Alverno College

LISLE, Ill. – The Alverno basketball team continued its longest road trip from the season with a visit to the Benedictine Eagles on Wednesday evening, falling to one of the league's top teams in the Benedictine Eagles at the Rice Center by the score of 79-49.
 
Alverno held with the Eagles in the first quarter, trailing by a 17-14 margin after the first 10 minutes before Benedictine pulled away in the second quarter to take a 39-22 lead at the halftime break and adding to its lead in the second half.
 
The Inferno were led by junior Alicia Hornbuckle, who notched 15 points with nine of those coming from the free throw line. Hornbuckle also led the team with seven rebounds, while adding three assists. Freshman Eniya Madden also reached double figures in scoring with 13 points as she led the team with four assists and four steals.
 
Senior Sara Redlin knocked down three three-pointers for nine points on the night, while rookie Keeshya Bellows picked up eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. Juniors Dom Hudson and Mikayla Tessay each had a bucket with Hudson adding two rebounds and Tessay picking up three. Sophomore Brittney Hondel had three rebounds, while rookie Angie Reutgen also had three rebounds and added one steal.
 
Alverno connected on the first shot of the game before the Eagles scored the next four points. Alverno tied the game at both four and six before Benedictine took a seven-point lead at 13-6. Redlin followed with back-to-back three pointers as the Inferno pulled back within one at 13-12 with 3:52 to go in the opening stanza.
 
Benedictine scored four of the final six points in the opening quarter and led 17-14 heading into the second quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Benedictine went on a scoring output of 13-1 to take a 30-15 advantage with 3:17 to go in the half. Alverno cut the margin back down to 12 on a pair of free throws by Madden before Benedictine took a 17-point lead into the break.
 
The second half was a continuation of the second quarter as Benedictine took a large lead before the Inferno closed out the game on a 10-2 run but it was not enough as the Eagles emerged with the win.
 
Alverno (2-10, 2-5 NACC) will wrap-up its three-game roadtrip to open 2020 with a visit to Lakeland on Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip against the Muskies at the Woltzen Gymnasium.