LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Playing the second and final game of its trip to the D3Hoops.com Classic at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., the Eureka College women's basketball team dropped a 94-70 non-conference decision to Simpson on Thursday afternoon. Senior forward Khassandrae Brown (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S./Kankakee) finished the contest with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her team-high fourth double-double of the season. 

Simpson (8-3) put the pressure on the Red Devils (7-2) in a hurry, scoring on each of its first four possessions to sprint to a 9-0 advantage less than two minutes into the contest.  The Storm pushed the lead to 13 points, 23-10, before junior forward Jay Stewart (Taylorville, Ill./Taylorville H.S./Illinois State) hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 7-2 EC burst and trim the deficit to 25-17 at the 10:54 mark.

Eureka's momentum would be short-lived, as the Storm scored the next 14 points to open up a 39-17 lead.  Simpson, which got 13 points in the first half from Chelsie Rohrs, eventually carried a 52-32 advantage into halftime.

The Red Devils regained the momentum quickly after intermission with a 6-0 surge to get back within 14 points, 52-38, less than two minutes into the second half.  The two squads played evenly for a large portion of the half, and Stewart's 3-pointer with 5:19 to play brought the Red Devils within 12 points (77-65) for the first time since the 10:36 mark of the first half.  After the basket from Stewart, Simpson closed the game on a 17-5 run and led by as many as 27 points when SC reserve Cassie Bardole scored inside in the final minute of the game.

Eureka sophomore guard Caty Eeten (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) scored a game-high 26 points for the Red Devils on 8-for-15 shooting.  She also went 9-for-10 from the free throw line.  Stewart was the third Red Devil to score in double-figures with 10 points, while Brown aided the Eureka defensive effort with three steals.

Simpson had five players score in double-figures and made 41 shots from the field, the most by a Eureka opponent this season.  Kate Nielsen came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points and Stacey Schutjer led all players with 13 rebounds.  Simpson controlled the interior game against the Red Devils on Thursday, outscoring EC in the paint, 62-20, and holding a 56-34 advantage on the glass.  The Storm has qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament in each of the past four seasons and is currently receiving votes in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll.

Eureka will resume St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 4 against Spalding.  Tip-off in Louisville, Ky. against the Golden Eagles (5-4, 1-1 SLIAC) is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.