Eureka Takes Down Blackburn to Open SLIAC Play, 71-56
CARLINVILLE, Ill. – The Eureka women's basketball team opened St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play strong on Saturday.
The Red Devils took down Blackburn 71-56 to notch their second road win of the year and improve to 3-3 overall.
For the first time this season, four Red Devils reached double figures.
Eureka's Josie Ness (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) led the way with another dominant performance. The junior forward racked up a career-high 19 points and 19 rebounds, along with a career-high six steals and four blocks. She shot 9-for-16 from the field and didn't commit a single turnover in 35 minutes of play.
Makayla Rosenbery (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) followed with 14 points, five steals and four rebounds and made 6 of 8 free-throw attempts, while Ashley Wilcox (Hudson, Ill./Normal West) and Lainey Moore (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) each added 11 points. Wilcox also distributed a game-high and season-high seven assists.
Avery Seidel (Wayne City, Ill./Wayne City/Lincoln Christian) contributed six points and four assists, and Ariel Chism (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) and Katie Haffner (Lake Camelot, Ill./Illini Bluffs/Illinois College) each chipped in five points.
After an even first quarter, the Red Devils took over by forcing eight turnovers, swiping six steals, and outscoring the Beavers 20-4 in the second quarter. That gave Eureka a season-high 16-point lead at the half.
The visitors kept it up in the third quarter, stretching the lead to as many as 23. The Beavers attempted to chip away at the deficit in the third quarter, but the Red Devils didn't let them come closer than 15 to lock up the win.
The Red Devils registered a season-high 13 assists, tallied 17 steals for the second time this season and scored 27 points off turnovers. They held Blackburn to 33.8 percent shooting from the field and just 5 percent from beyond the arc. It was the maroon and gold's 25th straight victory over the Beavers.
Eureka (3-3, 1-0 SLIAC) will next host SLIAC preseason favorite Webster (7-0, 2-0 SLIAC) inside Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.