For Immediate Release

milwaukee, wisconsin

November 29, 2008

High 5: Eureka gets handful of 10+ scorers despite loss

Boxscore

Five Red Devils scored in double figures despite Eureka College suffering a 76-70 non-conference defeat to Mount Mary College Saturday. Eureka fell behind the Blue Angels by 11 in the second half before mounting a 9-0 run and eventually getting within one point.

Mount Mary (2-2) held off the Red Devils' (0-3) charge thanks in no small part to a relentless parade to the foul line resulting in 27 attempts in the second half and 40 for the game. Mount Mary shot just 53 percent (21-for-40), but scored 17 of their 36 points after halftime at the line.

Lindsey Crum (Washington, Ill./HS) scored 14 of her team-leading 16 points in the opening frame to keep EC within 40-36 at the break. Mount Mary took a lasting lead less than three minutes into the game, though never led by more than seven in the first half.

Eureka shot an impressive 50 percent (13-for-26) in the first 20 minutes, including a perfect 3-of-3 from long range. Crum accounted for two of those treys, including one in the final minute of the half that got EC within 37-36. However, Sabrina Diaz answered for Mount Mary on the next possession to push the lead back to four.

The Blue Angels ran out to their largest lead of the day at 54-43 at the 16 minute mark of the second half, but the Red Devils stepped up defensively to get back into the game. Eureka held Mount Mary scoreless for over five minutes and without a field goal for almost eight minutes.

Despite missing five free throw attempts during the rally, Eureka scored the next nine points to cut the margin to two with 11 minutes left. Soon after, Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS), who nearly doubled her previous career-high with 14 points in the game, twice brought the Red Devils within one point. Her basket with 7:30 remaining that made the score 61-60 was answered by a 10-2 Mount Mary run to increase the EC deficit back up to nine.

The Red Devils sliced the lead to four in the closing moments, but Mount Mary sank enough free throws down the stretch to hang on to the victory.

Chantaivia Knight (Normal, Ill./University) recorded her second double-double with 11 rebounds and 11 points on 5-of-7 field goal shooting. Lisa Byard (Morton, Ill./HS) caught fire after halftime for 10 points to finish with 15 points and six rebounds. Lauren Snopek (Metamora, Ill./HS) was the fifth leading scorer with 10. She also handed out seven assists. Downs had three assists, three steals and was 6-for-8 from the floor. Eureka had 18 assists on 25 made field goals.

Mount Mary was led by Jordan Osley's 23 points and seven assists. The Blue Angels made seven three-pointers and enjoyed a 53-45 edge on the boards to overcome shooting 39 percent (24-for-62) in the game compared to 46 percent (25-54) for Eureka.

The Red Devils open both a five game home stand and conference play Wednesday, December 3 with a match up against Greenville College at 6:00 pm. Games between the Red Devils and Panthers have been notoriously close in recent memory, with three of the last four showdowns being decided by two points or in overtime.

###

For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu