Lady Colonels fall in final regular season game

Eastern had a season-high 11 3-pointers in the loss against Tennessee State on March 3.
Photo by Sonya Johnson

BY: ASHLEY OWENS
progress@eku.edu

Tennessee State University successfully took on the Lady Colonels (69-66) in its last regular season game Sunday, March 3. With this loss, Eastern’s record is now 17-10, 11-5 OVC.

Eastern came out strong in the game netting a season-high 10 3-point shots in the first half.

After Eastern gained a 14-point lead early in the second half, Tennessee State slowly caught back up to the Lady Colonels with Simone Hope scoring 16 points in the second half.

With less than six minutes to go in the game, Hopes made a jumper for the Golden Eagles and took the lead away from Eastern.

The Lady Colonels earned the lead again by three points with a minute to go in the game. After being fouled on a 3-point shot attempt, Jasmine Shuler made all three foul shots for the Golden Eagles to tie the game.

A missed jumper by Eastern and another foul against Tennessee State gave Tennessee a one-point lead with 10 seconds left in the game.

The Golden Eagles secured the win with a turnover by the Lady Colonels and two made foul shots by Tennessee’s Kessi Hess.

“That was a really tough loss because it seemed like we had the game,” Jones said. “And just off of our own mistakes, we kind of gave it away.”

Carpenter finished the game with 26 points while Jones chipped in 12 points, 15 rebounds and her 36th career double-double. Additionally, Jones enters the OVC tournament only nine rebounds shy of breaking Eastern’s rebounding record.

Eastern finished the game with a season high of 11 3-pointers.

Jones said the team is ready to redeem itself after the loss by using the game against Tennessee State as a motivator for the OVC tournament.

The Lady Colonels will have played against No. 8 seed Murray State on March 6. Check www.easternprogress.com for the results.