LISLE, Ill. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team ran their winning streak to five consecutive games with a 63-46 victory over Benedictine University on Saturday afternoon at the Rice Center. The Eagles blew open a one-point halftime lead and held Benedictine University to just 28.1 percent shooting in the second half. The five-game winning streak for the Eagles marks their longest string of victories since the 2008-09 season.
Neither team was able to open a large lead in the first half, although Edgewood College (9-8, 8-2 NAC) showed signs they had the potential to pull away. After being tied at 14, the Eagles held a slim lead until Danielle Dixon scored back-to-back baskets to put Edgewood College ahead 26-20 with 3:30 left before halftime. Benedictine answered with five straight points, but another basket from Dixon kept Edgewood College in front 28-27 at the break.
After halftime, the Eagles put their foot on the gas on both ends of the floor. Melanie Walker started a 10-0 run with a free throw, followed by a steal and layup by Rachel Pope. Following a pair of Benedictine turnovers Chelsey Watkins scored a pair of jump shots sandwiched around a three-point basket from Allison Novitske and the Eagles gained control of the game at 38-27.
The offensive avalanche continued as Walker hit another three pointer and Emily Anderson scored five straight points. By the time Alison Tobin scored a basket and added a pair of free throws with just under 10 minutes to play, Edgewood College had their largest lead of the game at 54-36. In total, Edgewood College outscored Benedictine University (6-9, 4-3 NAC) 26-9 in the first 10 minutes after halftime.
The backbone of Edgewood College's five-game win streak, however, has been defense. The Eagles forced six Benedictine turnovers on their first eight possessions of the second half. After Benedictine shot 42.9 percent in the first half, the Eagles' ball pressure limited the home team to just 9-for-32 (28.1 percent) in the second half. Fifteen of Benedictine's 20 turnovers were the result Edgewood College steals.
Edgewood College reaped the rewards of another balanced scoring effort with 10 different Eagles cracking the scoring column, led by 12 points from Tobin. Dixon was the model of efficiency scoring 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting in just 11 minutes of playing time. Watkins added eight points, while Walker had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.Mariah Hill and Pope were in Benedictine's pockets all day, with Hill collecting five steals and Pope four.
Benedictine University was led by Michelle Gaede who scored 14 points, but she was the only Benedictine player in double figures. Kam Haifleigh added nine points and eight rebounds.
Edgewood College maintained their share of the lead in the Northern Athletics Conference North Division heading into a pivotal week in conference play. The Eagles will travel to North Division co-leader Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday, before returning home to play NAC South Division leader Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday.