Box Score (PDF)

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team nearly led from start to finish in a commanding 71-62 victory over Western Carolina on Friday in the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic at Trask Colisuem.
 
Western Carolina (2-3) jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but EKU (2-2) tied it on a three-pointer by sophomore Michaela Hunter and took its first lead, 9-7, on a jumper by Jasmine Henshaw at the 14:43 mark of the first half. The Colonels never trailed again.
 
The baskets by Hunter and Henshaw were part of a 21-2 run by EKU that culminated with a Jasmine Stafford jumper that gave the Colonels a 14-point lead, 23-9, with 9:01 remaining in the first half.
 
A coast-to-coast drive and layup by sophomore Mariah Massengill just before the buzzer made it 42-30 in favor of the Colonels at halftime.
 
Eastern went on a 7-0 run to open the second half and took a 19-point lead, 49-30, when Massengill connected on a three-pointer with 18:23 remaining in the game.
 
The Colonels led by 20 points twice during the second half, the latest time coming with 9:01 to play. The Catamounts clawed back into the game with free throws and finally cut EKU's lead to single digits, 69-60, on a pair of foul shots by Justin Taylor with 1:41 remaining.
 
EKU, however, got a fast-break layup from sophomore Alexus Cooper on its ensuing possession and held on for the win.
 
Hunter – the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week – led all players in the game with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. She also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Henshaw and Massengill contributed 10 points apiece.
 
Junior Shelly Harper scored seven points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Harper's efforts on the glass helped EKU outrebound WCU, 43-36.
 
EKU shot a season-high 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field in the win.
 
The Colonels – who entered the weekend ranked second in the OVC in scoring defense (63.7 points-per-game) – stifled Western Carolina to 32.2 percent (19-of-59) shooting from the field and 27.3 percent (3-of-11) shooting from deep.
 
Eastern will face North Florida on Saturday at noon in its second game of this weekend's holiday tournament.