Eureka Completes Sweep of Blackburn, 78-64
EUREKA – The Eureka women's basketball team defended its home court on Monday, earning a 78-64 victory over Blackburn and a season series sweep of the Beavers.
The win was the Red Devils' fifth in their last seven games. It moved the team to 10-12 on the season and 6-6 in SLIAC play.
Junior transfer Sydney Hannam (Canton, Ill./Canton/Spoon River) knocked down 4 of 6 from long range and finished with a team-high 18 points. She was one of five Red Devils to reach double figures.
Seniors Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) and Kennedy Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) both recorded double-doubles. The former pulled down a team-high 14 boards and scored 10 points. The latter grabbed 13 and scored 10.
Senior Shakaya Rogers (Hanover, Mich./Concord/Glen Oaks) and freshman Josie Ness (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) each contributed 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. It was Ness' first time finishing in double figures in her collegiate career. She was an efficient 5-of-6 from the field in 19 minutes.
Madison Jernigan (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone/Blackburn) notched seven points off the bench as well.
The Red Devils outrebounded the Beavers by 10 and finished with a season-high 56 boards on the game.
Blackburn scored the first basket of the game less than a minute in. With 7:20 left in the quarter, Hannam knocked down a go-ahead triple on an assist by Savanah Moore (Clinton, Ill./Mt. Pulaski/MacMurray), and the Red Devils never trailed again.
The Beavers kept it close throughout the first half, but Eureka ended the half with a 6-0 run that gave the team its first double-digit lead right before the half.
A steal by Jernigan with nine seconds left set up the last basket. With time ticking down, Moore chucked it downcourt to Abby Stotler (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County/MacMurray), who dished it to Ness for the bucket before the horn.
Early in the third quarter, the Red Devils went on a 14-3 run to extend the lead to a game-high 19 points.
The Beavers trimmed the lead down to nine points, but they trailed by 13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Red Devils never let them come within closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
The win was Eureka's 22nd straight against the Beavers.
On Wednesday, the Red Devils (10-12, 6-6 SLIAC) will take on Greenville (12-10, 6-6 SLIAC) for the second time this season. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
