Eutectics lead by 16 at half; but WBU storms back for win

ST. LOUIS, MO - The Williams Baptist Eagles stormed back from 16-down at the half to stun the UHSP Eutectics at the UHSP Gymnasium, 94-75. UHSP led 50-34 at the half, but the Eagles used a huge 60-25 second half to turn the tables on the Eutectics and take over sole possession of third place in the American Midwest Conference standings.

The Eutectics were electric in the first half, thanks to their leading scorer and reigning NAIA Player of the Week, Grace Beyer. Beyer scored the Eutectics' first eight points and Samantha Matthews drilled the first of five Eutectic first-half triples as UHSP went up 11-6. Beyer scored eight more in the quarter before Matthews capped the quarter with another triple and the Purple and Gold led 24-15 after one period.

Beyer would knock down a three early in the second as UHSP opened the period on a 10-3 run. She would score 17 of the club's 26 in the quarter and appeared on her way to a career day with a 33-point, six rebound and five assist stat line at the break. Her career high is 59 points, set last year against Columbia. UHSP led 50-34 at the break as WBU hit just 14-of-34 field goals in the first half. UHSP was 17-for-31. Then it all fell apart for the Eutectics.

The Eagles opened the third quarter on a game-altering 16-4 run to carve the deficit to 54-50 with 4:39 left in the quarter. Karsyn Morgan made a layup to steady the Eutectics' ship for a moment, but the Eagles applied suffocating pressure after halftime which slowed the UHSP offense while they themselves stopped turning the ball over. UHSP had five steals in the first half but did not record one in the second half. Williams Baptist only had three turnovers in the entire second half after eight in the first half. WBU's Carmen Taylor missed a triple with 2:23 left in the third that would have tied the game at 60-60. Charmen Taylor would give the Eagles their first lead since 6-4 on free throws with 51 seconds left in the third to give the visitors a 63-62 lead. Taylor Hooten would add a three before the close of the quarter as Williams Baptist took a 66-62 lead to the fourth. The damage had been done with the huge Eagle run to start the second half and after a 32-12 third quarter, Williams Baptist had all the momentum heading to the final period.

Just over a minute and half into the fourth, Matthews made a jumper to pull the home club within two at 68-66, but WBU ended all doubt by going on a 17-3 run over a 4:25 span to take a commanding 85-69 lead. Williams Baptist went on to win 94-75 improving to 12-4, 5-2 while the Eutectics dropped to 9-8, 4-3.

Grace Beyer went for a game-high 47 points in the loss along with nine rebounds and five assists. She was 14-for-23 from the floor and a perfect 17-for-17 at the foul line. Elizabeth Allanach posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Samantha Matthews added 10 points. That trio accounted for all but six of UHSP's points. Kaylee Clark led Williams Baptist with 27 points and eight boards and four assists while Charmen Taylor had 22 points and nine rebounds and Carmen Taylor added 20 points and four steals. Thanks to the hot second half, WBU finished shooting 50.7% from the floor while UHSP floundered down the stretch and finished shooting 39.7% overall. Both teams shot it well from the charity stripe with the Eutectics going 20-for-24 (83.3%) and the Eagles 19-for-22 (86.4%).

UHSP now hits the road for their next four contests beginning Thursday at Cottey College. Their next home game is Thursday, Feb. 8 against William Woods.