RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Looking to end the 2019 portion of the season on a high note, the Concordia University Chicago Women's Basketball team hits the road once again to take on the Benedictine Eagles in Lisle, Ill.
Recent History: The Cougars and Eagles have had some tough battles over the past few years. Benedictine has won the last two and has taking four out of seven since 2015. CUC's last win in the series came back in February of 2018 led by 22 points by Taylor Jacobson.
About the Cougars: The Cougars come into Saturday's matchup 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the NACC. Most recently they gave defending NACC champ Wisconsin Lutheran a tough game on December 3. The Cougars have been a group that have put pressure on the opponents this season. CUC leads the NACC in steals per game (12.5). That number ranks 43
rd in the nation out of 431 teams. Freshman
Tara Hastings leads the Cougars with 15 steals this season which ranks sixth in the NACC. Offensively it's Hastings that leads the team with a 12.5 points per game average.
Michaela Thornton is close behind with a 9.7 points per game average. She leads the team with a 6.3 rebounds per game average. After a slow start in her first two career games
Charisma Robinson has come along for CUC. The freshman has scored in double figures in three of the last four games and is averaging just under seven rebounds per game during the same span.
About the Eagles: The Benedictine Eagles come into Saturday 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the NACC. Their lone loss of the season came to Hope College who was ranked sixth in the country at the time. Allison Michalski leads the team offensively this season. Her 20.3 points per game average is second in the NACC and ranks 25
th in the NCAA. In total four Eagles are averaging double figures offensively this season. Alex Fanning has been the leader on the boards and blocking shots to go along with her ability to score. The sophomore is averaging a double-double on the season and leads the team with 14 blocked shots.
Up Next: The Cougars will enjoy a long break before the season will kick back into full gear in 2020. CUC will open the 2020 portion of the schedule on the road with their farthest trip of the season. CUC will head east to St.Mary's City, Maryland for two games at the St.Mary's New Year's Classic on January 3-4.
