For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Gardner named All-Tournament despite team's 0-2 start

November 17, 2007

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Some days the ball seems to refuse to go in the basket. Other times just getting a shot off becomes a larger battle. Such was the case Saturday for the Eureka College women's basketball team in the consolation game of the Carroll College Jean Kilgour Tournament as the Red Devils were defeated by the Southwestern University (TX) Pirates 64-39.

Eureka (0-2) was held to 33 field goal attempts, the lowest mark in over eight years. The Red Devils shot reasonably well when getting a shot up, especially in the second half, shooting at a 52.9 percent (9-17) clip. They even owned a 35-26 rebounding advantage, but handed away 34 turnovers, limiting their opportunities to score.

Brittany Gardner (Mooresville, Ind./HS) tallied Eureka's first four points of the game, but the Red Devils unfortunately went without a field goal between her lay up at the 15:26 mark and three-pointer with 8:47 remaining in the half. Southwestern (1-1) built a 20-8 lead and extended it to a 37-13 halftime margin.

Southwestern posted a slim 27-26 advantage in the second half, though it started out looking much worse. The Pirates began the frame with a 19-6 run before the Red Devils began slicing away at the deficit.

Gardner tied Southwestern's Jessica Stephenson for game-high honors with 17 points. She also recorded a career-high seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Nicole Fisher (Canton, Ill./HS), who put in 15 points, led all players with eight boards.

Gardner was named to the All-Tournament team along with Southwestern's Natasha Azizi, UW-La Crosse's Mackenzie Hunter and tournament MVP Crystal Hoewisch of Carroll. The 5-3 senior guard totaled 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the two games of the event.

Southwestern shot just 19 percent (4-21) from long range, but enjoyed a 36-10 edge in points off turnovers.

The Red Devils have a shorter drive, but the road does not get any easier for them as they play at 15th ranked Illinois Wesleyan University for their next game on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 5:00 pm.

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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