The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team will host its lone exhibition game of the year, as it welcomes Davis & Elkins College to McBrayer Arena on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Admission to Saturday’s exhibition is FREE.
The Colonels look to build off their remarkable run to a second-straight Ohio Valley Conference championship game. Last season, EKU became the first No. 7 seed to advance to the title game, but fell to Belmont, 94-64. It was also the first time the Colonels appeared in back-to-back championship games since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
EKU returns just five letter winners from last season’s runner-up team, including junior Abby Wright. She saw action in 28 games last year and averaged 20.4 minutes per game. She is the Colonels leading returning scorer, pouring in 6.3 points per game last season. Wright also helped EKU advance to the OVC title game with four blocks in the semifinals against SIU Edwardsville.
Also returning is senior center Madison Wood. Wood is the Colonels lone returning starter who averaged 2.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. She also notched two or more blocks in seven games and notched a career-high 10 points against Eastern Illinois on Jan. 7. Her play was critical in helping Eastern advance to the semifinals of the OVC tournament, where she recorded eight points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five blocks.
Tae’lour Richardson and Shay Solomon return for their sophomore campaigns. Richardson logged seven starts in her freshman campaign and averaged 9.1 minutes per contest, while Solomon became a consistent contributor off the bench, averaging 10.4 minutes per game.
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, redshirt-junior guard A’Queen Hayes looks to contribute immediately for the Colonels. The Ole Miss transfer was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore for the Rebels.
The Colonels welcome four transfers to the team this year: juniors Madison Pierce (transfer from Shelton State Community College), Kenyia Johnson (transfer from the University of Evansville), and Joya and Jalisa Smith (transfers from Three Rivers Community College). They also welcome eight freshman to the roster: Bria Bass, Teri Goodlett, Kennedy Gore, Brittany Grice, Valerie Clark, Ericka Richardson, J’lyn Martin, and Emely Rosario.
The Colonels will open the season on November 10, when they travel to Ohio to take on Bowling Green State University. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Kevin Britton
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding
