Kennedy Benne scored nine points and became the latest Charger to join the 1,000-career point list as the Cliff took a 74-71 road victory against the RV Northwestern Red Raiders. She also recorded five steals in the contest.
Payton Slaughter had the hot hand in the first quarter, scoring 10 points and grabbed four rebounds. In a back-and-forth first period, the Red Raiders clung to a 18-14 lead with little over three minutes left to play. On the ensuing possession,
Rachel Langel grabbed an offensive board, who kicked it to Slaughter who buried the three to cut the lead within one. With 1:47 remaining, Langel found the bottom of the net off a layup to give BCU a 19-18 lead. Northwestern led 23-21 at the end of one, following a three ball from Akaysa Duitscher.
Midway through the second, Northwestern built a seven-point lead, their largest lead of the contest. A triple from
Maliah Kleinhesselink brought the contest within one possession with 3:16 left in the half. The Chargers took the lead with 51 seconds remaining following a steal from
Grace Flanagan and a basket from
Mallie McNair on the other end.
Northwestern opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run to regain a seven-point lead. The Cliff responded with their own 11-0 run capped by a Slaughter steal and going coast-to-coast for a layup. The Chargers led 58-54 with 4:36 in remaining in the third.
Konnor Sudmann scored a basket with 20 seconds remaining to give the Chargers a 64-62 lead heading into the final period.
In the final three minutes of regulation, both teams found themselves deadlocked at 71-71. Sudmann earned a tough and-one to BCU a 74-71 lead with 2:16 remaining. Both teams responded with stops for the remainder of the contest. The Red Raiders had one final possession with a chance to tie the game. On an inbounds play with one second remaining, Northwestern's Kaydin Davis came off a curl to the corner, but Sudmann who was sitting in a zone defending the paint, stepped out on the three and blocked the final shot attempt to preserve the 74-71 victory.
Slaughter led the charge, recording 15 points and five rebounds to go with two assists in the contest. Langel had a near double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Sudmann finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
The Chargers forced 20 turnovers in the contest.
Northwestern's Molly Schany scored a game-high 21 points and went 10-for-17 from the field in the effort.
The Cliff improves to 12-3 (7-2 GPAC) and will look to defend home court next Saturday, as they welcome in the visiting Broncos. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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