The Benedictine University women's basketball team has advanced to the semifinal round of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament. On Wednesday night, the second seeded Eagles will host Milwaukee School of Engineering at the Dan and Ada Rice Center at 7:00 p.m.
 
BenU advanced to the semifinals with a 78-66 win over seventh-seeded Lakeland College in the tournament's opening round on Saturday. Benedictine led by as much as 15 in the first half and by 12 at halftime, but the Muskies fought back to tie the game with 13:42 left in the second half. However, the Eagles would slowly build the lead back up, never allowing Lakeland to pull ahead en route to the 12-point victory.
 
For the game, the Eagles shot 51.2% from the floor and held the Muskies to just 37.5%. BenU also outrebounded Lakeland 42-27. Sophomore forward DeKayla Crayton had one of her best games of the season, scoring a season-high 19 points and pulling down nine rebounds in just 24 minutes off the bench. Senior guard Meghan Novak led BenU with 20 points, and freshman guard Shannon Ryan recorded her second straight double-digit scoring game with 13 bench points.
 
Milwaukee School of Engineering, the tournament's third seed, won its quarterfinal matchup in convincing fashion and gave the program its second-ever NACC Tournament victory. MSOE led by just six at halftime, but opened up a 25-point lead in the second half and ended up on top 72-48. Sophomore forward Holly Denfeld put together one of the best games out of anyone in the NACC all season, scoring 31 points with 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocked shots. Junior guard Megan Kroll also recorded a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
 
This season has been one of MSOE's best in recent memory, as the team has compiled a 20-6 overall record and comes into Wednesday night's game winning eight out of the last nine games. Denfeld has been one of the NACC's top players, averaging 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. A pair of guards, sophomore Shaylan Reardon (14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds per game) and Kroll (10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.5 steals per game), present a tough matchup for the Eagles backcourt as well.
 
To no surprise, the Eagles and Raiders had two competitive matchups this season, splitting the games. In Milwaukee on January 14, the Eagles led 28-9 at halftime, but the Raiders put together a strong second half. However, the Eagles would hold strong to win 58-46. Novak tallied 20 points, while junior forward Nicole Botich recorded a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds).
 
On February 7, the Raiders defeated Benedictine 70-61 in Lisle to even the season series. BenU took a lead into halftime once again, but MSOE's second half would propel the team to victory this time. Outscoring Benedictine 45-31 in the second half, the Raiders shot 54.4% from the floor in the final 20 minutes and received 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting from sophomore guard Margaret Pugh. Novak led Benedictine with 22 points.
 
Wednesday's game will be streamed live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/benu/,  with live stats also provided. Mark Vasko and Luke Stanczyk will be on the call. The winner of Wednesday's game will face the winner of the top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College and fifth-seeded Concordia University Chicago, with highest remaining seed hosting the NACC Tournament Championship game on Saturday.