The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team lost Saturday night (Nov. 28) to Xavier University by a score of 105-89. This game marked the second time in the young 1998-99 season that the Lady Colonels have given up 100 or more points, both ending in losses for Eastern.

Despite solid performances by sophomore forward Charlotte Sizemore and junior guard Marla Gearhart, the Lady Colonels were unable to solve the Musketeers of Xavier.

The first half proved to be the decisive half, as Eastern went down early. At half time, EKU found itself behind 54-39. That deficit proved to be too much. In the second half, the Lady Colonels played nearly even up with the Musketeers only being outscored by one point in the final 20 minutes.

Behind nine of 21 shooting (3-7 3 pt.), Sizemore scored a season-high 23 points. She also added six rebounds and a career-best nine assists. Gearhart contributed a 19-point performance along with six assists and six rebounds, but overall had trouble finding her long range shot. The Olive Hill, KY, native hit only one three-point basket on eight tries.

Xavier did its most damage to the Lady Colonels with a spectacular display of shooting prowess. The Musketeers shot 56.7 percent from the field for the game, including 62.5 percent in the decisive first half. Xavier was led by a 20-point performance by center Jen Phillips in which eight of those points came at the free throw line. Also hurting the Lady Colonels was freshman forward Kim Hotz who was nearly perfect for the Musketeers. Hotz shot 6-7 from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line, en route to 19 points. She also added eight rebounds.

Something that the Lady Colonels will need to work on in the coming practices will be fouls. Eastern committed 34 personal fouls against Xavier, which resulted in 35 Musketeer points. The Lady Colonels have now committed 80 personal fouls in only three games.

The Lady Colonels will try to rebound as they open the Ohio Valley Conference schedule at home this weekend. Eastern will host Tennessee-Martin on Thursday (Dec. 3) at 6:30 PM, before returning to entertain Murray State on Saturday (Dec. 5). That game is slated to begin at 2:00 PM. In both contests, the men's basketball teams will play approximately one-half hour after the conclusion of the women's games.

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