For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Red Devils robbed in final seconds by Greenville

Boxscore attached

EUREKA — For 39 minutes and 58 seconds, the Eureka College women's basketball team out-worked, out-hustled and out-played the second place team in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wednesday night.  Then, Greenville College scored five points in the final 1.6 seconds to rob the Red Devils of a much needed victory by the count of 60-58.

Shelby Naab (Beecher City, Ill./HS), who scored a season-high 14 points in the game for Eureka (3-12, 3-5 SLIAC), broke a 54-54 tie with driving lay up with 50 seconds remaining.  Heather Anderson of the Panthers (11-4, 6-1 SLIAC) was then fouled, but she missed the second free throw, which was rebounded by EC.

After the Red Devils lost the ball on a turnover, Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS) appeared to save the day as she stole the ball back, was fouled, and calmly sank two free throws to put Eureka ahead 58-55 with 14 seconds left.

Tricia Frost, who sent a game between the two teams last season into overtime with a trey with six seconds remaining, missed from long range on the ensuing Panther possession this time.  Her miss was rebounded by Ashley Alltop of Greenville, who was fouled while making a lay up with 1.6 seconds to go.  After a timeout, Alltop, a 64 percent foul shooter, tied the game by converting the three-point play.

After another timeout, Eureka's in-bounds pass went the length of the court untouched, giving the ball back to Greenville under the EC basket.  Meredith Banal found some room underneath the basket, and banked in the game-winning lay in at time expired.

The game was similar in fashion to the most recent one the two squads played last season, when Eureka's game-tying basket with 8 seconds left was erased on an offensive foul off the ball.  The last three games between Greenville and Eureka have now been decided by two points or in overtime.

The Red Devils fell behind 6-0, but used a 16-2 run in the first half to open up their largest lead of the night at 28-20.  Eureka went on to lead 31-24 at halftime.  The Red Devils had won their previous 35 games when leading by at least five points at halftime — a streak that spanned parts of five seasons.

Greenville scored nine of the first 11 points to open the second frame to tie the score, but EC did not trail until the 9:07 mark following a three-pointer by Stacey Lawrence.  The score was tied seven times after halftime.

The Red Devils out-rebounded Greenville 44-33 on the strength of the double-double efforts of Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS), who had 13 points and 15 boards, and Brandi Payne (Eureka, Ill./HS), who recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds.  Both numbers represent career-highs for Payne, while Fisher tallied her 10th double-double of the season.  She also added four steals.  Downs handed out six assists and blocked four shots.

Banal led Greenville with 15 points.  The Panthers shot 28 percent in the first half, and ended at 33 percent (21-for-63) on the night.  They were sent to the line 15 times in the second half, making 10.  EC shot 42 percent (22-for-52) from the field.

Eureka will travel to Principia College Saturday, January 26 for a 3:00 pm tip-off.  The Red Devils scorched Principia in the first meeting this season 68-43 on December 8.

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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