It was just another typical third-quarter performance for Neuqua Valley on Thursday.
The Wildcats (11-3) erupted for 28 points in the period–19 straight in the first 4 minutes 34 seconds–on the way to a 58-49 victory over Benet in the Benet-Naperville North tournament.
“Our third quarters are usually explosive,” said Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams after the championship-round victory in the round-robin tournament. “We usually come out and go on a 14-0 run or 14-2 run–something to stifle the other team.”
Neuqua Valley’s third-quarter surge actually started with a defensive adjustment.
Benet senior Jordan Wilson had penetrated almost at will during the first half as she scored 12 points. But Neuqua Valley stopped Wilson cold on two early inside plays and she didn’t score again until 1:39 remained in the quarter.
On offense, the Wildcats set a blistering pace as guard Jen Siljendahl scored 10 points in the run, including Neuqua Valley’s first seven, on the way to a team-high 17 points.
Senior guard Karly Chesko had 14 points, including three three-pointers, while sophomore center Lindsay Wisdom added 13.
Wilson finished with 22 points as Benet’s six-game winning streak ended. Jenny Callan had 10 for the Redwings (12-7).
In Thursday’s second game, defense was critical for No. 16 York (12-2) in a 43-36 win over Wheaton-Warrenville South.
“Our offense wasn’t there tonight,” York coach Paul Pokryfke said. “That’s the last time I give them Christmas off. But we’re still undefeated [in the tourney].”
Junior guard Krystal Hugelier led the Dukes with 14 points, including six in the final quarter. Hillary Samek had 10 points for the Tigers (6-8).
Jack McCarthy.
Hillcrest: Missy Mitidiero scored 17 points and Lauren Lacey added 14 as third-ranked Marian Catholic (13-0) cruised past Oak Forest 53-24 in one quarterfinal. . . . No. 9 Hillcrest (9-1) rolled past Thornwood (6-8) 54-36 behind 16 points from Janelle Hughes and 13 from Nadia Bibbs. . . . Erika Nelson and Jill Keresztes each scored 12 points as Sandburg defeated Homewood-Flossmoor 46-36. . . . Rachel Reed hit two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining to give Rich South (11-3) a 40-39 quarterfinal victory over Stagg (10-3). Reed finished with 10 points, while Heather King led Stagg with 19.
Peoria Manual: Tiffany Sardin scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds as No. 5 Marshall blew out Danville 53-28. . . . Shuntae Roberison had 17 points and five assists to go with Kristin Moore’s 12 points and 10 rebounds as No. 10 Hope defeated East St. Louis 53-40. . . . Moore had 19 points as Hope knocked off Springfield Lanphier 59-39 in its second game of the day.
Wheaton North: No. 6 Hinsdale Central (14-1) started the game on a 13-0 run and rolled past Palatine 55-26 behind 12 points from Melanie Ploger and 10 from Morgan Kasparek. . . . With her team trailing by two with 5:20 remaining in the game, Willowbrook’s Molly Coleman had a steal and scored on a layup to spark the No. 17 Warriors (14-0) on a 12-0 run in their 54-42 win over Hersey. Meri Niehaus had four three-pointers and finished with 15 points and Heather Wojdyla added 13 for Willowbrook. Michele Westerkamp led Hersey with 17 points. . . . Steph Tibble scored 12 points to lead St. Francis over Waubonsie Valley 49-39. Carllie Janowiak scored 13 for the Warriors. . . . Meghan Slade-Smith poured in 23 points as Downers Grove North knocked off the host Falcons 52-29. . . . Elk Grove downed Lincoln-Way Central 46-43 behind 18 points from Danielle Farrell. Colleen Persic had 13 for the Knights. . . . Molly Sedarski scored seven of St. Charles East’s 10 overtime points and finished with 11 as the Saints (4-7) beat Schaumburg (3-9) 57-54. Rachel Selcke had 18 for the Saints. . . . West Aurora (8-5) overcame a 21-8 run by Glenbrook South in the fourth quarter to hold off the Titans 69-64. Kelly Park had 17 points and Sharkisha James added 16 for West Aurora. Pam Findlay led Glenbrook South (8-6) with 25. . . . Elgin (11-3) defeated Lyons 49-43 in overtime behind 27 points from Katie Grens.
