Red Devils Rout Kalamazoo, 80-34
EUREKA – The Eureka women's basketball team used an unforgiving press to force turnover after turnover and notch a 46-point victory over Kalamazoo on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils led from wire to wire, besting the Hornets, 80-34, at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.
It was the largest margin of victory Eureka has recorded under head coach Jaylynn Stewart, and the largest since EC blew out Principia 86-20 on the road on Dec. 7, 2019. It was also the least amount of points EC has allowed since then.
Eureka sophomore forward Josie Ness (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) had a standout performance, posting a double-double of 17 rebounds and 11 points. She cleaned up the glass all day for the maroon and gold, collecting nine boards on the offensive end and eight on the defensive. In addition, she contributed four steals, three assists and two blocks.
It was Ness's first career double-double. Her 17-board showing was the first by a Eureka player since Olivia Falls had 17 in a 77-37 win against Principia on Jan. 28, 2020.
Senior Shakaya Rogers (Hanover, Mich./Concord/Glen Oaks) tallied a team-high 14 points and was a steal short of double-double herself, finishing with nine steals, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Senior Marissa Murphy (Canton, Ill./Canton) delivered a season-high 12 points and three assists off the bench, while fellow seniors Sydney Hannam (Canton, Ill./Canton/Spoon River) Savanah Moore (Clinton, Ill./Mount Pulaski/MacMurray) contributed 10 and 9, respectively.
Junior transfer Avery Seidel (Wayne City, Ill./Wayne City/Lincoln Christian) produced a season-high eight points in 15 minutes off the bench. Senior Abby Stotler (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County/MacMurray) and freshman Reece Putrich (Farmington, Ill./Farmington Central) each had seven points.
Eureka held Kalamazoo under double digits in every quarter except for the fourth. Kalamazoo's Macy Ivins was the only Hornet to reach double figures, recording 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting in 24 minutes off the bench.
The Red Devils forced 36 Kalamazoo turnovers over the course of the game and capitalized with 41 points off of them. EC's total of 24 steals, 16 assists and five blocks were all season highs.
With the win, Eureka improved to 2-3 on the season. The Red Devils (2-3) will next host Chicago (6-0) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.
