Eureka Defeats Fontbonne, Clinches Home Tournament Game

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eureka women's basketball team secured a 73-59 road victory over Fontbonne on Wednesday, completing a season sweep of the Griffins and locking in a home game in the SLIAC tournament quarterfinals. The Red Devils never trailed in the game, controlling the tempo from the opening tip.

Eureka set the tone early with strong defensive plays, including a block by Maxine Najera (Riverside, Calif./Hillcrest) and a steal by Allannah Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Peoria), which led to a fastbreak layup. Elena Redgate (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) contributed consecutive baskets to give the Red Devils a 6-0 lead. Fontbonne battled back with free throws and layups, but Eureka's offense remained steady, with Miya Webb (Indianapolis, Ind./Brownsburg) hitting a jumper at 4:31. A layup by Alyssa Abascal (El Paso, Texas/El Dorado) in the final seconds gave the Red Devils a 20-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Red Devils continued their offensive push in the second quarter. Alyssa Zarello (Bushnell, Ill./Bushnell) provided an early spark with four quick points, extending the lead to 24-17. Sierra Garcia-Reisch (Las Animas, Colo./La Junta) knocked down back-to-back jumpers to keep Eureka in front. Fontbonne's Sam Foppe cut into the deficit with a fast-break three-pointer, but the Red Devils answered with a triple from Webb at 3:09 and another from Garcia-Reisch at 1:44, helping Eureka take a 39-27 lead into halftime.

Fontbonne attempted to rally in the third quarter, with Foppe hitting a three-pointer early, but Eureka's defense forced key turnovers, including steals from Jackson and Redgate. Despite some missed opportunities in the paint, the Red Devils maintained their lead, highlighted by a fastbreak jumper from Abascal at 3:41. Fontbonne's Piper Fitzgerald connected on two late three-pointers, closing the gap, but Eureka still held a 54-45 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The Red Devils put the game away in the fourth quarter. Webb drained a three-pointer at the 9:00 mark, and Garcia-Reisch added a layup to extend the lead. Fontbonne's Brianna Beamer briefly kept the Griffins in it with a three-pointer and a jumper, but Eureka remained in control. Redgate sealed the win with a jumper at 3:33 and a layup at 2:15, as the Red Devils finished strong to secure the 73-59 victory.

GAME NOTES

• Sierra Garcia-Reisch led the team with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
• Elena Redgate contributed 14 points and three steals.
• Miya Webb knocked down 3 three-pointers.
• Alyssa Abascal led the team with four steals.
• Maxine Najera dominated the boards with 10 rebounds, including three offensive.

UP NEXT

Eureka will close out the regular season with a trip to Fulton, Mo., to take on Westminster on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. The Red Devils will look to avenge their earlier 74-69 loss to the Blue Jays.