Eureka, Ill. -- This afternoon the Principia College women's basketball team faced the Eureka College Red Devils in their 2nd conference game of the season.  Despite an energetic warm-up and a solid game plan, Principia found themselves in an early hole, with Eureka hitting 4 back-to-back 3 pointers to put them up 20-11 in the first 5 minutes of the game.  After the crazy 5 minutes segment however, Principia found its bearings and slowly chipped away at the lead, due in large part to exceptional shooting from the entire Prin squad (they shot 54% from the field, 57% from beyond the arc).  At the 3 minute marker, Principia drew within one with a key lay-up from senior captain Lindsay Sydness.  Then with one minute to go in the 1st, senior forward Shannon Briggs hit a three to go up by 2, which was immediately backed-up by a sweet and-one conversion by freshman guard Becca DeNicholas.  This allowed Principia to go into the locker room at half time up five, 35-30.

The 2nd half had much of the same energy, and although the shooting percentage dropped (46% from the field) Principia always seemed to find the bottom of the net when necessary.  However, a brief drought at the 12 minute mark found the Prin squad stuck at 49, allowing Eureka to erase a 10 point deficit and actually take the lead 50-49.  But junior captain Sarah Corbitt took over, scoring 12 of the next 14 Lady Panther points, allowing Prin to get back in the game.  The go-ahead bucket came from Sydness (56-54) and not a moment too soon as she fouled out on the next possession (Sydness finished with 18 points, 3 blocks and a stellar game high 15 boards).  Corbitt then hit back-to-back 3-point daggers to solidify the lead, forcing Eureka into the foul game, at which point Principia made just enough free throws to put the game away (Principia shot a dismal and uncharacteristic 57% from the line).  Solid play from the entire squad help Principia remain undefeated in conference thus far.  Corbitt ended with a game high 21 points and added 10 boards and 3 assists.  Also in double-digit scoring was Shannon Briggs with 11 points and 8 boards.  Becca DeNicholas added 9 for a collegiate career high, and junior point guard Dani Carney tallied 9 points to go with her game high 8 assists.

Principia plays next at Greenville College versus Robert Morris-Springfield in the Panther Paws for Poverty tournament on Thursday, December 8th.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.