TSU led, 31-30, at halftime but was outscored, 48-29, in the second frame. With the loss, Tennessee State moved to 5-9 (1-1 OVC) while Eastern Kentucky improved to 6-6 (2-0 OVC). 

Tayla Foster led TSU with 21 points while Destiney Gaston finished with 13.  Alana Morris grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.

EKU had four players to score in double-figures led by Marie Carpenter (17). LaRa'e Allen (13), Raechele Gray (12) and Jade Barber (10) also posted double-digits.

In the first half, TSU was leading 8-5 when four unanswered points put the Lady Tigers on top, 12-5. Over the next five minutes, EKU outscored the Lady Tigers, 8-1, to even the score at 13-all.

With 10:03 on the clock, Tayla Foster knocked down a three-pointer that sparked a 9-2 run and made the score, 22-15, in favor of Tennessee State. 

EKU burned a timeout after back-to-back buckets from Destiney Gaston increased TSU's lead to 26-17 with about five minutes left in the half.

The Lady Colonels, however, would not go away and used a 13-5 spurt to pull within one, 31-30, at the halftime break.

Tayla Foster had 14 first half points to lead TSU as the Lady Tigers only committed six turnovers in the frame.

Eastern Kentucky opened up the second half with a 7-0 run to capture a 37-31 lead before TSU finally got on the board behind a bucket from Rachel Allen at the 14:56 mark.

The Lady Tigers fought back and knotted the score at 44-apiece but the Lady Colonels answered with a 16-5 run that put them back on top, 60-49.

TSU pulled within eight when Tayla Foster connected in the paint but EKU had another rally that put the home team on top, 69-55 with about four minutes left.

The Lady Tigers continued to fight but could not overcome the deficit.

TSU shot 30.6 percent (22-of-72) from the field, including 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from three-point range while knocking down 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the free-throw line.  EKU shot 50.8 percent (30-of- 59) from the field, 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from long range and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the charity stripe.

TSU only committed 14 turnovers and outrebounded EKU 47-35.

Tennessee State returns to action on Monday, Jan. 3 at home against UT Martin. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Gentry Center.