EUREKA, Ill. - Rei Imamura's fifth and final 3-pointer did the trick.
The junior guard hit a 3 with 52 seconds left to put Westminster College in front to stay as the Lady Blue Jays turned away Eureka College in a 72-67 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win Saturday.
Westminster was able to extend its winning streak to eight games, improving to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the SLIAC.
Imamura made a 3-pointer with 1:56 to play, giving Westminster a 64-61 advantage. However, Eureka (2-5, 0-3) responded with four unanswered points to go in front 65-64 on Ashley Harfst's 3 with 1:21 remaining.
Imamura, though, replied with her pivotal trey on the Lady Blue Jays' ensuing possession with less than a minute to go. Imamura then made one-of-two free throws with :21 left to put Westminster up 68-65.
After a miss by the Lady Red Devils, Imamura was fouled again with :12 to play. She converted just one-of-two free throws to leave the Lady Blue Jays with a four-point advantage.
Kennedy Dura hit a jumper with :06 remaining to bring Eureka within 69-67. The Lady Red Devils promptly fouled Westminster sophomore guard Makayla Jackson, who was only able to convert one-of-two free throws to keep it a one-possession game.
Eureka had one last chance to tie the game and force overtime, but Harfst missed a 3-point attempt with :03 to go. Imamura was fouled and sealed the Lady Blue Jays' victory by knocking down both free throws.
Imamura finished 5-of-7 from the field - all from behind the arc - to spark Westminster with 19 points. The Lady Blue Jays shot just 39 percent (24-of-61) overall, but were 48 percent (11-of-23) from 3-point range.
Senior guard Kendahl Adams supplied 17 points for Westminster and senior forward Mirrakohl Johnson logged 12. Johnson posted a double-double by pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds to power the Lady Blue Jays to a 44-32 advantage on the boards.
Samantha Sarnes came off the bench to lead Eureka with a game-high 20 points. Harfst added 16 points and Josie Morgan contributed 13 as the Lady Red Devils also shot only 39 percent (24-of-61) as a team.
Westminster appeared to be headed for a rout after scoring the game's first 12 points. The Lady Blue Jays led by as many as 17 points before closing out the period with a 23-10 advantage.
Eureka, though, scrambled back into the contest, outscoring Westminster 19-8 in the second quarter to close within 31-29 at halftime. The Lady Blue Jays carried a 51-46 lead into the fourth quarter.
Westminster has a week off before hosting Fontbonne University in a SLIAC game at 1 p.m. next Saturday.