EC Women to Open SLIAC Season, Busy Week, at Blackburn
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
EUREKA — St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play begins for the Eureka women's basketball team on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
The Red Devils are taking on Blackburn inside Dawes Gymnasium to kick off their 14th season in the SLIAC.
PDF VERSION OF 12/03/2019 NOTEBOOK
ABOUT EUREKA
Eureka is entering league play with a 3-2 record.
The Red Devils opened the season 3-0, knocking off Rockford 78-43, besting Knox in overtime, 83-76, and taking care of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, 96-78. They've since dropped their last two, mostly recently falling to Knox, 79-71.
Through five games, Ashley Harfst leads the team in scoring with 17.4 points per game, putting her fifth in the league. The senior is third in total points (87) and first in free throws made with 42 in 49 attempts.
Back-to-back SLIAC Player of the Week Olivia Falls leads the league in rebounds per game with 11 and total rebounds (55). Harfst is right behind her with 10.6 and 53. Falls, a sophomore, is also second in the league in field-goal percentage (60.4) and fourth in field goals made (29 of 48).
Freshmen Whitney Bozarth and Jadyn Mitchell are both averaging double figures, posting 12.2 and 11.2 points per game, respectively, while senior Ja'Keesha Hawkins adds 9.8.
Senior Kennedy Dura is only two assists away from surpassing her sister, Kerrigan Dura (2014-18) for second in assists in program history. Kennedy has 392, Kerrigan has 293 and Molly Hardesty (2002-06) leads the way with 415.
ABOUT BLACKBURN
With the month of November in the books, Blackburn stands at 2-2 on the season.
The Beavers took down Alverno 73-67, and knocked off Mount Mary 65-54, then dropped a pair of back-to-back home games.
Blackburn's first loss came against Monmouth, 79-54. Then, most recently, the team lost to Covenant, 74-54. Three Beavers reached double figures in a losing effort: Jenna Dudra (14), Marla Cline (13) and Megan Lindzy (12). Kaylee Pedigo pulled down a game-high 13 boards.
Lindzy is currently second in the league play in 3-point shooting at 45.5 percent. Lexie Black is second in free throws made (25-for-37) and Pedigo is pulling down eight boards per game — good for fifth in the league.
ABOUT CALVARY BIBLE
Calvary Bible is currently 3-4. The team, which plays in the National Christian College Athletic Association, is averaging 64.6 points per game.
Taylor Hunter is the Warrior's leading scorer at 21.3 point per game, while Anna Holloway, Avery Kornstad, Shalcom Sutcliffe all average over 10 points per game.
ABOUT PRINCIPIA
The Principia women enter SLIAC play looking for their first win of the season. The Panthers dropped their season opener against common Eureka opponent Rockford in double overtime, 93-89, fell in a competitive game against Lincoln Christian, 64-55, and lost to Stephens College, 75-57.
Senior guard Nikki Matters is currently the league's leading scorer at 237.7 points per game. She recorded a school- and league-record 44 points while making 20 of 23 free throws against Rockford. Senior center Sophia Hathaway is third in the league at 18.7, third in rebounds (9.3) and first in total blocks (12).
Falls Snags Second Straight SLIAC Player of the Week Honors
EUREKA — Once again, Eureka's Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) is the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
After averaging a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the field two weeks ago, the 5-foot-8 sophomore delivered another strong performance against Knox last Wednesday to garner honors for the second straight week.
Falls posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line. She also contributed three assists.
It was her second 20-point game of the season and her fourth time reaching 10 rebounds or more in five tries. She is currently averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 60.4 percent from the floor — the second-best field-goal percentage in the league.
This was Eureka's first time receiving back-to-back SLIAC Player of the Week honors since 2018.