The Aurora University women's basketball team took the court in Thornton Gymnasium on Tuesday night, as the number four seed Spartans faced the number five seed Eagles of Benedictine University in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament. Each team went back-and-forth in a game that saw AU recover after an early first quarter deficit to force overtime with the Eagles, who eventually took down the Spartans by a score of 82-72.


FINAL SCORE: Benedictine University 82, Aurora University 72 - overtime
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 17-8 overall and 11-5 in the NACC; Benedictine University 15-11 and 10-6 in the NACC


- The Eagles started the contest on an 8-0 scoring run just under three minutes into the contest.
- Danielle Antoine scored four-straight points for AU to keep them within single digits of the Eagles, who held a 13-6 lead after one quarter of play.
- AU came out a different team in the second quarter, starting the frame on an 11-0 scoring run to lead 17-13.
- Krystyna Manzanarez drained two three-pointers during that run for the Spartans.
- Manzanarez took another one to the rim to re-give AU a 21-20 lead with 4:23 remaining in the first-half.
- Alina Anderson finished at the rim with four seconds remaining in the half to make the score 28-26 in favor of the Eagles going into the halftime break.
- AU shot 67% in that second quarter to keep pace with Benedictine, outscoring the visitors 20-15 in the second.
- Each side went a little cold from the field to begin a lower scoring third quarter, as the Eagles held a 34-30 lead about halfway through the frame.
- In the Spartans final possession of the third, Antione finished one at the basket to make it 42-39 in favor of Benedictine going into the fourth.
- Back-to-back baskets from Riley Doggett to open up the fourth tied the game at 42.
- With 6:52 to go, Doggett buried a three to give the Spartans a 52-44 lead.
- Benedictine followed with a 10-4 run, as AU's lead was cut 56-54 with 2:50 left.
- The Eagles converted a basket with just over a second remaining, tying the score at 61 and sending the game into overtime.
- AU was outscored 21-11 in the overtime period and fell to Benedictine 82-72.


Points: Krystyna Manzanarez (23), Riley Doggett (14) and Kylie Fischbach (11)
Assists: Selena Vargas (8)
Rebounds: Selena Vargas (11), Riley Doggett (7) and Alina Anderson (6)
Steals: Krystyna Manzanarez (4) and Riley Doggett (3)
Blocks: Riley Doggett (3), Kamryn Bullock and Jennifer Heinberg (1)
 

The Spartans finish the 2024-2025 season with a 17-8 overall record and finished fourth in the NACC with an 11-5 record.