Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team jumped out to a 13-0 lead, built a 31-point advantage near the end of the first half and then never looked back as the Lady Colonels cruised past visiting UNC Asheville, 67-47, on Saturday afternoon at McBrayer Arena.

With the win, EKU is 3-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

EKU posted season-high numbers in every type of shooting percentage on Saturday: 49 percent (26-of-53) from the field, 42 percent (5-of-12) from behind the arc and 83 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line. The stifling Lady Colonel defense, meanwhile, limited UNCA to just 32 percent (17-of-54) shooting from the field and 22 percent (4-of-18) shooting from deep.

A trio of seniors – Brittany Coles, Alex Jones and Jade Barber – led EKU in the route. Coles filled up the stat sheet, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. The Lexington native was a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range, putting her one triple shy of cracking EKU’s top-10 three-pointers made list. Jones finally came to life on the offensive end of the court, as the two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference forward scored 10 points, grabbed six boards and blocked three shots. Barber, meanwhile, continued her dominant ways in the paint, scoring 12 points, snagging eight rebounds and blocking two shots.

All 13 healthy Lady Colonels saw action in the game, including all five freshmen. Freshmen Jasmine Stafford and Alexus Cooper notched their first-career points in the winning effort.

UNCA was led offensively by Kelli Riles and Shonese Jones, both of whom tallied10 points.

EKU scored 13 unanswered points to open the game, a run that was capped by a three-pointer from Coles at the 16:22 mark. After Jones put the Bulldogs on the board with a three-pointer of her own on the opposite end of the floor, the Lady Colonels exploded on a 9-0 run to grab a 22-3 lead. They went on a 10-0 run later in the half and went into the locker room at the break up by 22, 41-19.

EKU shot nearly 60 percent (16-of-28) from the field in the decisive first half.

UNCA never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way.

EKU is now seeking its first 4-0 start since the 1994-95 season; however, the Lady Colonels will have to travel to Puerto Rico and achieve that milestone against an undefeated Florida State team (2-0) in the San Juan Shootout over Thanksgiving Break.