Allanach leads three-point barrage as Eutectics bury Hornets

The turning of the calendar to 2024 also flipped the UHSP schedule to the conference portion of the slate. The Eutectics played their American Midwest Conference opener and used a new year's three-point party to down Harris-Stowe for the fifth straight time with a 88-62 win.

Elizabeth Allanach tied for the second-most triples ever made in a single game by a Eutectic burying 7-of-8 from downtown in the win. Allanach was a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc at the half and the Purple and Gold turned in a 8-for-13 performance from deep at the half as they built a commanding 46-28 lead. For the game, the Eutectics were 14-of-23 from the three-point line as Karsyn Morgan was 4-of-5 and Emily Coleman, Samantha Matthews and Grace Beyer all hit one triple. Beyer ended up leading the Eutectics in scoring with 26 points while Allanach added 23. Beyer added eight rebounds and six assists and Allanach had four assists and a pair of steals.

Early in the game, the Hornets got a layup from Autumn Brown to cut the deficit to 17-15. UHSP would close the first quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 25-15 after the first. In the second quarter, HSSU trailed 33-21 after a Kya Gordon basket, but the Eutectics would go on a 10-3 spurt late in the half to lead by 18 at the break.

The three-point shooting in the third quarter put the game away for the home club. Allanach had her lone miss from perimeter on the night 3:38 into the third. A minute and 15 seconds later, Allanach connected from deep for a 56-34 lead. That was followed by threes from Matthews, two from Morgan and another from Allanach with 24-seconds left in the quarter as UHSP led by 30 after three, 72-42.

UHSP shot 53.7% from the floor going 29-of-54 while the Hornets were 25-of-67 for 37.3%. The Eutectics made 16-of-21 free throws with Beyer making 9-of-11 while Harris-Stowe was 9-for-19. Neither team reached double-digits in the turnover category as the Hornets had nine, one more than the Eutectics.  HSSU did outscore the home club 42-24 in the paint, but the Eutectic three-point parade more than made up the difference.

The 14 made triples are the third most for UHSP in a single game in their history. Their all-time record of 16 was set back in 2020 while they have converted 15 threes twice in their history, once coming in their most recent game prior to tonight as they were 15-of-29 last Saturday against Fontbonne. Tonight represents the third time they have made 14 in a game. In their last two games combined, the Euts are 29-for-52 from beyond the arc (55.8%). The Eutectics entered the game fourth in the country in three-point percentage, but after their performance tonight they now lead the nation shooting 43.8% from three for the year.

An AMC contest against the Stephens Stars will be next up for the Eutectics on Saturday at 1p. The two clubs split a pair of meetings last season.