LISLE, IL - The Benedictine University women's basketball team led for over 34 minutes but could not hang on in dropping a late key conference contest at home to visiting Alverno College.

FINAL SCORE
Alverno 70, Benedictine 65

THE DETAILS
• Alverno opened the scoring before Benedictine responded with a 10-0 run
• Roxanna Gaddis tied the game with a layup and finished the run with another at the 5:30 mark to make the score 10-2
• Following a timeout, Alverno struck for five straight and clawed to within a single point at 15-14 as the first came to a close
• The second quarter saw Benedictine leading by just a point after two free throws with 4:37 left in the half
• Gaddis opened a 9-2 run and Venita Parsons finished the stretch with 2:26 to play, making the score 33-25
• Parsons splashed home a triple right before the half to make the lead 38-29 at the intermission
• D'Asia Williams extended the lead to double figures with a bucket to open the second half
• Benedictine again led by double figures with three minutes remaining in the third following a jumper from Williams
• Leading by six points entering the fourth, Benedictine hit three straight shots to open the final frame, seizing a 57-45 lead just over a minute into the quarter
• Alverno quickly drew within four at 57-53 by virtue of an 8-0 run
• The visitors continued the momentum, tying the game at 59 with a free throw at the 3:54 marker
• Georgia Alexakos countered with a layup to give Benedictine the lead for the final time at 61-60 with 3:36 left
• Six consecutive free throws from Alverno allowed the visitors to steal a win
• Alverno outscored Benedictine 27-16 in the fourth to clinch the final slot in the NACC Tournament

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine shot just 30 percent in the final 10 minutes, finishing the game at 36.8 percent
• Alverno scored 18 points at the free throw line, connecting on 18-of-26 attempts while Benedictine finished just 2-for-6 from the stripe
• Alverno held a 46-43 advantage on the glass and a 36-26 advantage in points in the paint
• Williams led Benedictine with 16 points while Parsons tacked on 11
• Alena Moro finished with eight points and 10 rebounds

UP NEXT
Benedictine (19-5, 15-4 NACC) closes the regular season schedule at home on Saturday against Lakeland. The winner of the contest will earn the second seed and a first round bye in the conference tournament.