Nov. 22, 2011 - The Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team welcomed the Red Devils of Eureka College to Geiseman Gymnasium tonight for the 2011-12 home opener. The Cougars looked to move back over .500, but a 52-point second half by the visitors broke open a close game and propelled the Red Devils to the 80-57 victory.
Four of Eureka's five starters scored in the first 4:40 of the game as part of an opening 12-0 run. Cristina Calabrese (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) finally got the Cougars on the board with a three-pointer after Concordia's first eight shots failed to fall.
The visitors' lead became 18-3 before Concordia began to creep back into the contest. They held Eureka scoreless over a 6:15 span while scoring 13 straight points to climb back within two points. Senior Bobbie May (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) led the charge with a pair of threes while also adding three free throws and an assist on a basket by Calabrese.
Eureka held Concordia at bay for a few minutes but, with the score 26-22, the Cougars scored five straight to take their first lead of the night. Kellie Murphy (Johnsburg, IL/Marian Central Catholic) scored from close in on Krystyna Rickett's (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) pass. Rickett then split a pair of free throws before Ashley DiCristofano's (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) jumper put the Cougars in front 27-26. The Red Devils regained the lead briefly, but Rickett's two free throws with seven seconds left gave the Cougars a 29-28 lead after 20 minutes.
The halftime stats showed the Cougars forcing the Red Devils into 10-31 shooting overall but just 1-13 from behind the three-point arc. Concordia came back behind Rickett's nine rebounds to hold a slim 27-26 edge on the boards after Eureka had enjoyed the better run of play during their opening 11-point run.
The two teams traded baskets in the early minutes of the second half before Jenna Brooks' three-pointer put Eureka in front to stay at 36-34. A few minutes later, a 9-0 run let the Red Devils go up by double figures at 51-39. The Cougars' shooting hit another wall during the run as they missed 12 consecutive shots from the field.
Rickett ended the Red Devils' run with a fastbreak bucket, but 10 points was as close as the Cougars would come the rest of the evening. Eureka maintained a safe lead with 50 percent shooting from the field and 19-26 shooting (73 percent) from the foul line. Leading the way for Eureka was forward Caty Eeten who scored 49 points in the Red Devils' 117-98 win over Knox College a few nights ago. Held to 11 points in the first half. Eeten erupted for 24 points in the second half on 7-12 shooting (1-2 on threes) and 9-10 at the line. Khassandrae Brown also had a huge second half, scoring 15 points including 9-11 at the charity stripe.
The final scoring showed Eureka with 35 points from Eeten, 20 from Brown and 10 from Brooks. Concordia was led by Rickett's 17 points and 11 rebounds, and May's 14 points.
Concordia (1-2) will return to action Saturday afternoon when they open Northern Athletics Conference play at Rockford College.
