EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Evansville women's basketball fought to the final seconds in Wednesday's game against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.

The Purple Aces 25 points in the fourth quarter couldn't overcome a slow start to the half in their 77-75 loss to EKU. But the young team mounted a 10-point comeback in the final eight minutes while also showing off their stronger defensive play. Freshman forward Nevaeh Thomas led the team on offense with 24 points while freshman forward Maggie Hartwig posted her first collegiate double-double with 11 rebounds and 10 points.

"Tonight was heartbreaking, but I also know we are so close," said Head Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells following the game. "We're so close to finding our way and I still feel so confident in this team and where we are going to grow. But it still sucks losing like that at the very end,". 

Both offenses struggled early on Wednesday night as neither team shot better than 33% from the floor. After almost two minutes of scoreless basketball, UE and EKU traded shots for the next few minutes. The Colonels were able to take the early lead with two threes while Evansville made its chances in the paint or at the line. Five points in the final two minutes for EKU had the Aces down by four after the first quarter.

Slow starts to the quarter continued in the second as the first point came at the 8:01 mark for Thomas. The made free throw from the freshman forward sparked UE's best scoring run of the game of seven points in just under four minutes. A completed and-1 chance for Thomas midway through the quarter gave Evansville its largest lead of 3. The Colonels responded with a trey to even the game, but the Aces didn't back down, retaking the lead four times in the final five minutes of the first half. With four points in the final minute, UE went into halftime with a 28-26 lead.

The second half began with a bang as both teams made shots early, going back to swapping the lead on multiple occasions. Evansville began to fall behind as EKU went on an eight-point run in just under two minutes. Down by seven junior guard Yiesha Williams stopped the Colonels' attack with a layup, sparking a brief 6-2 run of their own to make it only a three-point game. A third three for EKU guard Antwainette Walker put the Aces back to seven. With momentum turning the Colonels' way, UE briefly struggled to keep up as the deficit grew to 10. But two opportunities at the line in the final minute put Evansville down by only seven at the end of the third. 

EKU found the basket early in the final quarter, forcing a timeout within the first 90 seconds from the Aces as they quickly ended up 12 points back. Out of the break, UE had a seven-point run and forced two turnovers along with six missed shots for the Colonels. With 5:25 left on the game clock, Evansville only trailed by 5 after facing a double-digit deficit just three minutes before. The team traded possessions looking to get the upper hand as the game drew to a close. A big three from guard Julia Palomo at the 3:45 mark had the Aces back within a basket. But six fouls in the final three minutes would be the dagger for UE in the final second 77-75 loss.

Evansville led the game in field goal percentage, making 24 of 55 shots from the floor. The Aces also led the game in points in the paint with 44, second chance points with 10, fast break points with 11 and bench points with 22. Along with a strong offensive showing, UE also won the rebound game, grabbing 41 boards to EKU's 32. Evansville also added 10 assists, nine steals, and two blocks through 40 minutes. 

The Aces will face their toughest test yet on Sunday afternoon. UE travels to Lansing, Mich. to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, Nov. 19. It will be only the second time in program history that Evansville has taken on the Spartans and the first since 2007. Tip-off from the Breslin Center is set for 12 p.m. CT.