RICHMOND, Ky. – The Lipscomb University Women's Basketball team was unable to maintain a first half lead, as they dropped an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup with conference leader Eastern Kentucky University by a 69-60 score on Thursday night from Baptist Health Arena. 

Final Score: Eastern Kentucky 69, Lipscomb 60
Location: Richmond, Kentucky (Baptist Health Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (5-11, 2-3), Eastern Kentucky (14-4, 5-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
From the opening tip, the Bisons had control of the contest early. Despite an early 3-pointer by EKU's Althea Kara Angeles to lead 3-2, Taylor Bowen responded with a triple of her own as Lipscomb went on a 14-4 run to make it a double-digit lead, 16-6, with two minutes left in the opening quarter. 

The Colonels did trim their deficit to six at the end of the first stanza, 20-14. However, EKU, one of the top scoring and shot percentage teams in the league, was held to 5-of-14 from the field, 3-of-9 from downtown. On the other side, Lipscomb knocked down 8-of-16 in the first 10 minutes of play. 

Eastern Kentucky took advantage of Lipscomb turnovers in the second quarter, cutting the Bisons lead to three, 27-24, on an Angeles second chance with 4:49 remaining. 

Hope Counts ended the threat with a layup on the other end to start a 7-1 run for the Bisons to make it a nine-point affair, 34-25. 

Despite EKU cutting the score to 34-31 Lipscomb lead with a 6-0 run to end the quarter, the Bisons shot 50% again from the field with a 6-of-12 clip. 

Unfortunately, for the Bisons, they went ice cold from the field in the third quarter with a 2-of-12 clip. 

Tied at 40 at the media break, the Colonels finished the quarter with a 9-2 run, including holding the Bisons to without a field goal in the final five-plus minutes to lead 49-42 after three quarters. 

Early in the fourth, Lipscomb found its offensive rhythm and cut the deficit to four with a Bowen layup, but on the other end, a Liz Freihofer triple essentially iced the game for the Colonels to remain unbeaten in ASUN play. 

KEY STATISTICS
Molly Heard paced the Bisons with 17 points on 6-of-12 from the floor and added five rebounds and three steals. 

Taylor Bowen contributed 14 points with six rebounds. 

Hope Counts totaled 13 points and five boards, while McKayla Miller had seven rebounds and three blocks to go with eight points. 

UP NEXT
The second of four straight games away from Allen Arena continues on Saturday with the quick trip to Clarksville, Tennessee to face off against Austin Peay.