ELMHURST, Ill. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team entered Tuesday night's game looking to avoid leaving Elmhurst, Illinois in the same fashion they did last season. The Eagles were blown out by 36 points a season ago, but put that behind them and evened up the all-time series with a 71-65 win over the Bluejays on Elmhurst College's home court.
Edgewood College (4-6) missed their first five shots of the game as Elmhurst jumped out to an early lead, but the Eagles fought back to tie the game at 8-8 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first. Six minutes later, Edgewood College grabbed their first lead of the game on a layup byBrooke McBain, and then extended it with a jumper by Dareon Henderson. With time winding down in the half, Rachel Pope swiped the ball from Bluejays' Whitney Shaffer and converted a layup to give Edgewood College a 33-28 cushion at the break.
A pair of free throws by Melanie Walker and back-to-back layups by Alison Tobin and Mariah Hill to begin the second half extended the Eagles' lead to double digits. Following that run, Elmhurst (3-4) seemed to have an answer for every Edgewood College basket and climbed back to tie the game with 2:41 on the clock. The Eagles shook off the pressure and scored the next six points to take a 67-61 lead with just over one minute left. The Bluejays cut the deficit to four with a layup, but Hill and Henderson sealed with game with two free throws apiece in the last 17 seconds.
The Bluejays actually shot better from the field as far as percentages, but only converted on 53.3 (8-for-15) from the free throw line in the loss. The Eagles, on the other hand hit a season-high 22 of 29 (75.9 percent) from the charity stripe, including 15-for-20 in the second half to seal the victory.
Elmhurst fired 26 three-pointers, but Edgewood College's defense only allowed the Bluejays to cash in on seven of them. The Eagles grabbed 43 rebounds including 14 offensive to Elmhurst's 36 total boards.
Three Eagles finished in double figures with Alison Tobin racking up 17 to lead the way. Dixon and Henderson followed with 12 and 11, respectively. Dixon also dished out a team-high four assists and did not turn the ball over once. Walker andChelsey Watkins both grabbed eight boards in the victory.
Edgewood College will continue their non-conference road trip as they look to extend their winning streak to three games. The Eagles head to Indiana to face Trine University on Friday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)