The Benedictine University women's basketball team is off to one of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference's best starts, as both the Eagles and Marian University sit in a tie for first place at 4-0 in NACC contests. Before the Christmas holiday, BenU has two more conference games on the schedule, as the team will travel to Concordia University Chicago on Tuesday night and host Alverno College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Benedictine's performance in conference play has been impressive, outscoring teams by an average of 68.2-53.0 while shooting 45.1% from the field. Junior post Nicole Botich is emerging as one of the league's premier on-the-block players, nearly averaging a double-double in the four conference games (14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds). Meghan Novak (14.0 points) and Vincenza Ranallo (12.7 points) have averaged double-digits in scoring in the wins as well, with Novak also chipping in 4.2 assists per game.
  
The Concordia-Chicago Cougars struggled mightily last season, finishing just 2-23 overall and 2-18 in NACC contests. However, CUC appears much stronger this season, as the team has already doubled last season's overall win total (4-3) and have gone 3-2 in NACC play. The Cougars began the season 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, but have dropped the last two games (at Edgewood and at Marian). The Cougars have been a stingy team at home this season, going 4-1 and holding teams to 62.4 points per game.
 
One of the two NACC wins CUC captured last season came against BenU, as the Cougars won in River Forest 63-58. The Eagles and Cougars have split in each of the past three seasons, with each team winning its matchup at home. Novak, Vincenza Ranallo, and Alanna Ferry all scored in double-digits in BenU's 76-72 over Concordia-Chicago last December. Novak is averaging 11 points per game in six career contests against CUC.
  
Alverno has struggled to start the 2014-15 campaign after setting a school record for overall victories (19) and NACC victories (14) last season. The Inferno have managed just two wins in nine tries this season, defeating 1-7 Mount Mary University 67-50 and 0-9 Dominican University 63-51. Alverno will have a full week off before traveling to BenU.
 
Despite Alverno's success the last two seasons, the Eagles have controlled the series in recent years. BenU has won five straight matchups against the Inverno, as Alverno's last win over the Eagles came in Lisle during the 2010-11 season. Novak (11.6 points per game) and Vincenza Ranallo (10.2 points per game) have averaged double-digit points against the Inferno in five career matchups.