Everyone gets in the act for Benet

Benet used a balanced offensive effort as 12 Redwings scored a basket during a 69-40 victory over visiting Glenbard West on Wednesday night.

Despite a sluggish start, Benet (10-5) used a 13-0 first quarter run to pull away from the Hilltoppers at the Benet/Naperville North Holiday Tournament.

A pair of free throws from Glenbard West’s Bridget Flanagan gave her team a 6-2 lead, but from that point on the Redwings used their first-quarter run that all but put the game out of reach.

Danielle Canulli’s first 3-point basket of the night made the score 15-6, and the Redwings never looked back.

“Outside the first two minutes when (Glenbard West) jumped on us a little early and we were a little confused on what we wanted to do, we got everything straightened out, and I thought the kids bounced back and did a nice job,” Benet coach Peter Paul said.

Canulli, who finished with 11 points, knocked down two more 3-point baskets before the first quarter was over, giving her team a 21-10 lead. In all the Redwings made seven 3-pointers on the night including three from Madeline Eilers and one from Christen Prasse.

“In practice we spend time doing drills on 3-pointers,” Canulli said. “We like to run and we have excellent shooters on our team. I’m proud of how everyone played.”

The Redwings (10-5) also used a pressure defense that forced the Hilltoppers into two 10-second violations in the first half.

“Our plan right from the start was to come out in a half-court trap,” Canulli said. “I think we came out with such great intensity and we kept it the entire game.”

The Benet lead got as high as 31 points midway through the fourth quarter after a basket by Prasse made the score 59-28.

Sidney Prasse led the Redwings in scoring with 12 points.

Flanagan led Glenbard West with 7 points on the night as the Hilltoppers dropped to 6-7 on the season.

“They do a nice job of cutting and moving and it looked like we were stuck in quicksand at times,” Glenbard West coach Mike Hofland said. “Uncharacteristically, we dribbled with our heads down against the press. It’s disappointing because the last couple of games, I thought we’ve handled the press well.

“We had too many mental breakdowns, and that’s why the score got to what it was.”