By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - Illinois Tech women's basketball welcomed the Aurora University Spartans to the Keating Sports Center on Wednesday for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) contest. Although the Hawks (1-5, 0-2) fought to keep it close in the first half of play, the Spartans (5-1, 1-0) pulled away after halftime, defeating the Hawks 95-60. First year Grace Goodnough set a career high 19-points during the contest. 

First Half (Illinois Tech 31 - Aurora University 43) 

• Action began with the Spartans getting two free throws at 9:10 remaining in the first quarter. The Hawks quickly made their way down the court to tie it 2-2 with a layup by Catherine Klemp. Aurora picked up their next 3 points off of free throws between 7:57 and 6:45. A Chloe Churilla layup and free throw tied the game up at 5-5 with 6:43 on the clock. As it looked like the Spartans were going to pull away, the Hawks fought to stay in. 3-pointers by Camden Joko and Allie Sillo put the Hawks within 4 as the Spartans led 19-15 with 3:01 remaining. At the end of the quarter, the Spartans led the Hawks 23-19. 

• The Spartans spent the beginning minutes of the second quarter building a 10-point, 29-19 lead over the Hawks. Goodnough broke the Spartans run with a layup at 7:41 remaining. Then, between 7:21 and 5:08, the Hawks picked up 6 points, cutting the score to 29-27 in favor of the Spartans. Kylie Fischbach broke the Hawks run with a jump shot at 4:48 remaining. A 3-pointer followed by a quick jump shot put the Spartans up by 7 with 3:02 on the clock. Both sides struggled to get a basket until 45 seconds remained on the clock when the Spartans Kamryn Bullock made a 3-pointer. Chloe Rubinowicz put in a layup for the Hawks before the Spartans closed out the quarter with back-to-back layups. At halftime, the Spartans led the Hawks 43-31.

Second Half (Illinois Tech 29 - Aurora University 52)

• The third quarter began with both sides picking up two layups apiece. At 7:27 remaining, the Hawks trailed the Spartans 51-38 after a Churilla free throw. The Spartans then continued to build their lead over the Hawks, going on a 13-0. Julia Bucci broke the Spartans run with a jump shot at 2:17. Goodnough followed with a jump shot of her own at 1:46 on the clock. At this point, the Spartans led the Hawks 64-42. At the end of the quarter, the Hawks trailed the Spartans 69-44. 

• In the final quarter of the contest, the Spartans continued to control the game offensively. The Spartans began the quarter with 10 points before the Hawks got on the board at 8:45 remaining with a layup by Klemp. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they were unable to make up the points, as they ultimately fell to the Spartans 95-60

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Goodnough led the Hawks with a career high 19 points. Goodnough finished with 5 rebounds, 1 assist. 

• Kaya Jones added 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. 

Spartan Standouts

• Gabrielle Wolff led the Spartans with 13 points, 7 rebounds. 

• Gabby Moore and Jaylah Mays both contributed 12 points. Moore had 1 rebound, 1 assist while Mays had 3 rebounds, 2 assists. 

Up Next

The Hawks return to action on Sunday when they travel to Milwaukee, WI to take on the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders. Tip-off between the Hawks and Raiders is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.