MILWAUKEE -- Visiting Benedictine University handed Alverno College a 73-66 loss tonight, the Inferno's first defeat in Reiman Gymnasium in nearly a year, and first this season.

Prior to tonight, Alverno (12-7, 9-5 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference) was a perfect 8-0 at home and had not suffered a home defeat since last season's Feb. 2, 2013, loss to Wisconsin Lutheran College. It also marked just the second time this season the Inferno has suffered consecutive losses.

After a Mollie Mikyska tip-in pulled the Inferno within one point of the Eagles at 17-16, the visitors closed out the final 7 minutes of the half with a 24-8 run for a 17-point halftime spread.

Although Alverno made 5-of-6 free throws in the opening period, the team shot just 29 percent from the field, while Benedictine (8-10, 8-5 NACC) made a blistering 61 percent of its first-half shots.

A promising start to the second half cut the Eagles' lead nearly in half after 6 minutes of play, but the eight-point Benedictine advantage quickly swelled up to 16 over the next 4 minutes.

The Eagles stayed ahead by double-digits until an Ashley Berry jumper with under a minute to play put the Inferno's deficit to just nine points. A Devon Gorman 3-pointer with 19 ticks left made it a two-possession game, 71-66, but the Eagles made a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to put the game out of the Inferno's reach.

Jamie Hoernke, who made all seven of her free-throw attempts, led all scorers with 21 points and all rebounders with nine boards. Gorman added 20 points and eight rebounds, Berry added 11 points and eight rebounds and Kristen Speerschneider dished out a game-high six assists for the Inferno.

Meghan Novak led a balanced Benedictine attack with 15 points, Michelle Batty and Briana Hamilton scored 11 apiece and Sierra Dunner added 10.

Alverno heads crosstown to Wisconsin Lutheran on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Warriors have won 13-straight games, having not lost since the Inferno's 73-70 triumph on Nov. 30.