RICHMOND, Ky. - Led by junior guard Marla Gearhart, the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team defeated Murray State, 83-71, at McBrayer Arena Saturday afternoon.

Gearhart set a career-high as she scored 24 points to lead the Lady Colonels past the Lady Racers. Gearhart also added three assists and two rebounds in a nearly perfect afternoon. The 5-9 guard hit 12 of 15 shots from the floor without committing a turnover in 29 minutes of action.

Also helping Eastern's winning efforts was sophomore forward Charlotte Sizemore and senior forward Jennifer King. Sizemore added 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while King contributed a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She also added one assist and one blocked shot.

Freshman Candice Finley, in somewhat of an off shooting night (four of 12) picked up the pace at the defensive end as she blocked a career-high three shots and collected three steals.

At the end of the first half, the Lady Colonels were up by a score of 40-30, led by a 16-point performance by Gearhart. The second half began all Eastern, as the Lady Colonels jumped out to a 28-point lead at 73-45 with 7:10 remaining in the game. Murray State then put together a run, led by junior guard Heather Bates and senior forward Bobbi Coltharp. Bates (21 points)and Coltharp (career-high 25 points) combined to score 31 points in the second half, as the Lady Racers closed the gap to 79-69 with 1:50 remaining. But, the Lady Colonels never quit, earning the win.

Eastern improves its record to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference as the Lady Racers fall to 0-6, 0-1. The Lady Colonels get some time off as they will travel to Coastal Carolina and Wofford next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

CM/cm