Eureka Challenges, Falls Against Undefeated Webster, 82-67
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eureka women's basketball team pushed Webster until the end, but the Gorloks staved off the Red Devils 82-67 to stay undefeated.
The Gorloks led by as many as 19 in the third quarter, but the Red Devils went on a 14-4 run and fought their way to within single digits by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Two big 3-pointers by Eureka junior Sydney Hannam (Canton, Ill./Canton/Spoon River) and an Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) layup off a Hannam assist made it an eight-point game with 3:44.
The Gorloks scored the next six points to give themselves a little cushion for the last couple of minutes, but Eureka never backed down or went away. Falls scored the last bucket of the game and EC forced a turnover on Webster's last possession of the game.
Webster ultimately won their 19th straight game and improved to 10 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Eureka's three-game winning streak came to an end as the Red Devils fell to 8-11 on the season and 4-5 in SLIAC play. The 15-point loss, however, was a 15-point improvement from when the Red Devils took on the Gorloks earlier this season.
After hanging with Webster in the first quarter, the Gorloks found separation from the Red Devils in the second quarter and went into halftime up 42-25.
Rather than let the home team expand the lead, Eureka shot 50 percent in the third quarter and outscored the Gorloks 21-15.
Falls finished the game with a game-high 21 points and gathered 13 rebounds to record her second straight double-double. She shot 9-for-16 from the floor and had two assists and one steal.
Hannam shot 5-for-9 from the field and tallied 15 points. She made 3-of-4 3-pointers, all coming in the fourth quarter. Marissa Murphy (Canton, Ill./Canton) contributed 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in 25 minutes off the bench.
Abby Stotler (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County/MacMurray) and Shakaya Rogers (Hanover, Mich./Concord/Glen Oaks) each contributed six points. Kennedy Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone/Carl Sandburg) pulled down eight rebounds to go with four points and two assists.
Webster standout Addison Beussink tallied 20 points and 13 boards, along with three steals, two assists and two blocks. Lauryn Freeman and Emily Wilson added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Eureka (8-11, 4-5 SLIAC) will turn around and play at Spalding (8-11, 4-4 SLIAC) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. CT. It will be the Red Devils' second time facing the Golden Eagles this week following Sunday's 68-57 win at home.