AURORA, Ill. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team outscored Aurora University, 17-2, in the first quarter of Wednesday's NACC contest. The Eagles strong defense secured a 69-62 win over the Spartans. Vivian Guerrero notched her seventh double-double of the season, while Eden Bonser led the Eagles with 17 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first four minutes of action were scoreless in Thornton Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. Once the Eagles got rolling, there was no stopping their momentum. Edgewood College (11-7, 8-3 NACC) scored 16 unanswered points and held Aurora University (15-3, 9-2 NACC) 0-for-18 from the floor. The Spartans only points of the quarter came via free throws. The Eagles took a dominant 17-2 advantage into the second quarter.
- The Eagles largest lead of the contest came via a jumper from Guerrero with 6:15 on the clock in the second quarter. Edgewood College led Aurora 23-6 early on in the second quarter. Aurora recorded their best shooting percentage of the game, 44.44 percent (8-of-18) in the second quarter and reduced the Eagles lead to just nine points (31-22) at halftime.
- Coming out of the break, Edgewood College recorded their best shooting of the night. The Eagles knocked down 19 points in the third quarter and shot 47.37 percent (9-for-19) from the floor. Unfortunately, the Spartans added 23 points and continued to chip away at the Eagles lead. Aurora would go on a 9-0 run to end the quarter, as the Eagles led by five points (50-45) going into the final 10 minutes of action.
- The final quarter saw a total of six made three-pointers from both teams combined. Paige Banks began the quarter by sinking one from beyond the arc. Just one minute later, Gabrielle Wolff responded with a three-pointer of her own. Edgewood College would hold on for the victory, going on an 8-3 scoring run through the final four minutes.
- Four Eagles scored in double-figures on the evening. Bonser led the Eagles with 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting from the floor and 3-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Guerrero added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. The sophomore also dished out a team-best six assists. Kallie Norby recorded 12 points, while Paige Banks added 11 points.
- The Eagles and Spartans were almost level in the rebounding game. Edgewood College earned the edge 47-45. Both teams played the boards quite differently, as the Eagles dominated defensively. Aurora pulled down 20 offensive rebounds. Guerrero led the Eagles in rebounding, pulling down 14.
- The Eagles defense held the Spartans to just a 29.7 shooting percentage (22-of-74) from the floor and 16.7 percent (6-of-36) from beyond the arc.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Since January 8th, the Eagles have led Division III in defensive rebounds per game. The Eagles continued to rebound well, pulling down a total of 47, 34 of which came on the defensive side of the ball.
- Guerrero pulled down 14 rebounds on the evening. Prior to Wednesday's win, she ranked eighth in Division III with 8.6 defensive rebounds per game.
- The Eagles held the Spartans to just two points in the first quarter. The last time Edgewood College allowed two or less points in a quarter was against Illinois Tech on February 19, 2022. Against the Scarlet Hawks, the Eagles did not allow any points in the third quarter.
THE OPPOSITION
- Kylie Fischbach and Eliot Dojutrek led the Spartans with 11 points each. Selena Vargas pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds, while also recording three steals and two blocks. Sam Barrett dished out a team-best six assists.
UP NEXT
- Edgewood College will return home to host MSOE on Saturday. The Eagles will play the second half of a men's/women's doubleheader. Action is set to begin at 4:15 p.m. in the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
