For Immediate Release
eureka, illinois
Gardner, Downs lead Eureka to 2nd straight win
January 19, 2008
EUREKA, Ill. The Red Devils showed why they are the top field goal percentage team in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saturday afternoon. Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) showed why she is one of the top offensive players in the league. Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS) displayed why she is arguably the most athletic player in the league. It all added up to a 55-44 Eureka College victory over Webster University, the second win in a row for EC.
The Red Devils (3-11, 3-4 SLIAC) allowed only four points in the opening eight and a half minutes of play, and never trailed. Webster (7-7, 2-4 SLIAC) briefly got within 12-11, but Eureka went on the score 10 of the next 12 points for a 22-13 advantage. Gardner and fellow senior Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS) each scored four points during the run.
The Gorloks managed just three points on a trey by Jacquelyn Wamser over the final 6:45 of the half as Eureka took a 25-16 lead at intermission. Eureka allowed Webster just a 24 percentage (7-for-29) from the field in the first half, and were even stingier in the second, surrendering field goals at a 22 percent clip
(8-for-37).
Webster thrice trimmed the deficit to single figures after halftime, but each time was answered by a key Eureka bucket. Brandi Payne (Eureka, Ill./HS) was the first to take the EC lead back to double digits, followed by Shelby Naab (Beecher City, Ill./HS) and Sarah Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./HS). Holdenrid's goal with nine minutes to go ignited eight straight Red Devil tallies, which led to their largest lead of the game at 43-27 with six minutes remaining.
From that point, Eureka was able to make enough free throws to thwart any comeback aspirations the Gorloks may have considered.
Gardner's game-high 19 points moved her over the 900 point mark for her career. She connected on Eureka's only three-pointer of the game to extend her school record to 171. Naab was next with 10 points. She also chipped in five boards and three assists.
Downs set career-highs with eight assists, seven steals and four blocked shots. Fisher attempted a season-low five field goals to finish with nine points and nine rebounds. The Red Devils shot 46 percent (21-for-46) as a team and narrowly out-rebounded their sixth consecutive opponent 41-40.
Webster was led by Wamser's 14 points off the bench. Michelle McQueen added 12 points and seven steals.
Eureka will next host Greenville College for a SLIAC doubleheader Wednesday, January 23. The women's game will begin at 6:00 pm, while the men's tilt is slated for a 8:00 pm tip-off.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu
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