Fleming does it all in Naperville Central triumph over W. Aurora

Naperville Central basketball player Claire Fleming does a lot of the little things that don't show up in the box score.

She also does many of the big things that do show up in the box score.

On Thursday Fleming did some of the little things and the big things to help propel the Redhawks to a 66-56 win over visiting DuPage Valley Conference foe West Aurora.

The senior forward, a three-year starter, played her typical all-around game. She scored 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and came up with 3 steals and also provided the leadership and poise that helped the Redhawks (8-0, 2-0) overcome a West Aurora third-quarter charge.

Fleming scored 8 points in that period, including a steal and an end-to-end drive that resulted in a layup that increased the margin to 49-37.

The Blackhawks (1-5, 0-1) had cut the Naperville Central lead to 4 points halfway through the period.

"Claire is one of our leaders who can take over a game," teammate Emma Ondik said. "It's great to have someone like her. She can get a steal or a rebound, or hit a 3-pointers or a layup. She can do everything."

"We have great team chemistry this year," said Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum. "And what she does for us as a leader you can't see in the stats. She's one of the better leaders we've had in a long time. She initiates that team chemistry."

Center Emma Donahue led the Redhawks balanced attack with 19, including 10 in the first quarter, and Catherine Tanck added 10.

Ondik, who scored 14, including a trio of 3-pointers, made a pair of key plays in the third quarter, after the Blackhawks cut the Redhawks' halftime double-digit lead to 4.

The 5-foot-4 point guard hit a 3-pointer and followed that with a clutch rebound and passed to Fleming, who was fouled and then scored from the free-throw line.

The Fleming free throw drove the lead back up to 45-37 and then the Redhawks pretty much put the game away on baskets by Donahue, Fleming and Erin Antony.

"I'm happy with our effort," Nussbaum said. "We put 66 points up on the board and the scoring was balanced all around. Emma Donahue had one of her better games. Her athleticism has really improved and her game has even gotten better in the past two weeks.

Kiara Towles, who was playing on an injured leg, led the Blackhawks with 19 points, and Dionis Moon, a reserve center, played the most minutes she's played all year, hit a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

"Dionis is a JV player," said West Aurora coach Connie Siljendahl. "We've been working her hard in practice and she stepped up and did a great job. We're young, but when we can clean up a couple of things we'll be OK."