Red Devils Improve to 3-0, Top St. Mary-of-the-Woods, 96-78

EUREKA — The Eureka women's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 96-78 victory over St. Mary-of-the-Woods on Wednesday.

The victory marked the Red Devils' first 3-0 start since 2012.

St. Mary-of-the-Woods pushed the tempo and increased the total of possessions while playing the distinct playing style known as The System, but the Red Devils figured out how to handle it early on and hustled their way to the finish.

Senior Ashley Harfst (Saunemin, Ill./Pontiac) led the way with a career-high 28 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. She shot 7 of 11 from the field and went 14-for-17 at the free-throw line and notched her third double-double in as many games.

Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) also recorded a double-double, posting 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 13 rebounds.

Jadyn Mitchell (Flanagan, Ill./Flanagan-Cornel) delivered a career-high 14-point performance off the bench, while Whitney Bozarth (Normal, Ill./Normal West) and Marissa Murphy (Canton, Ill./Canton) added 13 and 10, respectively. It also a career high for Murphy.

Ja'Keesha Hawkins (Peoria, Ill./Peoria) contributed nine rebounds and eight points.

As a team, the Red Devils shot 43.1 percent from the field to the Pomeroys' 31.2 percent. They racked up 54 points in the paint, 23 off fast breaks and outrebounded the visitors 58-55.

Eureka led by as many as 34 points in the second half.

The Red Devils (3-0) will next play at Millikin on Sunday at 1 p.m.