EC Women's Basketball Back to Host Aurora Tuesday
EUREKA – After a two-week break from game competition, the Eureka women's basketball team is back in action on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup with Aurora.
The Red Devils will host the Spartans at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
The last week that Eureka was on the floor, the team had a big learning experience on the road against a very talented Illinois Wesleyan team and it picked up its first win of the season in lopsided fashion at Kalamazoo.
Since then, the maroon and gold has been taking a different approach to practice, emphasizing accountability and consequences.
"We went super punitive," EC coach Jaylynn Stewart said. "We had an accountability board and kept track of a ton of different things that are points of emphasis for us. They compete with each other and then the loser has a significant consequence."
It wasn't punishment for punishment's sake, she said. Rather, it was about "resetting our habits, and really focusing on us and what we need to do to get better." Stewart expects full effort, all the time.
In the Red Devils' 92-61 rout over Kalamazoo on Nov. 28, Eureka got to experience what it's like when everything is clicking on the court. But then, in EC's 91-41 loss at Illinois Wesleyan a few days later, the Red Devils saw what their system could look like if it's executed at a high level – and felt what it's like to be on the other end of it.
"We've had an opportunity this year, with all of the adversity that we've faced already, to take a look in the mirror and really revisit the things that we struggle with," Stewart said, "and work on them."
One player who has stood out in the time between games is freshman Josie Ness. Stewart says the 5-11 newcomer from Sandwich is coming off a phenomenal week of practice and has shown a lot of leadership as a freshman.
Through five games, the Red Devils' leading scorer has been senior Olivia Falls. The two-time All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree is averaging 16 points per game and pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game (second only to Ness at 7.6). She ranks third in the league in scoring and is second in field-goal percentage at 58.5.
Junior guard Savanah Moore is also averaging double figures, with 10.2 points per game, while junior Abby Stotler and senior Marissa Murphy are right behind her with 9.5 and 9.4 points per game, respectively.
Senior Kennedy Jackson has notched 7.6 points per game in five games and junior transfer Sydney Hannam has averaged 8.5 in two.
Murphy is tied for leading the league with 3.4 steals per game, and is tied for third in the SLIAC in assists with 3.2 per game.
After Eureka takes on the Spartans, the Red Devils are flying to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a pair of games against Grove City on Thursday and Friday.
"We're excited," Stewart said. "We're feeling good about the preparation that we've done already, and we're hoping to go down there and get two wins – and enjoy some sunshine."
