Eastern Kentucky University’s women’s basketball team lost Jacksonville State University, 74-60, on Thursday in McBrayer Arena.
Freshman Alice Recanati led Eastern (4-5, 3-2 OVC) with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. She went 4-for-5 from the field and 5-for-5 at the free throw line.
A burst of six straight allowed JSU to turn a 2-point lead into an 8-point advantage. A jumper by Winnie Kuimi made it 21-13 in favor of the Gamecocks with 7:00 left in the second quarter. The Colonels closed to as close as three, 23-20, on a lay-up by Clara Rosini and a 3-pointer from the top of the key from Recanati.
JSU out-scored Eastern 9-4 over the final four and a half minutes of the first half to take a 9-point lead, 35-26, into the locker room at the break. Jacksonville State scored 11 points off eight EKU turnovers and shot 46 percent in the first half.
Recanati made both of her attempts from the field and all three at the stripe for eight points in the first half.
The Gamecocks scored the first three points of the second half to stretch the margin to 12, 38-26. EKU closed to within six on four occasions, including on a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Anysa Jordan with 3:11 to play in the third quarter. The Colonels never got any closer. JSU scored eight of the final 10 points of the quarter to move in front by 12 again, 57-45, after three quarters.
Eastern Kentucky shot 41 percent for the game. Jayla Johnson contributed 12 points and Kendall Wingler scored 11.
Jacksonville State shot 44 percent for the game. The Gamecocks turned 17 EKU turnovers into 27 points. Taylor Hawks had a team-best 14 points and six rebounds to go along with three assists and three steals.
The Colonels will host Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 4 p.m.
