DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Stetson used a dominant first quarter to secure a 69-54 victory over Eastern Kentucky in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Edmunds Center. The Hatters built a 27-22 lead after the opening period and maintained control throughout, improving to 18-9 overall. The Lady Colonels fell to 22-7. Promise Keshi led Stetson with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Mary McMillan added 19 points and four assists. Joseana Vaz scored a game-high 22 points for Eastern Kentucky. Stetson outscored Eastern Kentucky 30-18 on points in the paint. An attendance of 670 watched the ASUN Conference matchup.

DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant first-quarter offensive explosion and a stifling defensive performance throughout propelled the Stetson Hatters to a decisive 69-54 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Edmunds Center. The Hatters, improving to 18-9 overall, seized control of the contest from the opening tip, erupting for 27 points in the first quarter while holding Eastern Kentucky’s offense in check after an initial burst. The Lady Colonels, who fell to 22-7, saw a promising start evaporate under a wave of Stetson efficiency and their own mounting mistakes. Eastern Kentucky’s Joseana Vaz opened the game with a pair of three-pointers in the first 51 seconds, staking the visitors to a quick 6-0 lead. However, Stetson responded with a devastating 27-9 run over the remainder of the period. The Hatters’ offense was clinical, shooting a blistering 10-for-15 from the field in the quarter, while their defense forced six Lady Colonel turnovers. Mary McMillan and Cameron Thomas were instrumental in the surge, combining for 16 points in the frame as Stetson built a 27-22 lead it would never relinquish. The most important part of the game was Stetson’s immediate and comprehensive response to Eastern Kentucky’s early momentum. By not only answering but overwhelming the Lady Colonels in that first quarter, the Hatters established a psychological and tactical advantage that lasted the entire game. Eastern Kentucky never got closer than five points the rest of the way, as every attempt at a rally was met with a key Stetson basket or a critical defensive stop. The second quarter saw Stetson extend its lead by clamping down defensively, limiting Eastern Kentucky to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. The Hatters took a 45-32 advantage into halftime, a margin that proved insurmountable for a Lady Colonels team that struggled with its shooting touch all afternoon. Eastern Kentucky finished the game shooting just 32.1% from the field and committed 15 turnovers, which Stetson converted into 17 points. Stetson was led by a double-double from Promise Keshi, who tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the interior. Mary McMillan matched Keshi’s 19 points and added four assists, while Cameron Thomas provided 16 points. The Hatters shared the ball sparingly, recording only five assists, but their offensive success was built on high-percentage shots, as they shot 50% from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. They also dominated points in the paint, 30-18. Eastern Kentucky was led by a game-high 22 points from Joseana Vaz, who connected on four three-pointers. Liz Freihofer added 11 points and four blocks. The Lady Colonels showcased relentless defensive activity, forcing 24 Stetson turnovers and recording 19 steals and seven blocks. Althea Kara Angeles was a catalyst in that effort, contributing seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in 38 minutes. However, Eastern Kentucky’s offensive execution could not overcome its poor shooting, managing an offensive rating of just 76.0 points per 100 possessions. Stetson’s lead ballooned to as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter before settling on the 15-point final margin. The Hatters weathered a slight third-quarter lull where they scored only nine points by holding Eastern Kentucky to 14, preserving a comfortable double-digit cushion entering the final period. The game was attended by 670 fans at Edmunds Center. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Eastern Kentucky entered with a narrow 51% probability to win. Stetson looks to continue its momentum when it hosts Jacksonville on Wednesday. Eastern Kentucky aims to rebound on the road at Austin Peay the same night.

DE LAND, Fla. (Interstat) — A pivotal ASUN Conference women’s basketball matchup is set for Saturday when the Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels visit the Stetson Hatters at Edmunds Center. Eastern Kentucky (22-6) enters looking to rebound from a 69-63 road loss at Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday. The Lady Colonels had won seven of their previous eight games prior to that defeat. Stetson (17-9) arrives with momentum after a 73-68 home victory over North Florida, also on Thursday, extending its win streak to three games. The contest features two of the league’s top offensive players. Eastern Kentucky’s Joseana Vaz is a dynamic scoring threat, averaging 17.1 points over her last seven games, including a 33-point outburst in a win over Austin Peay on Feb. 7. She led the Lady Colonels with 17 points in the loss to FGCU. Stetson counters with guard Cameron Thomas, who is coming off a 22-point, 4-assist performance against North Florida. Thomas has scored 21 or more points in two of her last four contests, providing consistent firepower for the Hatters’ attack. The game could hinge on which team controls the interior. Eastern Kentucky’s Liz Freihofer, who blocked three shots against FGCU, will be a key defensive presence. Stetson will rely on the all-around play of Mary McMillan, who scored 26 points in the last outing, and Aleah Sorrentino, who dished out seven assists. With the conference tournament approaching, both teams are jockeying for seeding. Eastern Kentucky, with the superior overall record, will test its conference road mettle, while Stetson aims to defend its home court and solidify its standing. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.