EUREKA, IL - The Principia Women's Basketball team traveled to Eureka College to close out their regular season on Saturday. Despite falling 68-62 in the end, the score doesn't reflect how tight the game really was with both teams making runs. This game showcased a vast improvement from the first game that the Panthers lost to Eureka by 18 points just 12 days ago.
In the first quarter, foul trouble caught up to the Panthers who were having to adjust to missing post defender Alana Hinson who is battling a medical condition. The Red Devils went 6 of 8 from the line in the opening quarter as they led by six after one. The Panthers, who attacked the rim relentlessly, ended the quarter without shooting a single free throw.
The second, third and fourth quarters all ended in dead even ties as each team scored 16 in the second, 18 in the third, and 11 in the fourth. The foul trouble for the Panthers from the first enabled Eureka to continue to go to their bench and wear out the smaller number of reserves for Principia. The Panthers showed great improvement in their ability to play hard for 40 minutes and put together a complete game regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.
Principia was led by freshman Paige Fowler with her second double double of her career as she recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Aaliyah Scott added 11 points and 5 rebounds, followed by freshman Carolina Rojas with 10 points. The defense was led by freshmen Raina Bryant and Lydia Klutho, who both chipped in 7 points while also recording 4 steals each. Principia totaled an impressive 21 steals in the game.
Coach Ro commented after the game: "Our defense really came out tonight and played as one. We made some mistakes offensively with some easy shots not falling, but our defense held up and kept us in the game. This group has just been so resilient in every way. I could not be prouder of them individually and as a group."
