EC women stumble against North Park

EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College women's basketball senior Emily Camden (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) and junior guard Luci Weis (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) each chipped in 13 points apiece, but North Park raced out to an early advantage and sustained the lead throughout the contest in a 69-56 non-conference victory, Sunday afternoon in the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.
 
North Park pulled away early in the first frame, leading 26-9 after the first ten minutes thanks to a 19-0 run that spanned a majority of the first quarter. The Vikings held on to a sizable lead through quarter two, taking a 41-26 into the locker room. NPU shot 17-for-33 (.515) from the floor in the first half.
 
Eureka showed signs of life in the third quarter, slicing the visitor's lead to single digits, 55-46, with one quarter to play. Later in the final frame, a layup by Camden cut the deficit to five, 57-52, but that is as close as EC would get with the Vikings pulling away over the final five minutes of play.
 
NPU's Liz Rehberger paced the visitors with a game-high 15 points, while Soly Roman added 13 points and secured 14 rebounds to notch a double-double. The Vikings turnover battle was even at 24 turnovers apiece, but the Vikings outrebounded the Red Devils 42-35.

Eureka College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage – .286 (15-56)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .269 (7-26)
Free Throw Percentage - .810 (17-21)
Camden (13 points, 8 rebounds)
Weis (13 points, 3 assists, 3 steals)
Michaela Balducci (8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists)
 
North Park University Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .467 (28-60)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .333 (5-15)
Free Throw Percentage - .615 (8-13)
Rehberger (15 points, 5 steals)
Roman (13 points, 14 rebounds)
Rachel Torres (2 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists)

What's Next?
Eureka will travel to Nashville, Tenn. after the Christmas holiday to participate in the Third Annual Music City Classic. The Red Devils will take on Hamilton College at 4 p.m. on Dec. 29 and face off against Whitworth at 8 p.m. on Dec. 30.