Weis rallies Red Devils past Panthers in SLIAC opener

EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College women's basketball junior guard Luci Weis (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) poured in a career-high 30 points, lifting the Red Devils to an 80-61 conference-opening victory over the Principia Panthers, Tuesday night in the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.
 
The Panthers jumped out to a double-digit lead early on, building a 14 point advantage (18-4) with 2:22 to go in the first quarter. Eureka would cut the deficit in half heading into the break, trailing 37-30 after the first two quarters of play.
 
Eureka continued to cut into the Panther's lead, eventually taking a 46-45 lead, before settling for a 47-46 deficit at the end of the third quarter. Weis took control of the contest over the final period of play, scoring nineteen of her total in the fourth quarter to push the Red Devils out front comfortably.

Junior forward Michaela Balducci (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) added 16 points, six rebounds and four steals. Sophomore guard Kerrigan Dura (Brimfield, Ill./Brimfield) pulled down seven rebounds, five offensive, and supplied five assists.
 
Senior guard Emily Camden (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) dished a career-best seven assists and added 11 points, surpassing the 800 mark in career points. Camden now sits at 805 points scored.

PC's Sophia Hathaway paced the visitors with 22 points, while Kara Johnson supplied 18 points and 17 rebounds to notch a double-double. The Panthers committed 27 turnovers to Eureka's 14, but outrebounded the Red Devils 46-40.

Weis' offensive output was most by a lady Red Devil since Camden dropped 31 vs. Greenville on Jan. 7 of last season.

Eureka College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage – .397 (29-73)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .300 (9-30)
Free Throw Percentage - .765 (13-17)
Weis (30 points, 5 steals)
Balducci (16 points, 6 rebounds)
Camden (11 points, 7 assists)
 
Principia College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .345 (19-55)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .333 (3-9)
Free Throw Percentage - .833 (20-24)
Johnson (18 points, 17 rebounds)
Hathaway (22 points, 8 rebounds)
R. Perea (13 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds)
 
What's Next?
Eureka will embark on their first conference road trip of the season Saturday with a contests at Spalding University. Saturday's matchup is scheduled for 12 p.m. (CST) in Louisville, Ky.