Coming off the first win of the season on Saturday, the Benedictine University women's basketball team takes on College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin school North Central College and Northern Athletics Conference foe Edgewood this week.

Saturday's win over Alverno came at a good time. It snapped a two-game losing streak after losses to Goshen and Monmouth, came against a NACC opponent, and gave the team a 1-0 start in conference play. In the 61-56 victory, junior Vincenza Ranallo led the team in points (15) and rebounds (nine). The St. Edward product leads the team in both categories, averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Also in the win, Alanna Ferry was able to use her speed off the bench and tally 13 points of her own.

The speed of Ranallo and Ferry may come in handy in Tuesday night's matchup, as BenU faces a North Central team on the road that plays a very up-tempo and hectic style of basketball. Playing a brand of basketball that's very similar to that of Grinnell College's men's team that's gained national attention, North Central has scored 113 and 123 points in two wins this season. However, the Cardinals were held to just 56 points in a 126-56 loss to Hope College on November 16.

In three games, North Central has taken 116 three-pointers compared to opponents taking just 31. That's because of NCC's shoot fast and press style, which will put Benedictine's press break and fast break abilities to the test. Last season, the Eagles fell to North Central 96-91 at home in a matchup that saw North Central attempt 60 three-pointers. Benedictine last defeated NCC 62-60 back in the 2011-2012 season behind 18 points from Michelle Gaede.

Edgewood, who is 0-4 to start the season after finishing 10-8 in conference play last year, awaits BenU on Saturday. The team has dropped non-conference games to Loras, Dubuque, and Wisconsin-Whitewater and a NACC game at Alverno, who Benedictine has already defeated. Despite the four losses, Edgewood is third in the NACC at 70.5 points per game. However, the team has allowed the second most points per game (82.8) and is tenth in three-point field goal percentage (26.8%).

Saturday's matchup against Edgewood puts BenU up against an opponent the team has struggled with over the past few seasons. Edgewood defeated Benedictine last season 63-46 at the Dan and Ada Rice Center, and BenU was held to just 34 percent shooting on the afternoon. BenU hasn't defeated Edgewood since the Paul Nelson era, when BenU defeated a conference-unbeaten Edgewood team 62-58 in the 2011 conference tournament.