The Aurora University women's basketball team took to Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium against the Eagles of Benedictine and the hard fought contest was worth the price of admission with the Spartans falling in a tightly played contest 60-53.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Benedictine University 60; Aurora University 53
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois – Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 2-14; 1-10 NACC; Benedictine University 13-3; 9-2 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter of the conference rivalry was a tough and close one with both teams holding a lead and the game was tied three times before the Eagles took a 14-12 lead into the second.
AU spread the ball around in the first with six different Spartans scoring.
In the second, Benedictine opened up an 11 point lead at 27-16 before the Spartans closed the quarter on a 6-1 run behind a pair of three's from Ally Van Bogaert.
The teams went into halftime with AU trailing 28-22.
AU opened up the third with a three from Sami Hultine and trailed 28-25.
The visiting Eagles then went on a 12-5 run to extend the lead to 10.
Heading into the fourth quarter, AU trailed BU by eight at 42-34.
Down double-digits, AU embarked on a 8-2 run and cut the deficit to four at 49-25 with 4:38 to play.
With 2:30 to go, AU trailed by four (53-49) after a lay-up from Adriana Ramirez.
BU was able to hit a three on the following possession after the Spartans played solid defense deep into the shot clock.
AU remained close and found themselves down five (58-53) with 35 seconds to play after a pair of free-throws from Allie Reichert.
Benedictine went two of four from the free throw line down the stretch as AU could not find the right scoring combo to answer in the final seconds and fell 60-53.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
Alyssa Brems led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Ally Van Bogaert had 10 points off the bench.
Adriana Ramirez scored eight points and recorded eight rebounds.
Allie Reichert had eight points and three assists.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Alyssa Brems (11) Ally Van Bogaert (10), Allie Reichert and Adriana Ramirez (8)
REBOUNDS: Alyssa Brems and Adriana Ramirez (8)
ASSISTS: Sami Hultine (5) and Allie Reichert (3)
STEALS: Alyssa Brems (3)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan women's basketball team comes on Saturday, January 21 when they host Marian University. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. on Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium.