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For Immediate ReleaseWomen's Basketball -- Nov. 15, 2011
Red Devils Win Opener Over RMU-Springfield, 74-65
EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore guard Caty Eeten (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, one of three Red Devils to finish the game with a double-double, lifting the Red Devils to a 74-65 season-opening victory over Robert Morris-Springfield, Tuesday night at the Reagan Center.
The Red Devils started the game with a flurry, making its four shots from the field to build a 9-5 lead in the first two minutes of the contest. RMU also shot well in the early stages of the game, making four straight shots to take a 10-9 advantage at the 17:05 mark of the first half. The two squads went on to the play a first half that featured six ties and 16 lead changes, and neither team led by more than four points during the first 20 minutes. A bucket by Eeten as time expired in the first half gave the hosts a 37-36 lead going into intermission.
Eureka opened the second half with an 8-0 run behind baskets from four different players, stretching its lead to 45-36 with 17:31 left in the game. The Red Devils would never look back, leading by at least two possessions for the remainder of the contest. The Eagles got within five (45-40) on two free throws from Ashley Beal with 16:34 remaining, but the hosts answered with 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions from sophomore guard Kiley Bugaieski (Tremont, Ill./Tremont H.S.) for a 51-40 lead, the first double-digit advantage of the night.
Eureka would lead by as many as 14 points in the second half after Eeten’s basket gave the Red Devils a 66-52 lead with 8:32 left. RMU’s last gasp closed the gap to seven (70-63) in the final minute, but Eureka knocked down four consecutive free throws in the final 13 seconds to secure the season-opening victory.
Eeten, the 2011 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year, led all scorers with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting. She also went 6-for-8 from the foul line. Senior guard Sara Hamilton (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./Illinois Central) added 19 points and 10 rebounds, while senior forward Khassandrae Brown (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S./Kankakee) finished the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The effort from the trio gave Eureka three players with double-doubles for the first time since a 58-51 victory over Concordia (Ill.) on Nov. 23, 2010.
Eureka outrebounded the Eagles on Tuesday, 43-40. Eureka has won two of its last three season openers and two of its last three home openers.
April Christie scored 21 points to pace the Eagles. Robert Morris shot just 28 percent (10-for-36) and missed all 10 of its 3-point attempts in the second half. The RMU bench scored 35 points, more than half of its final total for the game.
The Red Devils will have approximately 48 hours to prepare for their next non-conference home game. Knox will visit the Reagan Center on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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