Westminster Outlasts Eureka, 80-71

EUREKA — The Eureka women's basketball team couldn't quite keep up with Westminster on Saturday, falling to the Blue Jays 80-71 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

It was the Red Devils' first SLIAC loss of the 2019-20 season, moving the team to 6-3 on the year and 2-1 in league play.

Senior Kennedy Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield notched a season-high 20 points while shooting 8-for-15 from the floor and 4-for-9 from 3-point range in a losing effort for the Red Devils. It was the 5-foot-5 guard's highest shooting percentage of the season and the second time this winter that she's hit four 3-pointers.

She also distributed a season-high eight assists, putting her within three of setting a new program record for career assists. After Saturday, Dura is sitting at 413 – two behind record holder Molly Hardesty (2002-06).

Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. The sophomore shot 50 percent from the floor (6-for-12) and made all four of her free-throw attempts.

Freshman Jadyn Mitchell (Flanagan, Ill./Flanagan-Cornel) also added 16 points while hitting eight free throws on 10 attempts. Ashley Harfst (Saunemin, Ill./Pontiac) gathered a team-high 12 rebounds.

Westminster's Abbie Reece led the way for the Blue Jays with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 12-of-20 shooting, while Mikalyn Callahan went one rebound short of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards.

There were 10 ties and 22 lead changes, but the visitors went ahead late in the first half and never fell behind again.

Westminster extended the lead to 10 points going into the fourth quarter by outscoring EC 24-15 in the third.

The Red Devils started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run that made it 56-63 with 8:14 left, and a pair of jumpers by Dura brought EC within twice with 7:31 and 5:46 left, respectively. But EC never managed to close the gap completely.

The Red Devils will next take on Anderson (Ind.) on the road on Wednesday at 1 p.m.