Feisty Eutectics challenge Eagles in close contest

(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)

ST. LOUIS, MO – On Saturday afternoon, the Eutectics challenged one of the top teams in the AMC and gave Williams Baptist a run for their money. After the Eagles jumped out to a quick early lead, the game was tight midway through the second quarter on, but in the end WBU made free throws down the stretch and held on for a 90-82 win.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Williams Baptist opened the contest by scoring the game's first 12 points. UHSP missed their first three field goal attempts and had five turnovers over that stretch.
• With 4:43 to go in the first quarter, Carmen Taylor hit a three to put WBU up 17-3. UHSP went on a 10-3 run over the next 2:39 capped by an Arianna Buduan layup to cut the deficit to 21-13. The Eagles led 27-18 after one quarter.
• Midway through the second quarter, Montasia McAllister made two free throws to give the Eutectics their first lead at 35-34.
• UHSP led 45-43 at the half after Charmen Taylor drilled a three at the first half buzzer to close it to a two-point gap. Kaylee Isaacs was held scoreless in the first half taking just two field goal attempts. Isaacs on Thursday became the all-time career scoring leader in Williams Baptist history with 27 points against Crowley's Ridge.
• Buduan finished the first half with a team-high 16 points off the bench going 6-for-11 from the floor including 4-of-6 from three-point territory.
• WBU led 65-63 after 3
• Carmen Taylor paced the Eagles with 24 points going 9-for-22 from the floor. She added four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Charmen Taylor had 20 points and seven rebounds.
• Karsyn Morgan led the Eutectics with 21 points, seven rebounds and five helpers. It was the ninth time this season that Morgan led the Eutectics in scoring in a game. Montasia McAllister scored 20 points going 10-for-10 from the foul line and had seven boards.
• Reece Halley had 19 points and eight rebounds.
• UHSP shot .9% better than the Eagles, but WBU got 17 more field goal attempts making seven more.
• Williams Baptist had just eight turnovers to 15 for the Eutectics.
• UHSP has lost four straight to the Eagles and are now 5-18 against WBU since 1999.

UP NEXT:

On Tuesday, the Eutectics (6-17, 6-11 AMC) will play host to another of the conference front-runners as Columbia (21-2, 15-2) visits St. Louis. It will be the first of a three-game week as UHSP travels to Cottey on Thursday and then plays Mission next Saturday in their home finale. Road games at Stephens and Harris-Stowe wrap up the season.