The Benet Academy girls’ basketball season is underway with the Redwings competing in the Naperville Central Tip-Off Tournament, and after a tough season opening loss to Batavia, the Redwings have won three of the last four to start 3-2.

Batavia 76, Benet Academy 48

Benet Academy struggled shooting the ball to start the season and took a 76-48 loss to the Bulldogs at home to start the tournament on Nov. 17.

In the first quarter Emma Briggs showed her defensive skills on a blocked shot with no score in the game. Emilia Sularski put the Redwings on the board first about a minute into action on a three. On the next Batavia possession, Bridget Rifenburg swatted away a shot and it was looking like Benet Academy was coming out ready to play. Tied 3-3, Sularski hit her second three of the night to give the Redwings a 6-3 lead. Batavia battled back and had an 11-9 lead, and while they were trying to extend the lead further, Shannon Early stepped up with a big block.

In the second quarter, Rifenburg stole a pass and took it to the hoop to make it a 13-12 game in favor of the Bulldogs. Rifenburg continued her strong defense, blocking a three point attempt to keep it a one point game. However, the Bulldogs had a 35-22 lead at the half.

Fast forward the fourth quarter and Batavia had a 64-36 lead, but Harzich hit a three pointer. Sularski nailed a three to cut the lead to 64-43, and Kieran Moran nailed a three to make it 73-46. But the deficit was too great and Batavia cruised to an easy opening day win.

Benet Academy was held to 29% shooting and 22% from three. They did lead in rebounding 43-31.The Bulldogs were led by Brooke Carlson, who lit it up with 29 points, six assists and four boards.

Benet Academy 59, Homewood-Flossmoor 58

On Nov. 18 the Redwings faced Homewood-Flossmoor and got back into the winning column with a tight 59-58 win over the Vikings. 

Maggie Sularski put the Redwings up 3-2 on a three pointer from the corner and then it was all Benet Academy in the opening frame. Emilia Sularski drained a corner three to put the Redwings up 13-4 and Lindsay Harzich nailed a three as the Redwings jumped out to a 21-4 first quarter lead. In the second quarter Harzich sank another from downtown to go up 30-9.

Homewood-Flossmoor did battle back cutting the lead to 45-38 in the third quarter, and while they were making a comeback push, Bridget Rifenburg had other ideas on a rejection near the basket. Benet Academy trailed by one with the clock winding down, but Briggs was fouled and got to the line for two free throws. She sank both and the Redwings walked away with a key win.

Harzich and Aunyai Deere each hit a pair of three pointers for the Redwings. Maggie Sularski and Rifenburg had had three steals in the win. Rifenburg also had a block. Briggs recorded a block and Shannon Early had a steal in the game, as well.

The Redwings shot 35% and 22% from three, while making 79% of their free throws. They had a 44-27 rebound advantage, and also led 2-1 in blocks. On the night the Redwings had eight assists and eight steals, while Homewood-Flossmoor had 10 for each category respectively.

Benet Academy 71, Oswego 28

Benet Academy made it back-to-back wins in the tournament with a blowout 71-28 victory over the Oswego Panthers.

It was all Benet Academy right out of the gate. Emilia Sularski hit a three to start the game, and then Briggs stole a pass and hit a pull up jumper to go up 5-0. The scoring onslaught continued with Harzich draining a three to go up 8-0. Sularski hit her second three of the game to make it a 13-4 game, and then Aria Mazza sank a three to go up 23-4. Sularski scored on a fast break coming off a steal to go up 25-4.

In the second quarter, Harzich nailed a three to go up 30-8, and by the third quarter it was a 49-12 game when Sularski scored on a fast break layup. In the fourth quarter the game was far out of reach, and Kate Pohodich stepped in front of a pass and scored on a fast break to put them up 68-25. Benet Academy walked away with an easy victory to get up above .500.

The Redwings shot 45% and 38% from three, while holding Oswego to 18% and 25% from three. They led 39-25 in boards, 11-5 in assists and 14-6 in steals.

Kenwood 58, Benet Academy 42

Kenwood was led by Ariella Henigan’s 23 points and Diann Jackson’s double/double (11 points, 10 boards) to take a 58-42 win over Benet Academy on Nov. 24

Kenwood held Benet Academy to only 31% shooting with 16% from three, while shooting 43% and 25% from three. They had a huge rebounding advantage at 40-24, and Kenwood also led 13-9 in assists.

Benet Academy 80, Naperville Central 44

On Nov. 25 Benet Academy closed out the tournament on a high note with its third win in four games, taking an 80-44 victory to give them a 3-2 record in the early stages of the season. 

Emilia Sularski sank a three from the top of the key to go up 3-0, but Naperville came back and it was a 7-7 game. Harzich broke the tie with a steal that led to her sinking a three to go up 10-7. It was knotted at 10-10 when Sularski broke the tie on a three making it a 13-10 game. Ava Thomas scored on a fast break coming off a Sularski steal to go up 18-13. Maggie Sularski got in on the action with a fast break score to go up 20-13, and then in she made it 25-13 on a three. Emilia Sularski sank a three to go up 34-18 and the Redwings were officially taking off. Harzich drained a three at the buzzer to take a 47-23 halftime lead.

The second half was all Benet Academy and they took the east 44 point victory. They shot 54% as a team and 43% from three point land. The Redwings led 28-24 in boards, 19-7 in assists and 11-6 in steals. Naperville Central was held to 32% and 31% from downtown.