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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
December 6, 2006
EC outlasts Blackburn 53-47 as SLIAC play begins
The Eureka women's basketball team survived a rugged affair with Blackburn College (0-5, 0-1) 53-47 to begin St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday night. The teams combined for 43 fouls and 56 free throws before Eureka improved to 2-4 overall, 1-0 SLIAC.
Blackburn could not contain Eureka junior Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS) in the opening frame. She made 8-of-11 field goal attempts en route to 19 first half points. Meghan Polston (seven points) and Jessy Hewitt (8) did their best to keep the visitors close. Polston's three-pointer with 2:32 left in the half gave Blackburn its largest lead of the game at 24-21. Her shot seemed to wake up the opposing Red Devil attack as EC closed the half on a 10-0 to take a 31-24 lead. Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) tied the score for the seventh and final time with a three-pointer and Fisher added four points during the run.
Fisher would miss a shot on Eureka's first possession of the second half and that would be the final attempt she would be able to get off for the game. Instead, Blackburn sent her to the line 13 times after halftime before she finished with 26 points and eight rebounds.
Both sides struggled mightily from the field after the break. Eureka held a slim edge 21.1 percent (4-19) to 17.4 percent (4-23) in field goal shooting. Eureka slowly built a 34-24 lead, but the Beavers answered by scoring the next six points capped by another triple by Polston to cut Eureka's edge to four.
Still, the Red Devils held strong thanks to a pair of baskets by Shelby Naab (Beecher City, Ill./HS), including her first three-pointer of the season that put EC in front 41-32. Blackburn again cut its deficit to four by scoring the next five points, all on free throws, making the count 41-37 with nine minutes on the clock.
It was still a four-point contest when Kim Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./HS) knocked down the biggest shot of the game. She took a pass from Naab and hoisted a three-pointer that sparked an 8-0 run that gave EC an insurmountable 51-39 advantage.
There was only 1:15 remaining when Gina Nudo became the first Blackburn player other than Polston to make field goal in the second half. Polston's lay in brought the Beavers within six inside of one minute to play, but they could get no closer.
Naab grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to lead Eureka on the boards. She also chipped in eight points. Holdenrid made a trio of three-pointers for nine points and matched fellow senior Mandi Sistek (S. Wilmington, Ill./Gardner-S. Wilmington) with four assists.
Polston finished with 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting and five steals. Hewitt added 10 off the bench. Meghan Schultz pulled down a game-high 11 caroms.
The Red Devils have a one week to prepare for their final game of 2006. They will visit Fontbonne University for a 7:00 pm tip-off Dec. 13.
###
For More Information Contact:
Brian Sullivan Sports Information Director Eureka College 300 E. College Avenue Eureka, Illinois 61530 309-467-6456 bsullivan@eureka.edu
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