GREENVILLE, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore guard Caty Eeten (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) scored 25 points and senior forward Lisa Byard (Morton, Ill./Morton H.S.) gathered a season-high 15 rebounds, driving the Red Devils to their seventh consecutive victory in a 74-65 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win at Greenville, Saturday afternoon at H.J. Long Gymnasium.
After playing to a 10-10 tie through the first five minutes of the afternoon, the Red Devils (15-3, 9-2 SLIAC) put together a 21-10 burst to earn a double-digit advantage, 31-20, with 4:19 left in the half. Eureka received balanced offensive production during the run that was capped by a 3-point basket from senior guard Sara Hamilton (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./Illinois Central).
The hosts battled back before intermission, using an 11-4 surge to cut their deficit to only four points, 35-31, at halftime. Hamilton made three 3-pointers to score 11 of her 14 points during the first 20 minutes.
Greenville(6-12, 3-7 SLIAC) maintained a manageable deficit early in the second half and ultimately climbed within a single possession on a jumper from Katelyn Wise to trail 41-38 at the 15:19 mark. The Red Devils needed only six minutes to stretch their lead back to double-digits, as sophomore Kiley Bugaieski (Tremont, Ill./Tremont H.S.) drilled a triple for a 56-45 lead to cap a 15-7 burst with 8:34 remaining.
The Panthers had one final offensive surge left, clawing back within four, 67-63, after Emilee Fladland's 3-pointer in the final minute. After a Greenville timeout, Eureka answered with a basket from Eeten and the Red Devils would lead by at least two possessions for the remainder of the game.
Eeten went 9-for-11 from the foul line and made eight shots from the field. Senior forward Khassandrae Brown (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S./Kankakee) added 18 points, while Byard's 15 rebounds gave her sole possession of fifth place on Eureka's all-time rebounding list with 642 career rebounds. The Red Devils enjoyed a 50-30 advantage on the boards.
Eureka's victory was its seventh in a row overall and ninth in a row on an opponent's home floor dating back to last season. The win was also Eureka's first at Greenville's H.J. Long Gymnasium since the Red Devils earned a 66-52 win over the Panthers on Dec. 6, 2005, snapping a string of five straight defeats at GC. Saturday's win also gave the Red Devils their first season series sweep of Greenville since joining the SLIAC prior to the 2006-07 season.
Eureka will try to make it eight wins in a row this Wednesday when Blackburn visits the Reagan Center for a 6 p.m. tip-off. The Red Devils beat the Beavers, 88-66, on Jan. 18 in Carlinville, Ill.