MADISON, Wis. - There's certainly no quit in the Edgewood College women's basketball team. On Saturday at the Todd Wehr Edgedome, the Eagles battled league leading Benedictine University toe-to-toe for three quarters, but ultimately the Eagles from Illinois pulled away for a 64-47 victory.

Edgewood College (2-6, 1-5 NACC) bounced back from a 21-13 first period deficit to tie the game by halftime. Allison Gordon had a big second quarter scoring a short jumper early and adding four free throws. The Eagles trailed 28-24 when Gordon went to the line with 31 seconds remaining before halftime. The freshman hit both of her free throws, and Sierra Jiran pulled down a defensive rebound on the other end. Rachel Pope then took Jiran's outlet pass and raced to the other end for a buzzer beating layup to tie the game at 28-28 at the break. The Eagles shot 47.6 percent in the first half, their best shooting half of the season to this point.

Edgewood College finally gained their first and only lead of the game in the third period. Pope scored a layup, and Jiran followed with a basket in the paint on the next possession for a 34-33 lead with 5:45 to play in the third period. However, Benedictine's DeKalyla Crayton, Nicole Botich and Venita Parsons all scored baskets on the next three possessions to put Benedictine (8-1, 5-0 NACC) back in front 39-34. Edgewood College would trim their lead back to two points twice more, but that was as close as they would get. Edgewood College shot just 3-for-13 in the fourth period and got to the free throw line only twice as Benedictine University pulled away for the win.

Pope and Jiran led Edgewood College with 14 points apiece. Pope also matched her career-high for the third time with nine rebounds. Gordon scored a career-high eight points. Edgewood College shot 35.3 percent for the game and went 8-for-10 at the free throw line.

Benedictine received a monster game from Botich who led all players with 21 points and 16 rebounds, including 13 boards on the offensive end. No other Benedictine players reached double figures in either category. Edgewood College did a nice job of forcing Benedictine to live at the three-point line as they shot just 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) as a team.

 Edgewood College will have a week free from games as final exams sets in campus. The Eagles will return to action at home on Saturday, December 19 against Wartburg College. Tip off time for the Eagles and Knights will be at 4:15 p.m.