February 11, 2009

Kim Downs achieves Eureka's 1st quintuple-Triple

Family and friends have known for a long time.  Fans that have watched Eureka College women's basketball over the last four years found out quickly as well.  Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS) is one-of-a-kind.  It was only a matter of time until her basketball statistics proved it.

That happened on January 24 when Downs had five steals in a game versus Westminster.  That particular single game was hardly out of the ordinary for Downs, who, as an early graduate, is allowed to complete the season by NCAA rules despite being finished with her school work.  Downs had nine points, five rebounds, five steals, four assists and three blocked shots on day.  Statistics freaks can probably see where this story is going.

With her five steals on January 24, Downs went over 100 thefts for her career.  Having already reached the century mark in points, rebounds, assists and blocks, it was the fifth category in which she had gone over 100, making her the first Red Devil in 35 years of Eureka women's basketball to achieve the career quintuple-triple.

"I didn't realize it was so rare," Downs said after a shrug when she found out about the uniqueness of her feat.  "Defense has always come before offense for me.  I would rather help other people get their points."

That kind of attitude helped Downs earn Eureka's Defensive Player of the Year, lead the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in blocks and rank fourth in the SLIAC in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2007-08.  However, Downs is perhaps more proud of her three track and field school records and her single season EC record for blocked shots set last year.  A state qualifier in the pole vault while at Kewanee High School, she set that record at Eureka, along with breaking long-standing marks by EC Hall of Famers in the triple jump (Sherry Bryan, 1985) and heptathlon (Sandy Socha, 1980).

When asked if her track and field prowess has helped her success in basketball, Downs gave some credit to her workouts for track that would normally be the off-season for basketball players.

"I did a lot of working on my legs in training for field events, but nothing was out of the ordinary.  Others can do the same thing," she added.

Standing at 5-10 and playing mostly at the guard position on offense, Downs does not have the typical size of a dominant shot blocker.  Instead, she relies on her superior athleticism and timing to send back shots against taller players, though she is able to guard the top perimeter threat on opposing teams, no matter their size.

"I know if the girl I'm guarding is more apt to shoot or drive," said Downs.  "It isn't like...if the girl is short, I think I'm going to have 12 blocks.  I probably have more blocks against bigger girls because of my leaping ability."

Downs' rare accomplishment is even more impressive considering how sparingly she played during her first two seasons at Eureka.  She joined the squad at mid-season in January of 2006 and played just six games and a total of 27 minutes the rest of the year.  She then averaged 15 minutes in 24 games as a sophomore.  In fact, she did not make her first start until opening day of this season.

"It's not just that she blocks shots," said Eureka head coach Abby Hearn.  "We are better defensively as a team when Kim is on the court.  There are so many little things that she does that not everyone sees, which make a huge impact on the game."

Downs' career totals entering Wednesday's game versus Blackburn are: 154 points, 228 rebounds, 179 assists, 124 blocks and 107 steals.  She is ranked in the top 15 in the SLIAC in four different categories, including third in blocks.  She set Eureka's season blocks record with 56 last year, then set a career-high with six rejections against Webster this year.

The two Red Devils that are ahead of Downs on the all-time blocks list each came close to reaching a quintuple-triple in their respective careers.  Jill McGinnis, who played from 1991-95 and was Eureka's all-time leading rebounder until last season, came the closest.  She went over 100 in four categories, but missed with 91 assists.  Dawn Bradbury, Eureka's all-time blocked shots leader with 160, also fell just short in assists with 77 while playing from 1994-98.

Downs is currently one block behind McGinnis for second on the career blocks list at EC.  The Red Devils have six games remaining this season, including four at home.  Downs is the lone senior on Eureka this season.  Her senior night will be February 24 at 6:00 pm versus MacMurray College.

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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