Red Devils Take Down Westminster, 81-75
EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore guard Kennedy Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield H.S.) poured in a career-high 23 points and junior guard Samantha Sarnes (Havana, Ill./Havana H.S.) scored 19 points off the bench to move into ninth place on the program's all-time list for 3-pointers, driving the Red Devils to an 81-75 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Westminster, Saturday afternoon at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena.
The Red Devils (16-7, 11-3 SLIAC) scored 11 in a row midway through the first quarter to open up a 15-6 lead. An Abigail Hilton (Moweaqua, Ill./Central A&M) bucket gave EC its largest lead of the first half, 20-10, but the Blue Jays pulled within 20-14 by the end of first period.
The Blue Jays (12-11, 7-7 SLIAC) regained a 29-28 edge when Kelsey Ray hit a 3-pointer with 5:30 to play before halftime. Kerrigan Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield H.S.) pushed down two foul shots to regain the lead for the Red Devils just 37 seconds later and Eureka extended the lead to 42-33 at the break.
Eureka threatened to put the game out of reach with a 7-0 run that resulted in a 58-41 lead with 4:15 to go in the third. The visitors refused to go away and got within four, 71-67, on Mirrakohl Johnson's lay-in with 5:19 remaining in the game. The Red Devils responded with another 7-0 stretch and led by five points or more for the remainder of the contest.
Kennedy Dura was 7-for-16 from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. Sarnes made three 3-pointers to increase her career total to 76, ninth most in the history of the program. Ashley Harfst (Saunemin, Ill./Pontiac H.S.) reached double figures with 12 points, Lexi Dooley (Sutter, Ill./Warsaw H.S.) netted 11 and Kerrigan Dura narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Kendahl Adams led all players with 25 points and 14 rebounds for WC. The Blue Jays went just 9-for-41 from 3-point range, but outrebounded the Red Devils 57-40.
Eureka will hit the road Wednesday for a 6 p.m. SLIAC start against Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
