Edgewood College advances in standings with win over Spartans

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Box Score

AURORA, Ill. - The Edgewood College women's basketball picked up a win and gained a full game in the race to the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon. Behind a double-double from Alison Tobin, the Eagles downed  Aurora University 57-44 and set up an important game next Tuesday with Marian University.

Edgewood College (8-12, 7-7 NAC) held the host Spartans without a field goal over a six minute stretch late in the first half to open up a commanding 24-11 lead. Tobin, a junior from Potosi, scored the final seven points of that stretch and finished the first half with nine points. However, the Spartans responded with a 7-3 run to cut the margin to 27-18 at the break.

Aurora University (2-19, 1-13 NAC) had no intention of accepting defeat easily. After a three-point basket by Melanie Walker, the Spartans went on a 15-7 run to cut the Eagles lead to just two points at 37-35. However, Sadie Ewing drilled a key three-pointer to push the margin back up to five points, and Tobin added two free throws to make the score 42-35. Aurora pulled back to within four points on a Megan Kohrt three-point basket with 4:35 to go, but Edgewood College would go on a 10-0 run to put the game away at 56-42 with 1:10 to go. Dareon Henderson keyed the rally with a pair of free throws and a three-point play.

Tobin led all scorers and rebounders with her fourth double-double of the season. Tobin scored 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. Ewing was the only other Eagle in double figures with 12 points, going 3-for-5 from the three-point line. Henderson and Jenna Coenen chipped in seven points apiece. Walker had a team-high five assists.

Kohrt led the Spartans with 13 points and a game-high six steals. Ania Dylewicz contributed seven points. The Eagles dominated the glass, doubling Aurora's rebound total 52-26, including 21 offensize rebounds.

The win pulled the Eagles to .500 in conference and, coupled with Marian University's 76-66 loss to Dominican University, put them one game behind the Sabres for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NAC North Division. That fourth position will be on the line Tuesday night, when Edgewood College hosts Marian University at 7:00 p.m.