For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Boxscore attached

Red Devils' "D" Stays hot versus angels

LINCOLN, Ill. — The Eureka Red Devils won their fourth game out of their last five tries Wednesday night, 52-41 over Lincoln Christian College.  It is Eureka's third road win during the streak, and fourth time holding an opponent under 45 points.

EC forward Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS) led all players with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 at the line in a season-low 26 minutes played.

Brandi Payne (Eureka, Ill./HS), who had 11 points, eight boards and four steals and Nicole Ropp (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest), who recorded eight points, nine rebounds and three steals, also had outstanding individual performances in the win.

But overall, it was tough team defense that again led the Red Devils (5-12) to victory.  Eureka held its fifth consecutive opponent below 34 percent shooting as Lincoln Christian (2-17) managed only a 29 percent (15-for-52) clip from the field.

A Fisher lay up less than seven minutes into the game put EC in front to stay.  It was part of a 19-4 run that made the score 21-9.  Payne went on to card nine of her 11 tallies in the opening frame as Eureka held a 27-16 advantage at the break.

Lincoln Christian trimmed the lead to nine just after halftime, but Eureka responded with a 15-4 spurt to push the margin up to 20 with 10:35 remaining.  The Red Devils went on to lead by as many as 21 before the Angels ended the contest by scoring 13 of the game's final 16 points.

Eureka out-rebounded its ninth straight opponent by the count of 39-33.  Five different EC players grabbed at least five boards, including Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS), who chipped in five assists, five blocks, four steals and three points.  The Red Devils were 44 percent (18-for-41) from the field, though just 52 percent (15-for-29) at the charity stripe.

Lincoln Christian was led by Emma Hanford and Jessica Blythe with 10 points each.  The Angels played Eureka even in the second half with 25 points per side.

The Red Devils will square off with first place Maryville University in a SLIAC match up Saturday, February 2 at 3:00 pm in Eureka.  The men's game between the same two schools will tip-off at 1:00 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