GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — The Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels used a dominant first half to cruise to an 87-66 victory over the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Engelstad Arena.

Eastern Kentucky seized control from the opening tip, outscoring North Dakota 26-8 in the first quarter and extending its lead with a 30-point second quarter. The Lady Colonels entered halftime with a commanding 56-28 advantage, a deficit from which the Fighting Hawks could not recover.

Althea Kara Angeles led a balanced Eastern Kentucky attack with 16 points. Joseana Vaz also scored 16 points while contributing five assists and a block. Kailani Lindsey provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring 15 points and blocking two shots in just 15 minutes of play. Liz Freihofer added 12 points and Ella Bradley finished with 11.

For North Dakota, Mackenzie Hughes scored a game-high 18 points. The Fighting Hawks struggled with ball security, committing 16 turnovers compared to just seven by Eastern Kentucky. The Lady Colonels capitalized, scoring 14 points off those miscues while North Dakota managed only four.

Eastern Kentucky’s offensive efficiency was a key factor, as the team posted an offensive rating of 112.5 points per 100 possessions. The Lady Colonels shot 15 for 35 from three-point range, while North Dakota was 7 for 19 from beyond the arc.

The victory improves Eastern Kentucky’s record to 4-1 on the season. North Dakota remains winless at 0-5. The two teams had just met on Sunday, with Eastern Kentucky also winning that contest, 57-46.

The announced attendance was 1,384.