MILWAUKEE -- The visiting Benedictine University Eagles made four free throws in the final 36 seconds and secured a 52-49 victory over the Alverno College Inferno tonight in Reiman Gymnasium.
The Inferno (5-14, 2-11 Northern Athletics Conference) had an opportunity to tie the game with 3.7 seconds remaining, as Alyssa Jensen (Cudahy, Wis.) was fouled by the Eagles' Tracey Walsh. Jensen (7 points, 5 rebounds) made the first of two to pull the Inferno within one, 50-49, but her second free-throw attempt rimmed out and the Eagles' Michelle Gaede secured the rebound and was fouled with 1.3 seconds to go.
Gaede sunk her pair of free throws to put her team up three, and the Inferno did not get off a shot attempt before the final horn sounded.
Early in the second half the Inferno led by nine points, 32-23, but was held scoreless for over 8 minutes as the Eagles (7-12, 4-8 NAC) used a 13-0 run during that span for a four-point lead, which it never relinquished.
Alverno tied up the game, 40-40, with 5:16 to play, but three consecutive turnovers, and five turnovers on the next six possessions, prevented the host from pulling in front.
Though the Inferno outrebounded the Eagles 41-27, including 19-4 on the offensive glass, the team shot a meager 28 percent from the floor and committed 25 turnovers en route to its sixth-straight loss.
Benedictine shot 41 percent from the field, including over 45 percent from the 3-point arc, and outscored the Inferno 22-19 on points off turnovers, the difference in the final score.
Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) led the Inferno with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Anna Boteva (La Crosse, Wis./Central) added 10 points.
Gaede led the Eagles with a game-high 14 points and Walsh added 12.
Alverno, who could be eliminated from making the NAC Tournament with a loss or Marian University win, face Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday up in Mequon, Wis. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
