RICHMOND, Ky. – Facing in-state rival Eastern Kentucky for the second time in as many games, Morehead State women's basketball's
Jazzmyn Elston put forth a team-high 14 points in consecutive games as the Eagles and Colonels wrapped their season series Monday night at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky.
Unfortunately, Eastern Kentucky (2-2; 2-0 OVC) got the better of Morehead State (0-3; 0-2) in the team's rematch of last Friday's series-opening meeting, besting the Eagles 74-59.
In addition to Elston's 14 points, redshirt sophomore
Lauren Carter also reached double-figures, pouring in 10 points, and neared a double-double by adding eight rebounds. Nearly reaching double-digits were sophomores
Tomiyah Alford who set and tied, respectively, a season-high with nine points apiece.
Defensively, Morehead State forced 14 Eastern Kentucky turnovers, including seven steals, turning the Colonel miscues into 16 points. The Eagles also outpaced the Colonels in fast break points, racing out to a 12-2 advantage in transition. Elston and sophomore
Lai'Janique Perry-Ellis each picked up a pair of steal apiece with both totals marking career-highs.
For the third straight game, Morehead State also led its opponent in blocks, rejecting four shots on the evening. Junior
Ellie Jo Johnson led the way with a game-high two blocks while redshirt sophomore
Gabby Crawford and freshman
Morgan DeFoor also picked up blocks for the Eagles.
Morehead State doesn't have to wait long before returning to the court, returning to Johnson Arena to host Transylvania Tuesday night in a non-conference contest. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. ET tip and will air on ESPN+.
KEY MOMENTS
- Trailing 12-3 midway through the first quarter, Morehead State used a pair of buckets in the paint, including a traditional three-point play from Tomiyah Alford and a tip-in from Ellie Jo Johnson to trim the Eastern Kentucky lead.
- The Eagles would close the quarter going 3-for-4 from the field, getting a layup from Lauren Carter, a made jumper from Morgan DeFoor, and a three-ball from Tyler Moore—her first triple in an Eagle uniform.
- Picking up both of her blocks in the second quarter, Johnson turned defense into offense leading to four of Elston's 14 points on the night. Elston turned the blocks into a trip to the foul line and a steal and layup in transition.
- Elston came out of the half hot, picking up five quick points to start the third quarter, leading the team on a fastbreak before hitting a three-pointer to trim the Eastern Kentucky lead.
- Eastern Kentucky used a 6-0 run over a two-minute stretch of the third quarter to grow its lead to 19 points, the largest lead of the game for the Colonels. Morehead State would answer with a 10-0 run of their own while holding Eastern Kentucky scoreless for nearly four minutes to trim the lead to single digits.
- While Eastern Kentucky grew its lead back to double-figures, Tomiyah Alford and Ariel Kirkwood sparked a mini-run for Morehead State to trim the Colonel advantage, leading things in transition picking up four of the six points in the run via the fastbreak.
KEY STATS
- Morehead State won the blocking battle for the third straight game to open the 2020-21 season, recording four blocks Monday night. Over their last 15 games, dating back to last season, the Eagles have out-blocked their opponents in 14 of the 15 games.
- Leading the team with 14 points in consecutive games against Eastern Kentucky, Jazzmyn Elston has now led Morehead State in scoring in seven of the team's past eight games, including a streak of five games to end the 2019-20 season.
- The Eagles led the Colonels in fastbreak points for the second time in as many games, leading 12-2 in the category Monday night. This season, Morehead State has recorded 26 points in transition.
- Forcing 14 turnovers against Eastern Kentucky, including seven steals, Morehead State generated 16 points off turnovers, surpassing 10 or more points off opponent's turnovers for eight consecutive games. Overall, the Eagles have turned their opponent's miscues into 50 points through three games.
