For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

February 1, 2007

Gardner, Red Devils overcome frigid 2nd half vs. LCC

Eureka College guard Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) did not have one of her better games in Thursday night's St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest versus Lincoln Christian College (4-13, 2-10 SLIAC). In fact, it was not even close to an average game by her standards. But with Eureka clinging to a 42-39 lead in the final minute of play, what she may or may not have been able to do in the first 39 minutes did not seem to matter. The junior, who is Eureka's all-time leader in three-point field goals, buried yet another trey with 46 seconds remaining to Lift EC to a 48-39 triumph. The win adds needed life support to the Red Devils' SLIAC Postseason Tournament lives as they improve to 6-6 in league play and 7-11 overall.

Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS) made all five of her field goal attempts, scoring 11 of her 15 points in the opening frame as Eureka jumped out to a 31-24 halftime edge. EC led 12-11 early before mounting a 12-4 charge to push the lead up to 24-15. The Red Devils held the Angels without a field goal for over six minutes in building their largest first half lead of 11 at 29-18. Lincoln Christian scored four points in the final minute to get within seven.

The EC defense continued to control the game after halftime. The Angels went another seven minutes without a field goal to begin the second stanza allowing Eureka to slowly pad its lead. Megan Buxton hit a jumper with 13:09 to end the drought and cut margin to 10 only to see Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS) and Lisa Ghighi (Oglesby, Ill./LaSalle-Peru) set up lay ins by Shelby Naab (Beecher City, Ill./HS) and Brandi Payne (Eureka, Ill./HS) respectively with nice passes. Payne's shot gave the Red Devils' their largest lead of the game at 14 points (41-27) with 11:56 remaining. It would be Eureka's last field goal until Gardner's three-pointer in the final minute.

The Angels rallied back into the game with a 12-1 run, which resembled more of a leisurely jog considering it spanned over 10 minutes. Jessica Fender made one out of two at the line with 1:29 to play to bring Lincoln Christian within three at 42-39. Fender then stole the ball giving LCC a chance to tie the game, but Payne rebounded Kari Otto's missed three-pointer. Having made two treys earlier in the game, Otto was the Angels leading scorer in the game with 15 points.

After Gardner had put Eureka up by six, Fender's pass sailed out of bounds giving the ball back to EC. The Red Devils made three free throws in the last 33 seconds to account for the final nine point margin.

Naab reached double figures in points for the eighth time this season with 12. Kim Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./HS) matched Fisher for team-high honors in rebounds with seven. The Red Devils earned a 44-32 rebounding advantage. Eureka won despite missing 14 consecutive shots and 17 percent shooting (5-29) in the second half.

Bobbie Larson was Lincoln Christian's second leading scorer with eight points. Fender took away six steals and added five points before fouling out. The Angels were held to 28 percent (14-51) overall and 13 percent (2-15) from long range.

Eureka's next assignment is at league leading Maryville University Saturday, February 3 for a 1:00 pm tip-off. The Saints are undefeated in league play and defeated EC at home on January 6. The men's game is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan

Sports Information Director

Eureka College

300 E. College Avenue

Eureka, Illinois 61530

309-467-6456

bsullivan@eureka.edu