Eutectics Move to 2-2 in AMC after Victory over Trojans

ST. LOUIS, MO. - The Eutectic women's basketball team hosted the Hannibal-LaGrange University Trojans (Mo.) for an American Midwest Conference (AMC) matchup on Saturday on the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy campus. The Eutectics earned their sixth-straight victory over the Trojans with a score of 82-76 to move to a 2-2 record in the Conference.

The Trojans, 3-7 overall and 0-4 in the AMC, arrived with a short roster, but put up an impressive 51.9% shooting percentage from the floor while dropping in 8-of-16 threes. The Eutectics' scrappy defense, however, forced 25 Trojan turnovers, resulting in an additional 20 shots in the game by the home team and, ultimately, the win.

After a 4-0 lead by the Trojans to start the game, the teams battled throughout the first quarter with the Eutectics holding a 19-17 lead after 10 minutes. Led by Karsyn Morgan's nine points in six minutes, the Purple and Gold picked it up in the second period, outrebounding HLGU 12-8 and outscoring them 21-16 to claim a seven-point lead (40-33) by halftime.  

The Eutectics maintained the momentum into the third quarter, pulling ahead by as much as 15 points (55-40) following a triple from Montasia McAllister and two free throws from Sara Hameed after six minutes. A jump shot from Hannibal's Ellianna Gramling closed the gap to 55-47, but by the end of the third quarter, the Home Team boasted a 61-47 lead.

With five minutes left in the game, a layup from Arianna Buduan (assisted by Hameed) put the Eutectics up 70-55. But, the Trojans still had some fight left in them. After a three from Ella Volkart with 1:30 left in the game put the Euts up 79-64, HLGU scored the next 10 points in a row to come within five (79-74) with 30 seconds left in the game. Head Coach Markell Cox paired two strategic timeouts with Morgan's three made free-throws in the finals seconds to win the game 82-76.

Karsyn Morgan led the Eutectic team with a season-high 26 points, making 10-of-18 attempts including 3-of-7 threes while also nabbing five rebounds, three steals and three assists. Montasia McAllister and Reece Halley also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points apiece. Alina Bowden grabbed 10 rebounds for the Eutectics, including seven offensive, while knocking in six points of her own. Sara Hameed pitched in seven points and five assists, while Arianna Buduan posted seven points and six rebounds. Additional UHSP points came from DaNaiyah Darnell (4), Kailana Reed (3), Ella Volkhart (3), Allison Sampson (2), Taylor Hitchcock (2), and Eva Parks (2).

The Trojans' Ivy Levy went 16-23 from the floor and 7-10 from the line to score 40 points for the Trojans, while pulling down nine rebounds.

The Eutectic record now stands at 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the AMC as they look to post a winning Conference record following Thursday's home matchup against Missouri Baptist University (1-7, 1-3 AMC) at 5:30 p.m. in the UHSP gymnasium.