Hart Posts Double Double in Road Loss at Webster

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eureka women's basketball team hit the road Wednesday night for a SLIAC matchup against Webster but fell 93-46 after the Gorloks used persistent defensive pressure and a deep bench to take control early and never look back.  

The opening quarter told the story in this game. Webster forced a flurry of turnovers in the first two minutes, turning nearly every mistake into points. Kaimyla Nolen and Miya Webb pushed the pace in transition, and a pair of early threes from Peyton Dolan helped the Gorloks build a 24-8 lead after one. Eureka's offense found its only early rhythm through Courtney Hart (Lancaster, Calif./Yosemite), who scored twice inside and grabbed five first quarter rebounds, but 13 turnovers in the opening frame made it difficult for the Red Devils to settle in. 

Webster's bench unit stretched the lead even further. Emma Smith knocked down a three, Emily Kerce added strong minutes on the glass, and Daijah Jones provided energy in the paint. The Gorloks shot 60% in the second quarter and continued to convert Eureka's turnovers into transition points. The Red Devils created more looks in the halfcourt with Lailah Hadley (Indianapolis, Ind./Purdue Polytechnic) getting downhill and Hart continuing to battle inside, but Webster carried a 49-20 advantage into halftime. 

The third quarter featured the best stretch of the night for Eureka's standout center. Hart finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, dominating the interior and keeping the Red Devils competitive on the glass. She shot an impressive 10‑for‑13 from the field and was responsible for nearly half of Eureka's scoring. Still, Webster's offense remained efficient. Webb hit from deep, Meghan Illingworth scored in the paint, and the Gorloks extended the lead to 76-33 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Eureka opened the final quarter with its best run of the night, punching in a 7‑0 burst sparked by a Railynn Brown (Erlanger, Ky./Lloyd Memorial) three and a Kayla Collins (Fort Worth, Texas/Fort Worth Christian) jumper. Hadley and Collins each added threes late, showing some offensive rhythm as the game closed, but Webster's depth continued to be the difference. The Gorloks finished with 44 bench points, 35 points off turnovers, and 60 points in the paint, sealing the 93-46 win. 

Hart led Eureka with 22 points on 10‑for‑13 shooting and added a game‑high 16 rebounds. Hadley followed with seven points and a team‑best six assists; Collins also finished with seven points and grabbed five rebounds, and Brown contributed five points. 

UP NEXT

Eureka continues SLIAC play on the road on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., when they travel to face Spalding. It will be the first meeting between these two teams this season.