LISLE, Ill. - Meghan Novak became just the seventh player in program history to surpass the 1,000-point marker as the Benedictine University women's basketball team survived a home test from Aurora on Tuesday night with a 52-48 win, the 10th of the season in conference play.
Benedictine appeared in position to run away with the contest early, scoring the first eight points of the game.
Briana Hamilton capped the early offense with a jumper at the 15:02 mark. Aurora struck with eight consecutive points to even the score just before the mid-point of the half and start a back-and-forth night. The visitors led 18-13 with 4:43 left in the first but did not score again as Benedictine closed on an 8-0 run. The last three points of the half came on a three-pointer from Novak with 1:23 to go, putting the senior in exclusive company while allowing the Eagles to open a 21-18 lead. Tracey Walsh was the last player to reach 1,000 points, achieving the mark in the 2011-12 season. Both teams shot under 30 percent in the opening 20 minutes of action.
Aurora came from five points behind early in the second half to open a 26-25 lead. Trailing 30-29, Novak connected on a jumper to hand Benedictine a 31-30 edge with 13:36 left. The basket was part of a 6-0 spurt. The Eagles led by as many as six points but could not put the game away. Aurora battled to within 47-45 with just over four minutes left. The visitors were within a single point with 1:12 to go and had several chances to tie the game. Two free throws from Novak sealed the decision, a fourth in a row for Benedictine.
The contest featured six ties and six lead changes. Benedictine finished the game shooting 30.6 percent from the floor and held a 44-39 edge on the glass. Novak paced the Eagles with 15 points, knocking down three trifectas.
Vincenza Ranallo also reached double digits with 12.
DeKayla Crayton grabbed 12 rebounds.
Benedictine (10-6, 10-1 NACC) remains tied with Wisconsin Lutheran for first in the conference and will host Wisconsin Lutheran on Saturday afternoon.
