Benoit's 26 lead Hampshire past Hoffman Estates

In a game devoid of much offense, Hampshire junior forward Emma Benoit dominated.

Filling the stat sheet with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists, Benoit's effort propelled the Whip-Purs to a 47-45 win over Hoffman Estates in fourth round action of the Second Annual Hoffman Estates Girls Basketball Thanksgiving Tournament Saturday night.

"Emma was outstanding," said Hampshire coach Mike Featherly. "She attacked the basket from the beginning and made sure we got off to a good start. She had a good overall game."

Benoit scored the Whip-Purs' (3-1) first 7 points as Hampshire jumped out to a 9-0 lead.

'My teammates got the ball to me in good spots to score," said Benoit. "I wanted to attack the basket early on. We played 40 games this summer and are really starting to play well together."

Hoffman Estates (1-3), which missed its first 8 shots, finally got on the scoreboard on a 10-footer by Mynk Richardson-Clark with 1:30 left in the quarter to make the score 9-2, which was the score after one quarter.

Hoffman Estates sliced into the lead and got to within 2 of Hampshire, 11-9, on a putback by Mary Saitta with 4:42 left in the first half.

But Hampshire, led by 7 points from Benoit, ended the first half on an 11-2 run and led 22-11 at halftime.

The Whip-Purs continued their steady play in the third quarter and led 42-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

The pesky Hawks made a valiant comeback which started with an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

Six points by Monraia Wilson and a basket from Erin Hanson helped the Hawks climb to within 8, 42-34, with 4:40 remaining.

Hoffman Estates, which outscored Hampshire 19-5 in the final 8 minutes, inched within 2 of Hampshire, 47-45, on a 3-pointer by Hanson with 18.4 seconds left. But Hoffman Estates couldn't get any closer.

Saitta paced the Hawks with 15 points while Wilson scored 14, 8 in the fourth quarter, and Hanson netted 10, all in the second half.

"It is difficult to come back when you spot a good team like Hampshire a 9-0 lead to start the game," said Hoffman Estates coach Mike Koester. "We did a good job in the second half in limiting touches for Benoit. Despite the bad start, I like the way we fought back."