LISLE, IL - The Benedictine University women's basketball team returned to the floor for the first time in 2022 and knocked down six threes in the first quarter to set the tone for a win over Aurora behind career performances.

FINAL SCORE
Benedictine 83, Aurora 76

THE DETAILS
• Aurora opened in a zone defense and Benedictine took advantage by hitting perimeter shots to set the tone
• Britney Pitzer and Claire Gibler hit three-pointers to open the contest as Benedictine led 6-0
• The visitors used a 9-0 run to move in front 13-10 before Benedictine countered with 11 in a row including three triples from Gibler and an Alex Fanning layup to grab a 21-13 edge in the final minute of the first
• Benedictine opened a 13-point advantage late in the first half at 39-26 but Aurora scored the final seven of the half to draw within 39-33 at the break
• Fanning opened the second half with a three-point play and was able to get involved more at the basket, scoring seven points during a 9-0 run as Benedictine jumped ahead 49-33 two minutes into the third
• Aurora countered with an 11-0 run to pull within five at 49-44 but Benedictine finished the quarter with five straight, four from Fanning, to lead 60-51 headed to the final 10 minutes
• Aurora continued to counter and pull within four but had no answer as Benedictine held on for the win

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine shot over 50 percent from the floor in three quarters, finishing the game at 50 percent
• Benedictine hit 11 threes in the contest with Pitzer connecting on six and Gibler four; The 11 threes were a season high and matched the combined total of the previous two contests
• Benedictine held a 40-35 edge on the glass and scored 15 second chance points while amassing 40 in the paint
• Fanning finished 12-for-18 from the floor for a career high 28 points, besting her previous total from her freshman year by one point
• Fanning also finished with 16 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, and added five blocks, five assists and three steals
• Gibler finished with 24 points in her fourth showing of 20+ points on the year
• Pitzer fell one point and three-pointer shy of her career best, totaling 22 points
• Hanna Piro dished out 10 assists

UP NEXT
Benedictine (6-6, 4-1 NACC) travels to St. Norbert on Saturday.