Eastern Kentucky and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville advanced with wins in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball tournament.

Both teams notched double-digit wins in their first-round games. 

Eastern Kentucky eliminated Murray State, leaving two teams to battle for a spot in Friday’s semifinal game against the Eastern women’s basketball team.

The Colonels eliminated Murray State with an 11-point win, after finishing the game on a 16-5 run with six minutes left.

Edwardsville defeated Tennessee State in its first round game. 

The game was the first tournament game in Edwardsville’s history.

The Cougars’ Raven Berry led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, finishing one rebound short of her seventh straight double-double.

The tournament win was not only the Cougars’ first as a member of the OVC, but its first postseason win since the 2001-2002 season.

The Cougars shot 47 percent from the floor, while its defense held Tennessee State to 31 percent shooting.

The Cougars advance to play Belmont Thursday at 2 p.m., while Eastern Kentucky will play Tennessee-Martin for a spot in the semifinals.

Eastern will hit the road for Nashville Thursday morning, head coach Lee Buchanan said Tuesday. 

The Panthers play at noon on Friday, against either Eastern Kentucky or Tennessee-Martin. 

Eastern split its two-game series against Tennessee-Martin this season, winning 84-79 on Jan. 28, in Lantz Arena then losing to the Skyhawks 82-62 on Feb. 28.

Eastern Kentucky defeated the Panthers 63-62 on Jan. 17 in Richmond, Ky. Senior guard Ta’Kenya Nixon made a 3-pointer to get the Panthers within one point of Eastern Kentucky, but the Colonels won, surviving a last second half-court attempt by Nixon.

Eastern Kentucky’s game against Tennessee-Martin will be at noon Thursday.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]