LISLE, Ill. - Despite trailing by one at halftime, the Benedictine University women's basketball team dropped a 69-49 decision to Carthage College on Tuesday night at the Dan and Ada Rice Center.
Benedictine (1-3) trailed by as many as nine points in the first half. The Eagles cut their deficit to to one when Katie Hunzinger drained a three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining.
Carthage (4-0) regained a three-point lead but BenU continued to chop at the lead and tied the game with 24 seconds left after two made free throws by Megan Novak. The Lady Reds would make a free-throw to take a 31-30 lead at halftime.
Carthage caught fire in the second half, shooting 55.6 percent from the field (15-for-27), taking a 16-point lead with 13:35 on the clock. Jumpers from Michelle Gaede and Kam Hafleigh put the Eagles within 10 but it wasn't enough as Carthage went on to win the game 69-49.
Novak led all players with 20 points on a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. Gaede had nine points while Colleen Forkin had six rebounds.
As a team, BenU was 11-for-37 from the floor (29.7 percent) and just 5-of-16 from behind the arc.
Carthage was led by Cailee Corcoran with 16 points and six rebounds.
Women's basketball is back in action this Saturday, Nov. 26 when they open up Northern Athletics Conference action at Aurora University. The game begins at 1:00 p.m.