50 remaining.
Kalocay finished with six points off the bench, while Ueda dished out four assists and collected two steals. EKU made 15 of its 18 free-throw attempts.
Kayla Cooper led Southern Illinois with 14 points, and Tkiyah Nelson added 12.
Eastern Kentucky returns to action next Tuesday facing Northern Kentucky back inside Baptist Health Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
