ELMHURST, Ill. - Mikaela Eppard's double double and solid free throw shooting propelled the Elmhurst women's basketball team to a 62-49 victory over Franklin.
The Bluejays (6-4) scored the first five points of the game and never trailed. Elmhurst recorded season-highs in free-throw makes and attempts (28-of-37), while holding Franklin (6-2) to just 8-of-12 from the stripe. Elmhurst's 28 made free throws ties the fourth-highest mark in program history.
Elmhurst's Lisa Logan took control early, assisting on Claire Monroe's three-pointer to open the scoring and then adding a layup of her own to put the Bluejays up 5-0. Elmhurst did not allow a point in the first 3:50 of the game and surrendered just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, while forcing six turnovers in the first quarter.
Franklin's Kelsey Smith scored or assisted on three of the Grizzlies' first four buckets of the second quarter, which pulled the visitors within four. Elmhurst answered with a 6-2 run, scoring all six points with perfect free throw shooting from Michaela Kumer (4-for-4) and Mikaela Eppard (2-for-2). Eight of the Bluejays' 14 second-quarter points came from the free-throw line and Elmhurst took a 29-21 lead into halftime.
Franklin used an 11-5 run to pull as close as two (34-32) halfway through the third quarter, but, once again, Elmhurst extended its lead with solid foul shooting. Kaela Jones and Eppard both knocked down a pair of free throws, followed by a Jones layup and a Kumer jumper to complete an 8-0 run and put the Bluejays in front 42-32. Kumer added another jumper at the end of the quarter and Elmhurst took a game-high 12-point lead into the final period.
A Monroe three-pointer accounted for the only points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and, from there, the Bluejays cruised to a 13-point victory.
Eppard finished with 22 points (12-of-15 from the free-throw stripe) and 10 rebounds, recording her fourth double double of the season. Logan also reached double figures with 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Monroe, Kumer, and Erika Johnson all chipped in with eight points. Elmhurst top five scorers combined to shoot 25-of-32 from the charity stripe. The Bluejays held a 44-31 advantage on the glass, including 15-8 on the offensive end, which translated to a 13-4 advantage on second-chance points.
Katie Brewer (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Kayle Comer (11 points) paced the Grizzlies in the loss.
Elmhurst continues their three-game home swing on December 30 when they host Coe College at 2:00 p.m.
