FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — Liz Freihofer scored 26 points as Eastern Kentucky edged North Alabama 80-78 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Flowers Hall. The Lady Colonels (12-4, 1-0 ASUN) rallied from a 48-35 halftime deficit. North Alabama (5-9, 0-1) led by 13 after shooting 60.5% in the first half but was held to 30 points after halftime. Gabby Jackson led the Lions with 21 points and six assists. Katie Criswell added 17 points. Both teams finished with identical 111.1 offensive ratings in a tightly contested game that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes. Eastern Kentucky secured the win despite being outshot 58.2% to 53.7% from the field, capitalizing on a 14-7 advantage in free throws made. Attendance was 1,178.

FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by razor-thin margins and a furious final minute, Liz Freihofer’s career-high 26 points propelled the Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels to a dramatic 80-78 victory over the North Alabama Lions in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball thriller Thursday night at Flowers Hall. The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 1,178, was a study in contrasting styles and momentum swings. North Alabama, leveraging a fast start and efficient inside scoring, built an early 48-35 halftime lead. The Lions shot a blistering 58% from the field in the first half, with Sofia Ceppellotti and Jazzy Klinge combining for 22 points, while Eastern Kentucky struggled to find its rhythm. The second half, however, belonged to Freihofer and a resurgent Lady Colonels defense. The 5-foot-10 guard from Union, Kentucky, who played 38 minutes, spearheaded the comeback. After the break, Eastern Kentucky methodically chipped away at the deficit, tightening their defense to hold North Alabama to just 30 points over the final two quarters. The Lions’ shooting cooled to 44% in the second half, and their offense became increasingly reliant on individual efforts. The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s final 11 seconds with the score tied at 78. Following a North Alabama timeout, Eastern Kentucky inbounded the ball to Freihofer, who drove and missed a contested layup. Joseana Vaz, the 6-foot forward from Praia, Cape Verde, secured the offensive rebound and calmly sank a pull-up jumper from the short corner with 9 seconds remaining to give the Lady Colonels the lead. North Alabama had one final chance. Lions star Gabby Jackson, who finished with 21 points and six assists, drove the length of the court but her layup attempt over traffic rolled off the rim. Freihofer secured the defensive rebound, was fouled immediately, and then missed the ensuing free throw intentionally to drain the clock. A desperation heave from North Alabama was off target as time expired. The final statistics underscored the game’s competitiveness. Both teams finished with identical offensive ratings of 111.1 and each scored 40 points in the paint. North Alabama made more field goals, 32 to 29, and won the assists battle 9-8. Eastern Kentucky’s advantages came at the free-throw line, where they made 14 of 19 attempts compared to North Alabama’s 7 of 11, and from beyond the arc, hitting 8 three-pointers to the Lions’ 7. Beyond Freihofer’s standout performance, Eastern Kentucky received crucial contributions from Vaz, who scored 17 points in just 18 minutes off the bench, and Kenleigh Woods, who added 9 points and 6 assists. For North Alabama, Jackson’s all-around effort was complemented by 17 points from Katie Criswell and 12 points from Ceppellotti. The victory improved Eastern Kentucky’s season record to 12-4 overall and marked their fourth consecutive win. The Lady Colonels, who were projected with a 73.8% win probability by National Statistical’s ELO system, continue their road trip at Central Arkansas on Saturday. North Alabama, which fell to 5-9, will look to rebound at home against Bellarmine, also on Saturday.

FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball team looks to continue its strong start when it visits North Alabama in an ASUN Conference matchup Thursday night at Flowers Hall. The Lady Colonels (11-4) enter on a four-game winning streak, including a dominant 103-49 conference-opening victory over Queens (N.C.) on Saturday. North Alabama (5-8) seeks to reverse its momentum after dropping its ASUN opener at Stetson, 76-59, extending its losing skid to five games. Eastern Kentucky has showcased a potent offense during its streak, averaging 80.8 points per game in those wins. A key catalyst has been junior forward Joseana Vaz, who is coming off a standout performance with 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes against Queens. Over her last five games, Vaz is averaging 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds, providing consistent production in the frontcourt. The Lions will counter with forward Sofia Ceppellotti, who has been a bright spot during the team’s recent struggles. She leads North Alabama in scoring and rebounding in ASUN play, posting 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the loss at Stetson. Her interior presence will be critical against a physical Eastern Kentucky lineup. The teams’ non-conference schedules presented contrasting challenges. Eastern Kentucky faced power-conference foe Louisville and a narrow road loss at Arizona, tests that appear to have fortified the squad. North Alabama’s difficult road slate included games at Missouri and Oklahoma, contributing to its sub-.500 record. Historically, the Lions have defended their home court well in Florence, but they face a Lady Colonels squad riding high confidence. Eastern Kentucky’s depth was on full display Saturday, with Kenleigh Woods (18 points) and Ndidiamaka Ndukwe (16 points) joining Vaz as high scorers. Thursday’s contest marks the beginning of a pivotal early conference stretch for both teams. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.