KENOSHA, Wis. - On Tuesday evening, the Carthage Firebirds women's basketball team did something that hasn't been accomplished by the program in over 13 years - held an opponent to under 30 points. The Firebirds thoroughly dispatched Benedictine (Ill.), winning 71-29. Carthage forced the Eagles to shoot 15% from the field (14% from three-point territory) and turn the ball over 18 times in the victory. With five wins in its last seven games, Carthage heads down to Tennessee with a 5-5 record and a chance to see where it stands against other programs from around the nation. 



 

• Final score: Carthage 71, Benedictine (Ill.) 29. 
• Location: Tarble Arena - Kenosha, Wisconsin. 
• Records: Carthage 5-5 (2-1 CCIW), Benedictine 3-6 (3-1 NACC).  

 
 

• Marianna Morrissey got the Firebirds on the board first, as Carthage converted on an Eagle turnover. 
• Carthage played well defensively and led the game 9-0 halfway through the first until Benedictine finally converted, hitting a three. 
• Ayanna Ester led the Firebirds in points in the first quarter, scoring nine after hitting three-consecutive three-pointers. 
• Carthage held a 19-5 lead on Benedictine after quarter one. 
• The Firebirds kept the heat on in the second quarter with Margueret Spear converting from deep. 
• Benedictine turned the ball over four times in the second quarter, as Carthage's defenders played active defense and got their hands into passing lanes. 
• The Firebirds extended their massive lead against Benedictine, leading by a score of 42-13 heading into the second half. 
• Benedictine was able to hit a few shots to cut into the deficit, but Carthage responded with a run of its own to further the lead. 
• The Eagles upped their intensity, particularly defensively, but were struggling to open up anything offensively. 
• Carthage kept the fire burning throughout the game with strong defense and crisp offense. The Firebirds won by a final of 71-29, allowing their fewest points in a game in over 13 years. 
• The team shot the ball at an elite level, hitting 46.4% of its two-pointers, 47% of its threes, and 73% of its free throws. Conversely, Carthage held Benedictine to a 15.3/13.8/50 shooting split. 18 Eagle turnovers led to 17 Firebird points, Carthage's bench outscored Benedictine's by 23, and the home team's bigs dominated the scoring margin in the paint (28-8) - all leading to a convincing victory. 

 

• Marianna Morrissey led the Firebirds in scoring, putting up 10 points on 5-9 shooting in 25 minutes of action. Morrissey also gathered seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. 
• Senior guard Ayanna Ester hit three more threes in tonight's game, bringing her season total to 23 3PM (43%). 
• First-year guard Alyssa Orozco scored a career best eight points against the Eagles, hitting two three-pointers in the process. 
• Sophomore forward Grace Wamser scored the first bucket of her Firebird career, as did first-year guard Malia Green. 
• Seeing action for the first time this season were Saige Radke, Maeve Wojcik, and Mary Titzer. Wojcik collected three rebounds, Radke recorded a steal, an assist, and a rebound, while Titzer tallied a rebound and a steal. 
• Sophomore guard Daelah Edwards saw game action as well, hitting a step back jumper in the fourth quarter. 
• Jessie Pakaski was effective in her nine minutes on the floor, adding a rebound and six points to the stat sheet. 

 

• The Firebirds will fly down south for winter break, heading to Nashville, Tennessee. Carthage will battle first with Framingham State University on Thursday, December 29 at 12:30 p.m. before matching up with Meredith College on Friday, December 30 at 10:30 a.m. The team will return home to Kenosha in early January, resuming conference play with Carroll on Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m.