Photo courtesy of Bob Hunt.
Photo courtesy of Bob Hunt.

Red Devils Fall at Millikin, 88-79

DECATUR, Ill.Kennedy Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield H.S.) narrowly missed the third triple-double in program history with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and was one of five Eureka starters to score in double figures, but Eureka couldn't close the gap in the second half of Tuesday's 88-79 non-conference loss at Millikin at Decatur, Ill.

Dura, who last Saturday became the eighth player in program history to reach 300 career assists, passed Caty Eeten (2010-14) and Jessica Reardon (2001-05) for sixth place on the Red Devils' all-time list with 311 thanks to Tuesday's 10-assist effort. She now has two games of least 10 assists this season and eight for her 63-game career.

Josie Morgan (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) led the visitors with a career-high 16 points. Ashley Harfst (Saunemin, Ill./Pontiac H.S.) logged 14, Sierrah Seals (East Peoria, Ill./Metamora H.S.) poured in a career-high 13 and Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington H.S.) netted 10.

Millikin led 19-17 after one quarter, but Eureka seized the momentum early in the second frame. Morgan's jumper with 8:52 left before intermission ignited a burst of 11 consecutive Eureka points in a span of just 94 seconds. A bucket from Seals ended the run with the Red Devils in front, 30-20.

The hosts turned the tide later in the quarter and Aubrey Margo's layup ultimately allowed MU to forge ahead 37-36 less than four minutes later. Millikin led by as many as eight in the second quarter before two Harfst free throws in the closing moments of the half allowed Eureka to trail 47-41 at the break.

Eureka clawed within three (63-60) when Seals scored at the 4:40 mark of the third quarter, but Millikin answered with seven in a row to reclaim a double-digit advantage. MU protected a 62-56 cushion after 30 minutes.

Dura's layup with 8:21 to go slashed the Red Devils' deficit to a single point (62-61), but Eureka would never regain the lead. Yanni Sadler gave the Big Blue breathing room with a 3-pointer for a 67-63 edge with 6:59 to go, the first points of a 15-6 stretch that allowed MU to recover its double-digit lead in the closing minutes.

The Red Devils will return home to quickly play their final game before breaking for the holidays on Wednesday at 2 p.m. against Anderson (Ind.) at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.