RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University's women's basketball team will be trying to stop a two-game slide Saturday afternoon at 5:15 p.m. when the Lady Colonels open Ohio Valley Conference play at Morehead State University.

EKU, 2-4 on the season, is trying to recover from the loss of its leading scorer in junior forward Charlotte Sizemore. The All-OVC player injured her knee in the first half of the championship game of the Florida International University Thanksgiving Classic against FIU last Saturday and will more than likely be lost for the season, depending upon an MRI scheduled for later this week.

"This situation reminds of last year when Marla (Gearhart, senior guard) went down at Louisville after eight games and was out for the year. We've got to pick up the slack, that's all," said EKU head coach Larry Joe Inman.

In Eastern's latest game, an 81-74 loss at the hands of Belmont, Inman saw his squad run into a hot-shooting ballclub (9-16 three-point shooting and 20-23 free throw shooting).

"I was pleased with our effort and we played OK at times. But we made too many turnovers at crucial parts of the game to win," said Inman. "We've got to play better offensively, too, and improve our shooting.

"Overall, I thought we could have defended a little better. Belmont has a nice team and shot the ball well. We need to recognize these teams' better shooters a little bit better and start getting out there on them."

Sizemore was leading the team in scoring when she went down with her injury with her 17.0 per game average. She was also the team's top rebounder (6.2), free throw shooter (87.5) and shot blocker (4).

Gearhart and junior center Candice Finley did their part to keep Eastern in the game against Belmont. Gearhart scored a season-high 23 points, while Finley chipped in with 21 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Susan Hatcher came off the bench to pump in 10 points on 5-10 shooting and also added three assists.

On the year, Gearhart and Finley are both averaging in twin figures with 13.8 and 12.8 point averages, respectively. Hatcher leads the regulars in field goal percentage at 48.7, while Gearhart leads the team in assists with 29.

As a team, Eastern is hitting 40.0 percent from the field, 68.8 percent from the free throw line and 25.3 percent from three-point land. Lady Colonel opponents are red-hot in their collective shooting this season with percentages of 46.3 from the field, an amazing 50.0 from three-point territory and a very impressive 76.3 percent from the charity stripe.