The Candor

Issue date: 2/16/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Marcus Pass Jen Bren and her team celebrate after a NAC berth.

Nearly one month ago, the Benedictine University women's basketball team was leaving Milwaukee on the short end of a three-point loss to conference opponent, Wisconsin Lutheran College.

While the point differential may have only been three in the first meeting between teams,Benedictine was able to give the Warriors a dose of their own medicine, winning 64-62 Saturday afternoon in a decisive Northern Athletics Conference match-up.

Coming into Saturday's action having won six of their last eight games, the Lady Eagles shined in what was a memorable afternoon for the senior basketball players at BU.

Not only was Saturday's victory rewarding for the three seniors who partook in Senior Day, but the win also helped the Lady Eagles clinch a spot in the NAC Tournament - a tournament in which Benedictine previously served as the seventh-seed in 2009 and eighth-seed in 2008.

Although the Lady Eagles faced an eight-point deficit at the break, (32-24), they would go on to outscore the Warriors, 40-30 in the second half to earn the victory.

In a game that featured six ties and eight lead changes, Benedictine was able to take advantage of a 47 percent second-half field goal percentage, while also forcing 16 WLC turnovers on the defensive end.

The Lady Eagles were sparked by the sharp shooting of sophomore guard Tracey Walsh, who led Benedictine with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and was one of three Lady Eagles to finish in double-digit scoring.

Walsh also supplied a team-high four assists to go with four rebounds.

While Saturday's bout with Wisconsin Lutheran was nothing short of exhilarating, the game was highlighted by a dramatic game-changing call which benefited Benedictine.

With two seconds remaining, WLC's Erika Laete was charged with a foul, thus sending Walsh to the line for two free-throws.
Although she had not shot a free-throw in the entire game, Walsh would convert both to secure the Eagles' victory.

"I wasn't nervous, but I just felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders," said Walsh.
"We almost beat Wisconsin Lutheran the first time we played them, but lost by three. It was a huge win to beat the division leader."

Continued...

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