CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Champions! The Eastern Kentucky University girls’s basketball staff captured the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship with a 67-54 victory over rival Austin Peay on Wednesday evening inside F&M Bank Arena.
The title marks EKU’s eleventh common season convention championship, its first since 2005, and this system’s first as a member of the ASUN.
With the win, EKU improves to 23-7 total and 14-3 in league play, locking up the No. 1 total seed in subsequent week’s ASUN Conference Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. The Colonels’ 23 victories tie for the second-most wins in a single season in program historical past with one common season recreation remaining.
“It’s never easy, I’ve never been associated with a Division I team winning a division title, proud of our team, I have a lot of talented players and a great coaching staff, it’s been a great year,” stated EKU head girls’s basketball coach Greg Todd. “Unselfishness, willing to play both ends of the floor, just an outstanding group of young ladies that worked so hard to earn this.”
EKU positioned three gamers in double figures, led for the sixth straight recreation by senior ahead Joseana Vaz, who totaled 17 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 steals whereas capturing 7-for-14 from the sector.
Junior ahead Kailani Lindsey recorded the primary double-double of her profession, ending with 13 factors and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Senior guard Althea Kara Angeles added 15 factors and 5 assists, marking the thirty eighth double-figure scoring efficiency of her profession.
As a staff, EKU shot 50 % (27-for-54) from the ground and outrebounded Austin Peay, 31-25. The Colonels restricted the Governors to simply seven factors within the fourth quarter to seal the championship victory.
Austin Peay (15-12, 7-10 ASUN) scored the primary 4 factors of the sport and led for a lot of the opening quarter. Freshman Kenleigh Woods and Angeles scored inside to tie the competition at 8-8, however a Mya Williams 3-pointer pushed the Governors again in entrance. Vaz scored twice late within the interval, although Austin Peay carried an 18-15 benefit into the second quarter.
The Governors stretched their result in eight early within the second after one other Williams 3-pointer and an Anovia Sheals layup made it 23-15. EKU responded with defensive strain and well timed capturing. Sophomore Liz Freihofer knocked down two free throws, and senior Ndidiamaka Ndukwe buried a 3-pointer to present the Colonels their first lead at 26-25. The groups traded baskets down the stretch earlier than Jim’Miyah Branton’s late rating despatched the sport into halftime tied at 34-34.
Austin Peay briefly reclaimed the result in open the third quarter, however EKU answered behind defensive stops and transition offense. Freihofer’s jumper and a pair of free throws ignited the surge, and Angeles linked from past the arc halfway by the interval to present EKU a 43-39 edge. Vaz added a late 3-pointer and Woods transformed a fast-break layup off a steal because the Colonels took a 50-47 lead into the fourth.
EKU took management within the remaining quarter. Lindsey’s tip-in and Vaz’s 3-pointer prolonged the result in 55-47. Lindsey adopted with two free throws, and Vaz added a free throw and a jumper through the decisive run. Angeles capped the stretch with a driving end because the Colonels closed out the 67-54 victory.
EKU returns dwelling to Richmond to host Bellarmine on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Baptist Health Arena. Fans are inspired to attend the Colonels’ common season championship celebration following the sport. Additional particulars will probably be introduced within the coming days.