EKU rallies late

Wendy Haun

Junior Talisha Davis hit a three-pointer from the right wing with nine seconds to go to give the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team a 66-65 win Saturday over Bethune-Cookman at the Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C.

Freshman Alex Jones led the Lady Colonels (2-3) with a career-best 26 points. The Elizabeth-town native went 11-for-14 from the field, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. The win was the second-straight for the Colonels.

“We continued to fight,” EKU coach Chrissy Roberts said. “We did make some things happen at key points. I thought some players stepped up at key times and make some plays for us. Alex had a solid game. Talisha’s three to put us ahead was clutch.”

Davis finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. Freshman Michaelea Kleist contributed a career-high 13 points to go along with five rebounds.

Sarah Bolden’s jumper gave Bethune-Cookman a 55-42 lead with 11:13 left in the game. A three-pointer by Jalisa Isaac kept the Lady Wildcats in front by eight with 6:54 to go. However, BCU went more than three minutes without scoring, allowing the Lady Colonels to stage a late comeback.

A three-pointer by Kleist cut the deficit to five and began an 11-1 run. She tied the game for the first time since the early moments with a jumper at the 2:45 mark. Two free throws by Jones with 2:04 left gave EKU its first lead of the game, 63-61. 

“Everybody chipped in at key times and made things happen for us,” Roberts said. “We played solid team basketball this weekend. It was a team effort and that’s what it’s going to take for us to do what we want to do. We need to continue to play team basketball and rebound.”

Demetria Frank tied it with two free throws of her own and then put her team in front 65-63 with a lay-up with 1:13 remaining. BCU missed two shots from the field but went to the free throw line with a two-point lead and two shots with 23 seconds showing on the clock. Jasmine Daniels missed both attempts to set up the game-winner by Davis. Davis forced a steal at the other end before Bethune-Cookman (1-5) could get off a shot.

“It wasn’t pretty but it was a W,” Roberts said. “I don’t know how many times we led in the game, but it was a straight battle for us for 40 minutes. I guess we got lucky at the right time.”

EKU shot 50 percent for the game and 80 percent (12-for-15) from the free-throw line. The Lady Wildcats made only 65.3 percent (15-for-23) of their free-throw attempts. EKU held a 36-26 rebounding advantage, but committed 23 turnovers compared to only 12 for BCU.

EKU started slow, scoring just two points in the first three minutes of the game. A lay-up by BCU’s Frank gave the Lady Wildcats an 11-2 lead five minutes into the game. The Lady Colonels began to connect and scored six straight to draw within three, 11-8, with 13:06 to play in the first half. Kleist scored four points during the short run.

A jumper by Davis with just six seconds before halftime sent EKU to the locker room down by five, 32-27. Kleist made 4-of-6 shot attempts and set a new career-high with eight points in the first half.

“The whole team has made strides forward,” Roberts said. “That’s what’s important and exciting about this team. We continue to work hard and it’s paying off. We’re moving in the right direction. I’m proud of our team’s effort, being young and on the road, away from the holidays and doing what we’ve got to do.”

The Lady Colonels will open Ohio Valley Conference play on Thursday when they travel to face Murray State. Tip-off in Murray is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

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