For Immediate Release
eureka, illinois
December 6, 2008
Red Scare: Eureka turn-around nearly surprises carthage
Boxscore
Eureka and Carthage fans saw a near 180-degree turn-around from their respective teams in a span of less than 24 hours on Day 2 of the EC Classic. The Red Devils, who had fallen by 36 points to Robert Morris-Springfield a night earlier, gave the Carthage College Lady Reds, a comfortable 32-point winner on Friday, all they wanted Saturday afternoon.
In the end, Carthage (5-2), which received votes in the latest D3hoops.com top 25 poll, sweated out a 61-50 decision over Eureka. Katie Jarger scored 19 points in the second half to save her team from the upset.
Lisa Byard (Morton, Ill./HS) led a much improved Red Devil effort in the opening half. She recorded seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and five rebounds. Although Carthage enjoyed the lead for most of the frame, Eureka (0-6) did not trail by more than four until a 7-0 spurt by the Lady Reds opened up a 23-15 lead.
As the clock wound down, Lauren Snopek (Metamora, Ill./HS) set herself up for two free throws with a steal and a Lindsey Crum (Washington, Ill./HS) steal led to her three-pointer as EC closed to within 23-20 at the break. Both teams made just six field goals in the half, but did a good amount of damage at the line.
Spurred on by Crum's 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, the Red Devils made 53 percent (10-for-19) of their field goal attempts to try to overcome a more vigorous Carthage attack after halftime.
The lofty percentage even came after EC misfired on its first five shots of the second half. Eureka did not score for almost three minutes to begin the period, but Carthage did not take full advantage. The Lady Reds added just four points to their lead. The Red Devils then scored on three straight possessions, but could get no closer than five as each time Carthage answered.
The Lady Reds scored six consecutive to take an 11-point edge, but that did not deter the Red Devils from one last charge. Snopek scored five points, including a capping three-pointer during a 7-2 rally that got EC within 40-35 with 9:27 to play. Less than a minute later, Lanie Viti (Streator, Ill./Woodland) again cut the margin to five with a pair of free throws.
Eureka never got a chance to get any closer, though. Katie Klemke canned a trey lifting Carthage to an eight point lead and the Lady Reds held on to a double digit lead over the final six minutes.
Crum finished with 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Liz Greger (Petersburg, Ill./PORTA) and Byard each pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Red Devils, who out-rebounded Carthage 31-29. Chantaivia Knight (Normal, Ill./University) chipped in six boards with her seven points.
Kim Downs (Kewanee, Ill./HS) recorded a game-high six assists to go with five points and five rebounds. She made the All-EC Classic team along with Jarger and Heather Gilmore of Carthage, LaToya Gipson and Lindsey Rogers of Robert Morris-Springfield and LaVasha Kottwitz of Greenville.
Jarger had an EC Classic high 27 points. She made eight out of 12 field goal tries and 9-of-10 at the foul line. She also registered a game-high nine rebounds, and was the only Lady Red in double figures.
Robert Morris-Springfield dropped Greenville 72-54 to match Carthage with a 2-0 record in the event. Eureka's all-time mark in the EC Classic is now 7-7.
The Red Devils continue their five-game home stand Tuesday, December 9 with a 6:00 pm tip-off versus conference rival Fontbonne University.
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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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