The Hilltoppers remained undefeated, starting the season 8-0 and 3-0, with the team showing excellent defense led by Julia Benjamin and Lauren Escalante in their three wins last week against
On Nov. 28 Glenbard West traveled to Hinsdale Central and walked away with a convincing 58-41 victory in the conference opener.
The Hilltoppers were up 5-1 when Lauren Escalante snagged a pass out of the air showing they were ready on defense. Hinsdale Central tacked on another point but she had another steal and took it all the way to the basket to go up 7-2. The game was 7-4 and the strong defense continued, with Makenna Yeager swatting away a step back jumper near the three point line. They increased the lead to 11-4 and Escalante got her hand in for another steal. Glenbard West took a 14-7 lead, and then Ellie Noble got in on the defensive action with a blocked shot near the hoop.
In the second quarter, point guard Benjamin was open in the corner and hit a three to put the Hilltoppers up 19-9. They went up 24-13 on another three ball, this time by Yeager from the top of the arc. Benjamin was at it again from downtown, putting the Hilltoppers up 27-17 on her third make from deep.
The game was tight in the third quarter at 27-25, but Yeager struck again from long range with a three. They started to pull away on another three for Benjamin to go up 37-29 at the end of the third. In the fourth quarter it was a 48-36 game and Hinsdale Central was threatening near the hop to bring the game to single digits, but Noble blocked a shot on a driving Red Devil.
Glenbard West shot 36% and 38% from three, while the Red Devils shot 32% and only 11% from beyond the arc. The Hilltoppers led 36-30 in boards, 15-11 in assists and 8-7 in steals.
Benjamin led the way with 18 points, six boards, five assists and two steals.
On Nov. 30 the Hilltoppers had no problem handling the Oak Park-River Forest Huskies with a 46-19 win. Defense was the name of the game again, as Escalante and Benjamin each had four steals, while Hannah Roberts had two steals.
In the first quarter the Hilltoppers were down 4-2 with 5:30 left and the Escalante stole the ball, and dished off to Benjamin who hit the shot from deep to go up by one. On the next possession she hopped on another loose ball and won a foot race to the basket for a fast break score to go up 7-4.
By the second quarter it was a 19-4 lead, highlighted by a fast break score by Sydney Nimsakont who went hard to the basket and drew a foul while hitting the layup. Escalante hit a three from the top of the arc to go up 22-6, and with 3:10 left in the half Yeager scored on a fast break layup to go up 29-8. Mya Austin was open at the top of the key and nailed a three to put the Hilltippers up 32-8, which was the score at the end of two.
In the third quarter, Yeager scored on a fast break to go up 34-8. Escalante had a block in the third quarter, continuing her strong play on the defensive end. Madison Hunter also had a block. The lead kept increasing and it was 42-14 in the third quarter, and the Hilltoppers were able to cruise through the fourth quarter for the big win.
The Hilltoppers did not shoot well at 24% and 20 % from three, but they held the Huskies to 19% and 11% from three. They had a 44-33 rebound advantage, led 12-4 in assists, 17-7 in steals and 4-1 in blocks.
The Hilltoppers went on to beat Wheaton-Warrenville South 43-33 at the Crohn’s and Colitis Shootout, led by Benjamin’s 16 points, six rebounds four assists and two steals.
Wheaton-Warrenville South was up 4-2 with 4:35 left in the first quarter when Yeager made it a one point lead on a three from the corner. Glenbard West was up 9-8 Nimsakont hit a three from the top of the arc to go up by four. They were up 18-12 and Roberts showed off her defensive skills with a steal, quickly followed by an Escalante steal and a Benjamin steal with 1:50 left in the quarter and a 20-16 lead.
Fast forward to 5:50 left in the fourth quarter and it was a tight game, 28-23, but Nimsakont hit a three to go up by eight. They went up 35-24 on a Nimsakont fast break score with 4:10 left and were able to hold on for the win to remain undefeated at 8-0.
The Hilltoppers shot 33% and 15% from three, but they held the Tigers to 22% and 12%. Glenbard West led 32-25 in rebounds, 9-2 in assists and 11-8 in steals.
