Box Score
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MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State junior Chynna Bozeman scored 27 points and set the MSU and Ohio Valley Conference career record for three-pointers during the game, but the Eagles could not stop Eastern Kentucky freshman Alex Jones who poured in career highs of 34 points and 18 rebounds in the Lady Colonels' 79-67 win over MSU in Johnson Arena Saturday.
MSU fell to 19-9 and 12-4 in the OVC while Eastern Kentucky stayed alive for one of the top four spots in the OVC race at 12-14 and 8-8. It marked MSU's first loss to its in-state rival in eight games dating back to 2005-06.
Playing without the OVC's leading rebounder Ashar Harris, the Eagles were soundly overmatched in the post area where Jones had her way. She was 12-of-17 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the free throw line while grabbing 14 of her rebounds on the defensive end. EKU outscored MSU 44-8 in the paint and had 23 second chance points as they won the battle of rebounds, 53-41.
Bozeman needed just one three-pointer to get to 249 for her career and set both school and conference standards. She hit that at the 10-minute mark of the first half and finished with seven treys on the afternoon to give her 103 for the season. She now needs only three more to break the OVC single season mark of 105. With 35 attempts, the Eagles also set the school and OVC mark for attempts in a season with 837 now.
The Eagles were 11-of-35 from behind the arc and trailed by as many as 13 (63-50) in the final six minutes before mounting a furious rally. MSU got the game within reach at 69-65 with 1:35 left on Bozeman's seventh triple, but the Lady Colonels forced the Eagles to miss on three straight trips down the floor after and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 1:30 to fend off the Eagle comeback attempt. A three-point game with 1:03 left turned into the 11-point final margin.
The Eagles only held six leads in the game and never by more than two points. The first half was extremely close as EKU never led by more than five before holding a 33-32 halftime lead. Bozeman hit a trey at the 18:33 mark of the second half for a 35-33 Eagle lead, but the Lady Colonels proceeded to go on an 8-2 run, capped by Michaelea Kleist's putback layup at 15:06, to push their lead out to eight at 45-37.
EKU still led by as many as 13 with 4:50 remaining in the contest before MSU's 11-1 run in the next three minutes.
EKU shot 47 percent for the game, including 57 percent (17-of-30) in the final 20 minutes. MSU only managed to hit 29 percent for the game (19-of-66).
Brittany Coles added 18 points and six boards for the Lady Colonels, while Kleist tallied 10 points and six rebounds.
Courtney Lumpkin registered 15 points for MSU. Ashley Martin led on the glass with nine rebounds.
Morehead State hosts Murray State on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 5:15 p.m.
