LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University women's basketball team moved over .500 for the first time this season by surviving a challenge from Rockford College 59-58 on Wednesday night.

Rockford proved to be a challenge all night, holding the lead for the first seven minutes of the contest before Meghan Novak began to heat up by hitting a three with 12:44 left to put Benedictine ahead 7-5. Novak netted 14 first half points off the bench. Benedictine built the lead to nine points at 20-11 with 8:08 left when Novak hit two free throws. Rockford used a 9-0 run to jump ahead 22-21 before the Eagles netted the final four points of the half to lead 25-22.

Benedictine quickly extended the lead to seven points at the start of the second half when Kam Haifleigh completed a feed from Vincenza Ranallo. Rockford rattled off seven straight to even the game at 31 with 15:17 to play. With the game tied at 36, the Eagles netted seven straight points finished on a layup from Novak to jump ahead 43-36. Rockford came close but could never overcome the margin. Michelle Gaede reeled in an offensive rebound off a miss with :20 left and Benedictine up a point. Novak hit both free throws and Rockford could only make a layup at the buzzer to account for the final.

Novak tallied a season and career high 26 points to lead all scorers, bettering her previous mark of 24 set in a win at Aurora on January 24, 2012. Gaede added 10 points.

Benedictine (11-10, 9-4 NAC) will travel to meet Maranatha on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.