Audrey Benedict of North Union eyes the basket against Elgin. Benedict surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career during the NU victory.
(Photo submitted)
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Early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s basketball game at North Union, senior Audrey Benedict made what she thought was a normal two-point basket against Elgin.
However, the reaction of her teammates and the NU fans left her a little confused when they loudly cheered after she made the basket.
The shot, which earned the Lady Cats a 53-20 lead, gave Benedict 1,000 points for her high school career.
Benedict knew she was getting close to the milestone, but thought it was a little early to celebrate.
“I didn’t know how many I needed and did not know why everybody was cheering,” Benedict said following the 67-30 victory. “I didn’t know until I made the shot and it took me by surprise.”
It was North Union’s final regular season game of the year and the Lady Cats head into tournament play with a 15-7 record.
Their first post-season game is Feb. 24 against either Centennial or Highland.
Benedict became the eighth Lady Cat to reach the 1,000-point mark, joining Coree Price, Kim Eastman, Dawn Eastman, Emily Clark, Autumn Hudson, Mason Jamison and Benedict’s coach, Bre (Nauman) Jackson.
“It is a great accomplishment for Audrey,” said Jackson, who also cleared the 1,000-point mark as a player for Tiffin University. “She is a leader on the team and is able to score at the right moments.”
Benedict, who led all scorers with 20 points against the Lady Comets, has been a key player for North Union since her freshman season.
“It has been great to play four years and getting the opportunity to reach 1,000 points,” she said. “It was definitely a plus to be at home and do it on Senior Night.”
Zoe Wedding joined Benedict as seniors playing their last home game for the Lady Cats.
Wedding scored 12 points, all coming on three-point field goals.
North Union started off very quickly, notching the first 19 points.
Benedict and Wedding each scored six points during the run and Gabby Lindsey connected from behind the three-point arc.
The Lady Cats boosted the lead to 23-2 by the end of the quarter.
An additional six markers from Benedict helped them to a 33-5 edge midway through the second quarter.
Sam Girton scored five points during the final 35 seconds for Elgin.
The Lady Comets trailed 40-13 at the half.
North Union scored six of the first eight points of the third quarter.
An old fashioned three-point play by Kailyn Colegrove, who totaled 11 points, gave the Lady Cats a 51-20 lead.
Benedict started the final stanza with her milestone basket, while Addison Wedding and Emma McElroy each hit three-point goals.
Brenna Martino snared nine rebounds for the Lady Cats and Lindsey added seven assists and four steals.
North Union won the junior varsity game 52-24.
McElroy led all scorers with 13 points, while Lexi Golinghorst and Caralyn Hinkle each had 10 points.
Elgin
Girton 6-0-14, Isler 2-0-5, Leonard 1-0-2, Muselin 3-0-8, Edmonstone 0-1-1. Three-point goals: Girton 2, Muselin 2, Isler.
North Union
Benedict 8-3-20, Z. Wedding 4-0-12, Martino 1-0-2, Colegrove 5-1-11, A. Wedding 3-0-7, Lindsey 1-1-4, E. McElroy 1-0-3, Harrah 3-0-6, Hinkle 1-0-2. Three-point goals: Z. Wedding 4, Benedict, A. Wedding, Lindsey, McElroy.