EUREKA, IL – The Panther Women's Basketball team ran into a hot shooting team on Tuesday as they fell to Eureka on the Red Devils' senior night. The Panthers never seemed to be able to get the flow of their game going after being bogged down by foul trouble right from the tip-off.
The first was controlled by the Red Devils as they scored 25 points to start the game. The Panthers managed to just get 17 total as they had eight fouls called against them. The second quarter was a carbon copy of the first with the Panthers never being able to find a defensive flow with foul trouble mounting. Eureka headed into the half with 45-29 lead.
The third quarter was not the usual uptick in the defense that the Panthers have come to rely on this season. Another nine team fouls in the quarter found one Panther disqualified and three others with four fouls each. Principia was outscored 26-15 in the quarter as they were unable to get stops on the defensive end. A quick Eueka three to start the fourth quarter put the Red Devils up by 30 at 74-44. Despite the persistent fouls that left Principia with only four eligible players by the end of the game, the Panthers were able to outscore Eureka 22-10 the rest of the way to only lose by 18 at 84-66.
Coach Ro said afterwards: "This was a tough and long game. We had trouble adjusting to the way the game was called and things unraveled in the first three quarters. We are a young team, and these are learning opportunities that happen."
Up Next: The Panthers close out the regular season at Blackburn on Saturday at 1:00 pm. Their SLIAC quarterfinal matchup the following Tuesday night is already set as they will travel to St. Louis to take on Fontbonne at 7:00 pm.
