Eureka Drops Home Finale to Principia

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka women's basketball team dropped its home finale Tuesday night, falling to Principia 104-68.

The Eureka High School Band performed throughout the evening, creating a lively atmosphere for the Red Devils' final home contest. The Eureka College Athletic Department extends its sincere thanks to the band for its energy and support.

Principia opened the action with a 2-0 lead before Lailah Hadley (Indianapolis, Ind./Purdue Polytechnic) answered with a floater to tie the game. After the Panthers moved back in front 6-2, Miracle Armstrong (Chicago, Ill./Wendell Phillips) scored five straight points to give Eureka its only lead of the night.

Principia responded with an 8-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage. Armstrong snapped the scoring drought at the free throw line, and Kenna Newton (Toulon, Ill./Stark County) converted a layup to trim the deficit to 18-15. The Panthers, however, closed the quarter on a 9-0 surge to carry a 27-15 lead into the second.

Eureka scored the first basket of the second quarter, but Principia continued to build its advantage, extending the margin to 36-19. The Red Devils answered with a 6-0 run, sparked by Kayla Collins (Fort Worth, Texas/Fort Worth Christian) off the bench, to cut the deficit to 36-25. Principia maintained control the rest of the half and took a 48-33 lead into the break.

Armstrong opened the third quarter with four straight points to keep Eureka within 13 at 50-37, but the Panthers controlled the remainder of the period. Principia stretched the lead to 78-50 by the end of the third.

The Panthers continued their strong stretch in the fourth, pushing the margin to their largest of the night at 97-56 before closing out the 104-68 victory.

Courtney Hart (Lancaster, Calif./Yosemite) led Eureka with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Armstrong added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Hadley finished with six points and 11 assists. Collins contributed 12 points, as she and Hart combined for 31 of Eureka's 68 points.

UP NEXT

Eureka will wrap up its season Saturday at Greenville at 1 p.m. The Red Devils fell 70-54 in the first meeting between the two teams on Jan. 26.