For Immediate Release
eureka, illinois
January 10, 2009
Byard wins post battle, Eureka's close game jinx continues
Boxscore
It was a case of winning the battle, but losing the war for the Eureka College women's basketball team Saturday afternoon in a 69-59 loss to Principia College.
Eureka frosh Lisa Byard (Morton, Ill./HS), who led the Red Devils (1-11, 1-4 SLIAC) with 19 points and 10 rebounds, gained a slight upper hand on three-time all-conference senior post Christina Speer, who had 15 points and nine boards for Principia (3-8, 1-3 SLIAC). But, the Panthers received 29 points from Nicole Bushong and held EC to 28 percent shooting in the second half to emerge victorious.
Momentum was nowhere to be found as Eureka's 6-0 start to the contest was the largest lead either side would enjoy until late in the second half. The score was tied eight times and the lead changed hands on 17 occasions.
Six of those lead changes happened in the first half, though Eureka was ahead for the majority of the frame. Byard made six out of nine field goal tries for 14 points, helping the Red Devils convert 48 percent (14-for-29) of their shots in the first half. Her driving layup with eight seconds left gave Eureka a four-point lead, but Bushong was fouled on a last second three-pointer, and made three free throws with 0.3 on the clock to set the halftime score at 31-30.
A second foul of Bushong attempting a three-pointer was a key play in the second half as she was again able to sink all three freebies to give the Panthers a 48-46 edge with 9:54 to play. As they had done all game, the Red Devils were able to regain the lead quickly following a Sarah Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./HS) jumper and two free throws by Lindsey Crum (Washington, Ill./HS).
Speer answered with a basket to knot the game once more at 50 with 7:47 remaining, then Bushong put Principia in front to stay with a trey on the Panthers' next possession. Principia monopolized the next seven points as well to cap a 12-0 run that left the Red Devils trailing 60-50 with just over two minutes to play.
Lauren Snopek (Metamora, Ill./HS) ended the spurt with her third three-pointer of the afternoon, then Eureka forced a shot clock violation to stay alive. Lindsey Crum drew Speer's fifth foul of the game after grabbing an offensive rebound before sinking both free throws to pull the Red Devils within 60-55 entering the final minute of play.
However, Principia would have three more points on the board before Eureka could slice any further into the deficit after the Panthers chased down an offensive board off a missed foul shot and Bushong went to the line for two. She would eventually make 7-of-8 at the line in the last 50 seconds to finish 13-of-14 for the game at the stripe.
Eureka continued to fire away offensively, but could not find the range from behind the arc late to counter the Principia parade to the foul line. The final margin was 10 points, extending the Red Devils' rotten luck in decisions of 10 points or less. They are 0-5 so far this season and 2-14 in such games over the past two seasons.
Eureka out-rebounded Principia 41-39 as three Red Devils recorded career-highs in boards. Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill.) pulled down nine, all on the defensive end, to go with five assists. Crum tallied a career-high eight rebounds and recorded 13 points in the second half to match her career-high point toal of 19. Byard had a career-best tying rebounding day with 10 for her second double-double of the season. Snopek finished with 15 points and six assists giving her four straight games of at least 10 points and six consecutive games of at least three dishes.
The Red Devils will conclude a brief two-game homestand Wednesday, January 14 in a non-conference game versus Lincoln Christian College set for 7:00 pm. Eureka swept the season series from the Angels last season, winning by counts of 52-41 and 68-33.
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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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