Mother McAuley: Amy Harmening scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Lauren Levine chipped in with 10 points as the eighth-ranked Mighty Macs beat St. Benedict 78-52. . . . Levine tallied 14 points in Mother McAuley’s (10-1) second game of the day, an 89-65 victory over Hyde Park. Dominique Headd had 25 for Hyde Park. . . . Tiffany Terwelt and Lindsey Rogers scored 16 points and 13 points, respectively, as Quincy (6-9) defeated Immaculate Heart of Mary 56-31.
Chicagoland Challenge: Johanna Solverson scored 23 points to lead 11th-ranked Lake Zurich (11-0) to a 44-31 victory over Maine South (12-5). Maine South’s Liz Bondi was held to just six points. . . . Lauren Horan scored 16 points to lead Vernon Hills past Lake Park 55-49. . . . Vanessa Zavala had 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to propel Maria to a 60-28 victory over Fenton. . . . Heather Mansour scored 21 of her 25 points in the second half during Downers Grove South’s 43-39 victory over Loyola.
St. Viator: Caprice Smith scored 21 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked eight shots to lead No. 12 Trinity (12-2) to a 62-37 victory over Bartlett (8-5). Christina Crispino added 15 points for Trinity, all on three-point field goals, while Alison Sansone had 10 assists. . . . Lauren Griebel’s 18 points led St. Viator (8-4) to a 65-25 shellacking of St. Charles North. . . . Kris Younan scored 25 in Leyden’s 61-47 victory over Wheeling.
Warren: No. 13 Carmel beat Grayslake 69-51 behind 16 points from Jenny Eckhart. . . . Amy Peters paced the host Blue Devils with 22 points in their 69-51 win over Waukegan. . . . In Grayslake’s second game of the day, Kayla Ming hit four three-pointers and finished with 25 points as the Rams won 59-56 over Lake Forest (10-5). . . . Deerfield (9-6) downed Waukegan 47-42 behind Erin Greeter’s 18 points. . . . Amy Peters’ layup with 1:12 remaining in the game put Warren up for good in the Blue Devils’ (11-5) 51-46 upset over Carmel (15-2). Peters finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.
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Morton: Heather VanHoegarden scored 20 points as No. 19 Hinsdale South (13-3) defeated Argo 40-31.
Maine East/Niles North: No. 20 Niles North defeated Rolling Meadows 74-40 behind 20 points from Natasha Williams. . . . In its second game, Niles North handled Marian Central 77-31 as Catherine Moody tallied 16 points.
Bloom: Richards overwhelmed Eisenhower 71-25 as C.J. Blinstrup scored 13 points.
Dixon: Stephanie Castro’s layup with 6 seconds remaining in overtime gave St. Francis de Sales a 72-71 win over Rock Island. Castro finished with 13 points and Gina Rose had 35 for the Pioneers (11-4).
Lisle: Erika Buchholz hit four three-point field goals, finishing with 12 points, as Lisle (9-5) topped Immaculate Conception 35-27. . . . Alicia Groenendal’s 15 points led Chicago Christian past Montini 54-42. . . . Barbie Heerdt scored 13 as Timothy Christian cruised past Westmont 64-31.
Luther South: Tiyanna Mays had 30 points to lead Luther South (2-9) past Our Lady of Tepeyac 57-37.
Mother Guerin: Notre Dame (8-6) defeated Willows 51-44 behind Jennifer Davis’s 22 points. . . . Jan Dillon had 18 points in Good Counsel’s 56-46 victory over Elmwood Park. . . . Natalie Torres scored 12 points in Mother Guerin’s 47-41 win over St. Scholastica.
St. Ignatius: Nazareth (12-4) rolled past Chicago Latin (10-6) 61-36 behind 14 points from Jenny Stinich. . . . Siobhan Pangerl’s 13 points paced Northside Prep (5-5) past Queen of Peace 49-38. . . . The host Wolfpack (9-8) beat Thornridge 62-46 as Nora Dinneen had 14 points.