Beloit Pulls Away from Red Devils, 80-63

EUREKA – After a tight first half, Beloit pulled away from the Eureka women's basketball team in the second for an 80-63 win over the Red Devils on Saturday.

Eureka's Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) notched her first double-double of the season in the loss, racking up a season-high 25 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and two steals. The senior

Kennedy Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) followed with a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds while going 6-for-11 from the floor, while Savanah Moore (Clinton, Ill./Mt. Pulaski) and Marissa Murphy (Canton, Ill./Canton) each added nine points. It was Jackson's career high as a Red Devil.

Freshman Josie Ness (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) gathered nine rebounds to go with three points, three steals, a block and an assist.

Following a close first quarter, Eureka found a groove in the second. The home team shot 10-for-20 from the floor and went 9-for-10 at the charity stripe while only turning the ball over twice to Beloit's seven. Falls scored 10 of her 25 points in the second frame, making both of her shots from the field and all six she took from the line.

The Red Devils held a 42-33 lead over the Buccaneers at halftime, but the visitors took control with a 38-point third quarter, using an 18-3 run to start the third quarter.

Eureka, which was playing with a limited roster for the third straight game due to COVID-19 protocols, struggled with foul trouble and, generally, couldn't find a break for the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Buccaneers made 14 of 16 foul shots and shot 55 percent from the field in the third.

Beloit's Elizabeth Kalk and Lexy Olson both scored 22 points for the Buccaneers. Hannah Welte added 16 and Christy Melton chipped in with 10.

Eureka (0-3) is looking forward to being at full strength soon. The Red Devils (0-3) will take on Kalamazoo (0-2) on the road next Sunday at 2 p.m.