MILWAUKEE, WIS. – On Saturday evening, the Concordia University Chicago women's basketball team extinguished the Alverno Inferno 85-50, bringing them to 4-0 in conference play. This is the first time the Cougars have opened the season 4-0 in conference since the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference was created in 2006.
Inside the Box
- Katherine Benes (Oconomowoc, Wis.) led the Cougars with 31 points, bringing her to eight straight games scoring in double-digits.
- Melia Perry (Plainfield, Ill.) followed behind Benes grabbing 18 on the night, her third highest of the season.
- Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park, Ill.) led the battle of the boards grabbing ten rebounds.
With the Inferno striking first, the Cougars kicked things into high gear to get themselves back in their usual cycle. Without missing a beat Benes found some heat and picked up the first 17 points for the Cougars.
In case there was any doubt about what Kate Benes likes to do…
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
The correct answer is shoot ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CJJAqOXh65
Oh yeah, we forgot to mention Benes can rebound too ���� pic.twitter.com/Spm1trM2Aw
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
Breaking Benes's 17 point scoring run, senior Jada Dixon (Gary, Ind.) joined the party as she picked up her first two points on the night as the Cougars extended their lead to five.
Ja-DUH she's gonna get that rebound ��
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
Dixon joins the party with her first points of the night pic.twitter.com/L8dPodlAIN
Between the close of the first quarter and the start of the second the Cougars went on a 17-0 run to further extend their lead by 20. With buckets from Benes, Jaylene Wade (Lansing, Ill.), and Mckayley Hopkins (St. Louis, Mo.) the Cougars closed the first half 45-26.
Oh hey Jaylene, guess they didn't see you there �� pic.twitter.com/n02t4qamDn
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
After grabbing the lead early in the first, it was all gas and no brakes for the Cougars as they only continued to heat up throughout the second half. An energy-boosting and-one from Alexis Desjarlait (Red Lake, Minn.) kept things on the right track.
COUNT IT FROM DESJARLAIT pic.twitter.com/r2q9OduNLS
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
Late in the game the Cougars felt the impact of senior Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.) who returned to the court and put up her signature mid-range jumper along with picking up a pair of rebounds. With one final shot of the game, senior Madelyn McGrath (Oak Lawn, Ill.) found the net as she secured the final points in the 85-50 win.
She's baaaaaaaaack �� pic.twitter.com/0BrQm3vebO
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
Maddy McGrath says "don't leave me out!" as she picks up a three of her own �� pic.twitter.com/GA1TM8mp3i
— CUC Women's Basketball (@CUCWBball) December 4, 2022
The Cougars return to the floor next Saturday where they come back home to continue NACC play against Marian University. The anticipated 4:15 tip-off follows the conclusion of the Men's Basketball game marking the first double-header inside of Geiseman for the 2022-23 season. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage while all things Women's Basketball can be found on Twitter and Instagram @CUCWbball.