Box Score
Post-Game Quotes

MOREHEAD, K.Y.-- Katie Kelly had a game-high 21 points, leading Eastern Kentucky (1-0) to a 75-66 win over Binghamton in the first round of the Morehead State Tip Off Classic on Friday. The game marked the first contest of the season for both teams.

Binghamton hung tough, trailing by just four points, 41-37, early in the second half. It was series of turnovers and missed opportunities, however, that would prove decisive down the stretch.

"I thought we played some good minutes of basketball but we weren't as consistent as we wanted to be," head coach Laurie Kelly said. "We had way too many turnovers."

Binghamton was led by junior forward Leala Wegwerth (Maplewood, Minn./ Roseville), who led the Bearcats in scoring with 14 points and added five rebounds. Senior guard Iesha Eldridge (Buffalo, N.Y./ Buffalo Academy) chipped in 10 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 9-4 lead on a pair of three-pointers with 15:43 remaining in the first half. The Bearcats got their points on two baskets from junior center Nicole Dypolt (Calgary Alberta/ Bishop Grandin). Binghamton trimmed the deficit to 9-8 but could not convert any of their first five free throw attempts. The Colonels took advantage of Binghamton's free throw woes, stretching their lead back to five points, 17-12, with 6:00 left until halftime.

The lead remained at five points, 35-30, at the half. Wegwerth scored six of the Bearcats' last 10 points to lead all scorers at the break.

In the second half, Binghamton trimmed the margin to 41-37, but were hurt by four consecutive turnovers thereafter and Eastern Kentucky stretched their lead to 49-37 with 14:14 to play. Aided by another string of five consecutive Bearcat turnovers, the Colonels blew the game open, racing to a 61-43 lead with 9:29 to go.

The Eastern Kentucky lead grew to 74-52 with 4:00 to go. Binghamton, however, finished strong, going on a 15-1 run to finish the game.

Binghamton faces host Morehead State in the final round of the Morehead State Tip-Off Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Tonight marked the first career starts for sophomore forward Molly Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Vincentian), who scored a career-high eight points, and freshman guard Jen Blues (Overland Park, Kan./ Blue Valley North), who finished the game with seven points.