Illinois College pulls away late for early morning victory over Eureka

EUREKA, Ill. – Junior forward Michaela Balducci (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) supplied 18 points and 11 rebounds, while senior sharp-shooter Emily Camden (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) added 17, but the Illinois College Lady Blues pulled away late for a 74-69 non-conference victory over the Eureka College women's basketball team, early Friday morning inside the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center on the campus of Eureka College. The contest was the first basketball game at any NCAA division level to tip-off the 2015-16 season.

The Red Devils who fall for the first time in a season opener since 2010, had a 23-14 lead with 9:12 before halftime and had a 29-24 lead with 3:03 to go. But the Lady Blues outscored EC 5-0 the rest of the half to even the score at 29-29 at the break.

Camden scored eleven of her 17 points in the first half, backed by 5 for 9 shooting from the field. Melissa Solorio paced the Lady Blues with 10 points and five boards at intermission.

With the score tied at 62-62 with 2:37 left, the visitors went on a 6-0 run to grab a 68-62 lead with under two minutes to play and led the rest of the way, helped by making 16 of 22 free throws (.727) in the second half.

Eureka finished the game shooting 25 of 69 (.362) from the field, while Illinois College went 26 for 59 (.441) outscoring the Red Devils in the paint, 46-22. Junior guard Luci Weis (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) poured in 10 points to give Eureka three players in double figures.

The Red Devils outrebounded The Lady Blues 44-41, and the two squads committed 15 turnovers apiece.

Balducci's double-double was the second of her career.

Eureka College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage -.362 (25-69)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .296 (8-27)
Free Throw Percentage - .611 (11-18)
Balducci (18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 streals)
Camden (17 points)
Weis (10 points, 7 rebounds)

Illinois College Statistics, Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .441 (26-59)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .167 (2-12)
Free Throw Percentage - .714 (20-28)
Solorio (21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks)
Jill Friedrich (11 points, 4 assists)
Hannah Jostes (7 points, 6 rebounds)

What's Next?
Eureka (0-1, 0-0 SLIAC) will continue non-conference action next Saturday with another home contest against the Knox College Prairie Fire. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.