Eutectics remain unbeaten in AMC with rout of Comets

ST. LOUIS, MO – Montasia McAllister matched a season-high with 25 points including making all but one of her six three-point shots and UHSP out-volumed Cottey for a 73-45 win to remain undefeated in American Midwest Conference play at 3-0. Neither team cracked 40% shooting from the field, but ten more Eutectic rebounds and 26 turnovers by Cottey resulted in UHSP recording an astounding 23 more field goal attempts than the Comets while making nine more.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 73, COTTEY 45

• The first quarter saw Cottey tie it at 9-9 on a Navaeh Sanchez jumper. The Eutectics went on a 10-0 run to lead 19-9 and eventually took a 20-11 lead to the end of the first quarter. Montasia McAllister and Reece Halley were equally responsible for the ten-point UHSP run as the scored five points apiece over a 4:20 span.
• The Eutectics went cold to start the second period as they did not score their first point until there was 4:53 left in the quarter as McAllister's jumper got them back on the board to make it a 22-19 UHSP lead. Cottey opened the quarter on an 8-0 run. It was back out to an eight-point lead when Analyssa Maldonado made a layup with 1:12 making it 29-21. UHSP led 31-23 at the half despite shooting just 39.7% from the floor to Cottey's 40%. But a 20-15 rebounding edge for the Eutectics and 16 Comets' first-half turnovers led to UHSP getting 17 more shot attempts.
• The game turned in the third quarter. UHSP went 8-for-17 from the floor while Cottey only made three field goals. Aryanna Bull scored seven points to lead the UHSP attack as the Eutectics outscored the Comets 21-6 in the period. After Ava Maner scored the opening bucket of the quarter to bring Cottey to within six, UHSP went on a 12-2 run that extended to 21-4 to close the quarter with the Eutectics in command 52-29.
• Sanchez hit the first two shots to begin the fourth and UHSP went on another lengthy scoring spree outscoring Cottey 15-4 over the next 5:36 to lead 67-37. UHSP outscored Cottey 21-16 in the quarter.
• The Eutectics were 27-of-71 (38.0%) from the floor while Cottey was 18-for-48 (37.5%). UHSP connected on eight of their 24 threes (33.3%) while the Comets were just 2-of-9 (22.2%). The two made triples were the fewest in a single game this year for the Comets.
• Cottey had twice as many turnovers as UHSP 26-13 while the Eutectics held a 37-27 edge on the glass. The 26 turnovers were the second-most in a single game this year for Cottey while the 27 rebounds were a season-low.
• Aryanna Bull was UHSP's second-leading scorer with 11 points along with seven boards.
• Navaeh Sanchez was the only double-digit scorer for Cottey with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Ava Maner added nine points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
• Taylor Hitchcock tied a season-high with eight points for the Eutectics.
• UHSP now leads the all-time series 5-3 and also snapped a three-game skid against the Comets.

NEXT UP:

The Eutectics (5-7, 2-0 AMC) opened a stretch of 16 straight conference game with the contest against Cottey. The next two are on the road as they visit Crowley's Ridge (0-12, 0-3 AMC) on Thursday night at 5:30p and then play at 1:00p on Saturday at Williams Baptist. The Pioneers and Eagles played on Tuesday night as well and the Eagles buried the Pioneers, 113-38. UHSP's next home game is a week from Thursday when they welcome Hannibal-LaGrange to town.