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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
February 24, 2009
Red Devils conclude year with 27-4 run, largest win of season
The Red Devils may not have had the season they were hoping for, but they made a fine exit to the 2008-09 campaign Tuesday night. Eureka College put forth perhaps its best stretch of basketball on the season, closing the game on a 27-4 run to sprint away from the visiting Highlanders of MacMurray College 76-55. It was the most decisive victory the Red Devils posted all season.
Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS), Eureka's (5-20, 3-13 SLIAC) lone senior honored on Senior Night, gave the fans plenty to cheer for. She pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds despite missing the last six minutes of the first half and portions of the second half due to injury. It turned out to be a vintage Downs performance though, as she came back to finish with four assists, three blocks and three steals in addition to her 10 boards all while playing on a potentially broken foot.
Her teammates made sure she would go out on a win. Lindsey Crum (Washington, Ill./HS) exploded for 22 points in the second half, Chantaivia Knight (Normal, Ill./University) posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, Lisa Byard (Morton, Ill./HS) put in 16 points, and Lauren Snopek (Metamora, Ill./HS) added 10 points, six assists and five caroms for Eureka.
The first half was an unusual 20 minutes to say the least. MacMurray's Abby Lowe, who came into the game leading the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in points, did not get on the board until she was fouled shooting a three-pointer with just 2:50 left before halftime. But during the same time, Eureka's leading scorer, Crum, was held to just four points.
The Highlanders (6-19, 4-12) enjoyed the lead for most of the opening frame, but never could gain more than a six point cushion. That proved to be their undoing as Eureka took its first lead following a 11-2 run that put the Red Devils ahead 24-21. The big shot of the rally came after an offensive rebound by Leesa Statler (Marietta, Ill./Bushnell-Prairie City). Sarah Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./HS) swung the ball out to Snopek, who buried a three-pointer that put Eureka in front with 5:26 on the clock.
Knight led all players with 12 first half points. She tallied the last four of the frame to give EC a 30-26 halftime edge. The Red Devils, who finished the season as the top defensive unit in the SLIAC in terms of field goal percentage, held MacMurray to 26 percent in the first half.
The second half appeared to be headed toward a last second finish like the teams' first meeting, which Eureka won 80-77. Eureka moved ahead 49-44 on the three-pointer by Crum only to see MacMurray charge back into the lead with seven straight points. Lowe's three-point play conversion with 7:23 to go put MacMurray in the lead, 51-49.
However, Eureka took over from there, allowing just one field goal to the Highlanders the rest of the way. Downs tied the game with a driving layup on the next possession, Byard inched EC back in front with a free throw, then Crum scored 15 points over the final six minutes to put the game on ice. She finished 11-of-15 from the field for 28 points, giving her a total of 62 in two games versus MacMurray on the season and third place in the conference scoring race.
Knight's double-double was her seventh of the season. Knight and Byard, both first-year players, tied for the team lead in that category. Byard's 16 points gave her double digits for the 19th time in 25 games played. Snopek's six assists gave her an even 100 for the season. She finished just six dishes out of the league lead. The Red Devils were dominant on the boards, earning a 46-32 rebounding advantage. They also were on target for the field, shooting at a 51 percent clip.
Lowe recorded 13 points after halftime to lead MacMurray with 18. She claimed the SLIAC scoring title with an average of 19.7 per game. Taylor Vollmer added 14 points and 11 boards.
The Red Devils finished the season winning three of their final five games. Team awards for the season will be announced at the annual E-Tribe Winter Sports Banquet Sunday, March 1 at 1:00 pm.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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