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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
30-10 2nd half rallies EC back from 14 point halftime deficit
ELSAH, Ill. — Maybe the Red Devils are more comfortable adding a high degree of difficulty to games this season. Whatever the case, the Eureka College women's basketball team has just experienced two of the greatest momentum swings you would ever want to see in back-to-back games.
Most recently, the Red Devils (4-12, 4-5 SLIAC) overcame a 14-point halftime deficit with a stifling defensive performance in the second half of a 45-39 victory at Principia College (5-9, 3-5 SLIAC) Saturday. The comeback ranks as the largest halftime deficit EC has overcome in at least 255 games played since the 1997-98 season. Game-by-game statistics are not readily available prior to the 1998-99 season, thus the span of games may be much larger than 255.
Coincidently, the win comes one game after Eureka lost a game after leading at halftime by at least five points for the first time since 2004.
Little went the Red Devils' way in the opening half as Principia cruised out to a 29-15 lead at intermission. The game stayed close for the fist 11 minutes until EC recorded just one field goal and two points over the final nine minutes of the half resulting in a 15-2 Panthers run.
Those offensive woes shifted to the home bench in the second 20 minutes. Eureka deployed all-out defensive pressure to almost completely shut down the Panthers' attack. Principia managed just two second half field goals as EC allowed a percentage of 8.0 (2-for-25).
Meanwhile, Eureka chipped away at the lead behind seniors Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) and Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS). They combined for 22 of Eureka's 30 points after the break, and themselves outscored Principia by 12.
The Red Devils launched an 18-1 rally that took over 10 minutes of the clock as they forged ahead by the score of 38-34. Many of the baskets were set up off of intense work defensively. Eureka recorded nine second half steals on 12 Principia turnovers.
It took the Panthers over 15 minutes to drop in their first field goal of the half, but Principia pulled back within one point following a trey by Emily Wheeler. Gardner then drained a jumper and Nicole Ropp (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) made one free throw to push the EC advantage up to 41-37. Principia got on the board for the last time with 2:16 to play on a jumper by Andie Raffles, which made the score 41-39.
The Panthers had one chance to take the lead, but their three-point attempt was off the mark. Fisher, who rebounded the missed shot, went on to score her final two points on the ensuing possession with 48 seconds on the clock. EC forced two more turnovers before Gardner set the final score with a pair of free throws.
"I'm so proud of how the team stuck together in the second half; it was our best half of team basketball this season," said EC head coach Abby Hearn. "It took everyone on the team contributing to come back to win this game!"
Shelby Naab (Beecher City, Ill./HS) matched a career-best with 10 boards and Ropp pulled down nine as Eureka secured a 50-38 rebounding edge. Fisher had a game-high 13 boards to become the fourth Red Devil ever to reach 700 career rebounds. She added 14 points. Gardner also tallied 14, while handing out four assists. The Red Devils shot 40 percent in the second half to finish at 33 percent (16-for-49) on the day.
Three players scored seven points to pace Principia, which shot 20 percent (12-for-59). Returning all-conference performer Christina Speer was held to six points, 10 under her average, before she fouled out with 7:12 to play.
The Red Devils next travel to Lincoln Christian College for a 6:00 pm tip-off on Wednesday, January 30.
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For More Information Contact:
Brian Sullivan
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