CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (2-10) returned home for the first time since Nov. 17 on Friday night (Dec. 19), falling to Eastern Kentucky 81-61 at the Templeton Center.
The Colonels used a 37-23 advantage in the first half to grab the road win. Morgan Boyd powered the Blue Hose on the night, scoring a career-high 15 points on 4-of 6 shooting from the field. This is the second time in three games that Boyd has scored in double figures for Presbyterian.
Boyd also had a career-night from the free throw line, recording career-highs in both makes (7) and attempts (9).
Allie Sykes also got into double figures, scoring 10 points. Ore Ogunwolere added nine points for PC, while Aretha Linger pitched in eight. Defensively, Linger recorded a career-high four blocks.
For the game, the Colonels outrebounded PC 40-28. Linger led the Blue Hose in rebounds with six. Her six rebounds are one short of her season-high.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Aminata Tal scored the first three points of the night for the Blue Hose after Eastern Kentucky opened the game with a three. Aretha Linger made a layup shortly after to put PC ahead early 5-4 in the opening minutes of the evening. While the Colonels retook the lead to follow, Shelby Fiddler drilled her first three of the game to give Presbyterian an 8-6 advantage.However, Eastern Kentucky began to separate from PC in the next four minutes, going on a 10-0 run to lead 16-8 with three minutes remaining. Ore Ogunwolere gave PC some momentum to end the quarter with a three, but the Colonels still led 18-13 after 10 minutes of play.
Second Quarter
Eastern Kentucky controlled the proceedings in the second quarter, jumping out to a 15-point lead halfway through the quarter. The Colonels led by as many as 21 late in the half before the Blue Hose started to close the gap. Allie Sykes poured in two three-pointers and two free throws in the final 90 seconds of the period to help PC inch closer. However, the Colonels still held a commanding 37-23 lead through two quarters.
Third Quarter
Krystal Haddock made her second basket of the game to open the scoring for the Blue Hose in the second half. Eastern Kentucky maintained a big lead, but a second-chance layup from Tal got the Blue Hose back within 14. Later in the quarter, the Colonels grabbed the momentum back, extending the lead back up to 18. Linger scored four points in the final minute of the period for Presbyterian, but Eastern Kentucky took a 57-39 lead going into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
PC delivered its best offensive quarter on the night in the fourth quarter. Morgan Boyd started strong for the Blue Hose, making a layup off a Daniella Velez steal in the opening seconds of the period. The Blue Hose continued their hot stretch offensively with baskets from Velez and Linger. Velez drained her first three of the game halfway through the quarter, but the Colonels still held a large lead. Boyd scored five more points in the closing minutes of the game to finish with a career-high in points. In the end, Eastern Kentucky's fast start to the night helped the Colonels prevail and pick up an 81-61 win in Clinton.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will play their final non-conference game at home on Sunday (Dec. 21) against Jacksonville State at 2:00 p.m.
