APPLETON, Wis. – Eureka College junior forward Kelsey Shoemake (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) logged her 12th career double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots, driving the Red Devils to 51-48 non-conference victory to open the 2013-14 season, Saturday afternoon in Appleton, Wis.  The decision marked the first career win for first-year head coach Victoria Jones.
 
Saturday's win improved the Red Devils to 1-0 for the third consecutive season, the first time EC has won three straight season openers since 1995.  The Red Devils have also opened back-to-back season with wins in true road games for the first time on record.
 
The contest opened with a sluggish pace, as neither squad was able to reach double-figures on the scoreboard until a 3-pointer from LU freshman Kanae Nishitani gave the hosts a 10-7 edge with 11:03 left in the first half.  
 
The Red Devils responded with a 17-7 burst over the next 7:25, grabbing their largest lead of the afternoon when junior guard Jenna Brooks (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) drilled a triple for a 24-17 lead with 3:38 left before halftime.  The Vikings closed the gap over the final moments of the first half and trailed the Red Devils at intermission, 25-21.
 
The two squads played to four tied scores and seven lead changes throughout the second half until the Red Devils secured the advantage for good on Shoemake's free throws for a 42-41 lead with 3:19 left.  The EC cushion swelled to five in the final minute, 48-43, before Lawrence pulled back with a single point (49-48) on Patsy Kealey's layup with 28 seconds to play.
 
Brooks was fouled on the ensuing possession and made both foul shots for a 51-48 edge with eight seconds left.  An open 3-pointer from LU's Alex Deshler was off the mark immediately before the final horn, allowing the Red Devils to claim the 3-point win.
 
Shoemake scored 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting and led the Red Devils with 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.  She also compiled a career-high five blocked shots.  Brooks poured in 11.points.  Sophomore guard Emily Camden (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central H.S.) distributed a career-high five assists and played a team-high 36 minutes.
 
Nishitani led all players with 17 points and Andrea Wilkinson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.  Lawrence outrebounded the Red Devils, 53-44.
 
Eureka will return to campus for its home opener Tuesday at 6 p.m. versus Millikin at the Reagan Center.  The Red Devils will be in search of their third straight 2-0 start.
 
NOTES: Eureka is now 2-0 versus Lawrence and 46-32 versus Midwest Conference member schools since 1983 … Jones is the first Eureka women's basketball head coach to win her debut since Sandy Schuster led EC to a 72-49 win over Trinity in November 1991 … Freshman guard Luci Weis (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) scored 10 points in 11 minutes off the bench, one of three Eureka freshmen to debut Saturday.  Forward Michaela Balducci (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) added seven points, five rebounds and two assists.