EUREKA, Ill. - Despite the Westminster women's basketball loss, Kendahl Adams broke the Westminster season scoring record with her 25 points.
The previous record was set just last season by Andrea Zalis at 425 points. Adams scored 25 points to end the game with 434 points in her career.
"Kendahl is a special talent and very deserving of the feat," said Westminster Head Coach James Arnold. "It sounds cliche, but whenever a player achieves something like this, it's a credit to the whole team. It means passers are getting the ball to her and rebounders are helping create extra scoring opportunities."
The Blue Jays fall to 12-11 overall and 7-7 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, falling to sixth place.
"We just couldn't get over the hump," said Arnold. "We have to give a lot of credit to Eureka. They made some tough baskets, had answers for all of ours runs, and played really tough."
Westminster kept up with the Red Devils in the opening minutes, but went on a scoring drought of over four minutes in the firest quarter to allow Eureka to gain a double-digit lead with 1:48 to play in the first 10 minutes. Two jump shots from Adams held the Blue Jays in the game to end the first quarter 20-14.
The Red Devils continued to threaten another double-digit lead, but baskets from MaKayla Jacskson and Jahne Williams put Westminster behind 26-20 at the 7:30 mark of the second quarter.
Back-to-back three pointers from Mikalyn Callahan and Kelsey Ray gave Westminster a 29-28 lead, but five straight points from Eureka stopped the Blue Jay run. Another scoring drought in the final minutes of the half results in a 42-33 deficit for Westminster at the helf.
The Red Devils opened the second half with a 7-0 run to increase their lead to 49-33. Callahan hit a three-pointer at the 8:34 point, marking the first field goal for Westminster since the 5:30 mark of the second quarter. Payton Beeler and Mirrakohl Johnson followed that with a three-pointer and layup, respectively, to pull Westminster back within 10, but Eureka answered with another 7-0 run.
Adams scored nine points in the final four minutes of the quarter, along with a three-pointer from Kendal Miller, to bring the Blue Jays back to an 11-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Adams and Lydia Hale combined for five points to open the fourth quarter to pull the Blue Jays back to within six points. After trading baskets, Johnson scored five straight points to make the score 71-67 with 5:19 remaining, but the Red Devils again answered with a 7-0 to regain their double-digit lead.
Westminster refused to quit, and after feethrows from Grace Archambault and Adams followed by a three-pointer from Hale, they were back to being down five points with just over two minutes to play.
"I loved the fight we showed to come back and give ourselves a chance," said Arnold.
On their last possession, Westminster was unable to hit their first three shots but continued to grab the offensive rebounds to create more chances. Archambault finally hit a layup after the possession that lasted over 50 seconds, but left Westminster with not enough time to make a comeback, eventually falling 81-75.
Along with Adams' record-breaking day, and also grabbed 14 rebounds for her eighth double-double this season. Archambault also recorded her fifth double-double with 10 points and 13 boards.
"I am excited about the final week of the regular season," said Arnold. "All of our goals are still attainable and I love working with this group."
Westminster stays on the road, facing MacMurray Wednesday at 6 p.m.
