Red Devils Take Down Monmouth
EUREKA, Ill. - The Eureka women's basketball team defeated Monmouth 63-47 on Sunday afternoon. This victory marked Eureka's largest win over Monmouth since the 1994-95 season.
The first quarter between the Red Devils and the Fighting Scots concluded with a narrow lead for Monmouth, who scored 15 points to Eureka's 13. Early in the quarter, Monmouth managed a series of successful plays, including a layup by Ashley Jones at 8:04 and another by Ella Goodrich at 6:12, aiding their lead. Eureka's Maxine Najera (Riverside, Calif./Hillcrest) contributed defensively with a steal, followed with a layup by Brin Hultz (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) at 7:24. The Red Devils experienced shooting struggles early, but they showed resilience, closing the quarter with a fast break layup by Miya Webb (Indianapolis, Ind./Brownsburg) at 0:44 to reduce the deficit to two points.
In the second quarter, Eureka and Monmouth both faced scoring challenges, with the Red Devils outscoring Monmouth 10-8. Early in the quarter, Monmouth's Ella Goodrich scored a jumper at 9:34, momentarily giving them a lead. Eureka's Josie Ness (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) responded with a layup to keep the game close. The quarter saw a series of missed shots and turnovers, with Eureka's Lainey Moore (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) tying the game at 23 with two successful free throws in the final minutes. The Red Devils were more active defensively in the second quarter, recording 9 steals.
The third quarter began with Eureka's Maxine Najera scoring a jumper to put the home team ahead. Eureka maintained pressure with Miya Webb hitting consecutive free throws at 9:01, contributing to a 5-0 run. Monmouth's Kynlee Stearns responded with two successful free throws at 7:45, narrowing the gap to 29-27. Later, Brin Hultz extended the Red Devils' lead with a 3-pointer at 3:23, part of a 7-0 run that pushed the score to 34-27. Eureka capitalized on Monmouth's turnovers and fouls, as Lainey Moore's layup at 0:25 helped secure a 53-39 lead by the end of the quarter, outscoring Monmouth 30-16.
In the fourth quarter, Eureka maintained their lead over the Fighting Scots, securing a 10-8 advantage for the quarter. Ashley Jones of Monmouth scored a layup at the 9:00 mark, bringing the score to 41-55, but Eureka responded with a jumper by Najera and a 3-pointer from Miya Webb, extending their lead. Eureka's defense was effective, with key defensive rebounds by Allannah Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Peoria) and Maxine Najera, ultimately helping them to control the remaining minutes and secure the win.
The Red Devils feature several standout players based on their recent performances. Lainey Moore led the team in free throws, successfully converting all six attempts in the game, contributing to her eight total points. Miya Webb was notable for her scoring, making five field goals, including one 3-pointer, and finishing with a team-high 18 points. Alyssa Abascal (El Paso, Texas/El Dorado) came up with four steals, while Allannah Jackson also recorded four steals and provided four assists. Maxine Najera matched her teammates with four steals and contributed 10 points, alongside six rebounds, highlighting her well-rounded performance.
UP NEXT
Eureka (5-4, 2-1), fresh off back-to-back wins, will host Beloit (0-10, 0-3) in their next game. The matchup is scheduled for Dec. 17, at 12:00 p.m.