Fourth quarter woes send Eureka to SLIAC loss
ST. LOUIS, MO. – Eureka College women's basketball junior forward Michaela Balducci (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, tallying her fifth double-double of the season, but the Webster Gorloks used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from the Red Devils in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, 65-56, Monday night inside Grant Gymnasium in St. Louis, Mo.
Webster built an early lead midway through the first quarter of play, leading 13-7 with 5:20 remaining after a 3-point field goal from Ashley Brooks. Eureka answered with a 10-3 run over the next three minutes, taking their first lead of the ball game (17-16) at the 2:07 mark in first frame. The two teams exchanged a pair baskets over the final two minutes of play and the score was even at 21-21 heading into the second quarter.
The Gorloks got off to a hot start in the second quarter, scoring the first eight points to build a 29-21 lead over the Red Devils. Again, the Red Devils shook off the slow start to regain the lead after a pair of free throws from Balducci put Eureka in front 35-34 with 1:46 to go until half time. After exchanging buckets, all was square, 38-38, heading into the locker room.
Four lead changes occurred over a back-and-fourth third quarter as neither team was able to establish any momentum. Junior guard Luci Weis (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) provided half of Eureka's 16 points in the quarter to give the Red Devils a slight 54-52 advantage moving into the final quarter of play.
The Gorloks defense buckled down throughout the fourth quarter, holding the Red Devils to just one made basket and forcing ten turnovers over the final 10 minutes of action.
Webster saw three individuals score in double figures, led by Nadine Vaughn with 15 points. Vaughn finished 6-for-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line while chipping in seven rebounds.
Eureka College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage -.404 (21-52)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .357 (5-14)
Free Throw Percentage - .692 (9-13)
Balducci (19 points, 12 rebounds)
Emily Camden (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
Luci Weis (13 points)
Webster University Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .361 (22-61)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .412 (7-17)
Free Throw Percentage - .700 (14-20)
Vaughn (15 points, 7 rebounds)
Taylor Lucas (14 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds)
Kelsey Miller (12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists)
What's Next?
Eureka continues conference play on Wednesday back inside the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center against the Westminster Blue Jays. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.