Prasse scores 30 as Benet tops Geneva
Christen Prasse is growing up before Benet coach Peter Paul’s eyes. He might not have even realized the gem he had.
Geneva found out the hard way Friday.
Redwings junior point guard Prasse poured in a career-high 30 points, and No. 8 Benet beat three-time defending tournament champion and No. 3 Geneva 65-55 at the Benet/Naperville North Tournament in Lisle.
It is Geneva’s first loss in four years at the tournament, the Vikings’ (10-1) first defeat this season, and came 24 hours after Benet (9-4) knocked off previously unbeaten Wheaton Warrenville South.
“It’s a really big win for us today, and a big win yesterday,” Prasse said. “We’re gradually making ourselves known. I think we’re a very under-rated team. Hopefully, this will get us notice.”
Prasse assisted the game-winning basket last Saturday versus Fenwick and scored 19, and she scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter Thursday.
She picked up Friday right where she left off.
Prasse scored 11 of Benet’s first 13 points, the Redwings bolting out to an 18-9 lead after a quarter. Geneva got within 25-23, but Sidney Prasse hit a big 3 in the final seconds to send Benet into halftime up 5.
Benet’s lead was a tenuous 42-39 after three quarters before Prasse assisted a Madeline Eilers 3 to start the fourth, then hit a tough leaner in the lane.
A Christen Prasse corner 3-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits at 52-41, and seconds later she stole the ball and pulled up for her fourth 3 that all but ended it.
“We didn’t transition well getting back on defense,” Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. “We lost them which was frustrating. Giving up (30 points) to one player, that’s ridiculous. We can’t allow that to happen.”
Marquette-bound Ashley Santos scored 20 points for Geneva, her layup with 6:01 left in the third quarter giving the Vikings their last lead at 31-29. Christen Prasse came right back with a pair of floating runners to give Benet the lead for good.
“I just really felt it today,” Prasse said, “and my shot was falling. I read how the defense is playing me and shake and back, I guess.”
Christen Prasse also dished out 6 assists with just 2 turnovers. And she seems to be developing the sixth sense of when to pull up for a shot or distribute, with a sneaky explosiveness to the hole and an assortment of shots.
“She really is developing into the type of point guard that we never imagined,” Paul said. “We knew last year she was good, and it makes us dangerous because now she’s able to penetrate and we have shooters sitting at the arc.”
Nicole Valentine added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Benet, all while drawing the unenviable assignment of chasing Santos. Sidney Prasse scored 10 points for the Redwings, who wrap up pool play tonight versus York. Benet and Geneva could meet again next Friday for the tournament championship in the newly-configured setup.
Sami Pawlak added 14 points and 14 rebounds for Geneva and Rachel Hinchman 8 points.
“We wanted to play fast,” Meadows said, “and they did a nice job of taking us out of that. Once we got the momentum, it seemed like they took it right back. They’re a good team — we knew that coming in — and they were ready to play us.”