After a week layoff and facing a longtime rival, Fenwick coach Dave Power knew exactly what kind of battle his team was going to face against No. 15 Trinity.
Kristin Heidloff scored 19 points and Erin Lawless had 13 points and nine rebounds as the No. 3 Friars briefly watched Trinity flirt with an upset before finishing strong in a 67-60 win before a standing-room only crowd in Oak Park.
Despite turning the ball over 28 times, the Blazers (4-2) stuck with Fenwick throughout the contest. Trailing 33-26 at the half, Trinity went on a 14-7 run midway through the third and when Cristina Crispino connected on a three-pointer with 2:05 remaining in the quarter, the Blazers knotted the score 44-44.
Fenwick (6-0) answered almost immediately, closing the quarter on a 10-3 run to lead 54-47 heading into the fourth.
Turnovers cost Trinity in the final quarter as it committed 10, five in the first 3:16 as Fenwick pushed its lead to double digits.
Margaret Knap added 14 points and five rebounds while Elizabeth Marino came off the bench with 10 points.
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“This was a big game for us and we kept our composure when they made runs at us,” Power said. “And this was a game of runs all night.”
Crispino led Trinity with 15 points while Cara Johnson added 14 and freshman point guard Alison Sansone chipped in 13.
— Phil English
Mother McAuley 45, Regina 42
In a scrappy conference-opening battle that saw neither team shoot better than 30 percent from the field, sixth-ranked Mother McAuley prevailed over GCAC Red rival Regina in Wilmette.
“We aren’t the prettiest team you’ll ever see,” said Mighty Macs coach Rick Mundo, whose squad shot only 13-of-21 from the free-throw line. “But we are efficient. I think we’ve patented this furious last-minute finish the last three years.”
With the score tied 6-6 late in the opening quarter, Mother McAuley (4-0, 1-0) mounted a 10-0 run that ended with a pair of Amy Harmening free throws 1minute 41 seconds into the second quarter.
Despite missing 17 of 22 shots in the opening half, No. 11 Regina (5-2, 0-1) broke off a 12-0 run of its own thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Brittany Taylor-James to tie the game 20-20 at halftime.
On the strength of 50 percent shooting in the third quarter, the Mighty Macs built a 36-31 lead heading into the final period.
With leading scorer Christina Quaye hampered by foul trouble and 6-foot-2-inch center Jenna Markoff held to six points before fouling out early in the fourth quarter, Regina was unable overcome McAuley’s small but safe lead.
Jena Zientek led the Mighty Macs with 10 points while Harmening added nine points and nine rebounds. Taylor-James paced Regina with 13 points and Quaye finished with nine points.
— Jonathan Schoenberg
In other games:
Hinsdale Central 60, York 51: The No. 2 Red Devils (7-1, 2-0) slipped past No. 19 York in the West Suburban Silver behind Melanie Ploger, who netted 14 of her 17 points in the final quarter. Maggie Acuna and Morgan Kasperek each pitched in with 15 points for Central, while Krystal Hugelier led the Dukes (5-2, 1-1) with 16 points.
Naperville Central 61, Waubonsie Valley 26: Candace Parker collected 23 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and four steals to help the seventh-ranked Redhawks start the season at 8-0 for the first time in coach Andy Nussbaum’s 14-year tenure at the school.
Ellen Wood had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors (3-5), who were outscored 19-4 and 18-2 in the second and fourth quarters respectively.
Lake Zurich 43, Cary-Grove 34: Johanna Solverson’s 20 points paced the No. 12 Bears (3-0, 3-0) in the Fox Valley.
Benet 47, Nazareth 38: Jenny Callan led Benet in the East Suburban Catholic with 19 points. Chandra Smith added 11 points as the Redwings (5-4, 1-0) handed No. 14 Nazareth its first loss. Sarah McNicholas scored nine points for the Roadrunners (7-1, 0-1).
Carmel 74, Lane Tech 54: Christine Martinson and Megan Lick each scored 17 points as No. 18 Carmel (8-0) breezed in a non-conference game. Jenny Fuentes led Lane (5-2) with 12 points.
Waukegan 62, Elk Grove 48: Tanisha Jones and Kim Lang had 19 points each and Erika Sanchez added 13 points for No. 20 Waukegan (7-1) in the non-conference win.
Evergreen Park 58, Yorkville 51: Krystle Ross put in 22 points and Kara Corley added 15 points for the Mustangs (6-0, 3-0) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Francis Parker 42, Lake Forest Academy 32: Sarah Dickerson-Locke scored 13 points for the Colonels (5-4, 2-0) in the Independent School League.
Good Counsel 61, St. Scholastica 26: Jan Dillon and Amber Healy each scored 10 points for the Chargers (4-2).
Hinsdale South 71, Addison Trail 45: Gina Rocco scored 14 points as the Hornets (6-2, 1-0) cruised in the West Suburban Gold.
Hoffman Estates 62, Larkin 45: The Hawks (3-5) jumped out to a 37-18 halftime lead as Mandy Mennella finished with 24 points.
Kaneland 46, Ridgewood 43: Megan Wagner’s 14 points and Trina Kainz’s 12 points helped the Knights (3-3, 2-0) hold on in the Suburban Prairie White.
Lake Forest 51, Antioch 32: Katie Barr netted 19 points as Lake Forest (6-1, 1-0) rolled in the North Suburban Lake.
Lockport 54, Naperville North 51 (OT): Lockport (3-3) prevailed as Becca Eleiottscored 14 points and Meggan Lagiglia added 13 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 19 seconds left in overtime.
Luther North 56, Westminster Christian 52: Amanda Gucwa scored 14 points for the Wildcats (3-2, 1-0) in the Private North.
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Lyons 70, Downers Grove South 68: Jenny Vokral poured in 23 points for the Lions (4-3).
Maine South 51, Galesburg 43: Liz Bondi and Britt Luxton scored 16 points apiece to lift the Hawks (6-2). Anne Forde added 10 points while Luxton sank 6-of-6 free throws in the final quarter to hold off Galesburg, which trailed 44-43 with less than two minutes remaining.
Plainfield 54, Providence 42: Heather Furr scored 16 points for the Wildcats (5-4) and Karin Olson added 12 points, nine rebounds.
Proviso East 51, Morton 42: Latoya Thomas’ 11 points gave the Pirates (4-4, 1-1) the edge in the West Suburban Gold. Morton’s (1-6, 0-2) Deisy Mena led all scorers with 15 points.
Proviso West 43, Glenbard West 42: The Panthers (4-2, 1-1) used Arnise Harris’ 14 points and Blanca Gonzalez’s 12 points for the West Suburban Silver win.
St. Francis 66, Montini 50: Steph Tibble’s 19 points and 15 points each from Lisa Meindl and Emily Darin helped St. Francis (3-5, 1-0) in the Suburban Catholic. Lauren Treckler had 17 points for Montini (1-6, 0-1).
St. Francis de Sales 55, Grant Park 47: Gina Rose and Pam Loehrke scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Pioneers (7-2).
Streamwood 54, Wheaton North 41: Christina Mitchell scored 17 points to lead the Sabres (4-3).
Vernon Hills 50, Grant 33: Beth Plucinski collected 21 points, six steals and four assists to lead the Cougars in the North Suburban Prairie.
West Aurora 47, St. Charles East 40: Kelly Park scored 14 points to lead the Blackhawks (4-3).