Shared effort helps Jacobs handle Hoffman Estates

Before Monday's nonconference girls game at Hoffman Estates, Jacobs coach Joe Benoit emphasized team basketball.

"We really talked about sharing the basketball, and getting the ball to our open teammates," said Jacobs 5-foot-10 senior forward Maggie Grady.

The Golden Eagles earned a gold star in that respect for sure.

They handed out a season-high 17 assists from their 23 baskets in one of their top efforts of the season, a 60-28 triumph over the Hawks.

Senior Nicole Durben (17 points) and Grady (16 points, 9 rebounds) both hit scoring career-highs for the Golden Eagles, who converted seven 3-pointers in the game.

Durben hit a career-best five shots from 3-point range (she didn't miss any attempts) and ended up 6 of 7 from the field.

Quite an offensive game from a 5-foot-5 guard who came into the game averaging 2.9 points.

"It just finally clicked," said Durben, who plans to study sports management at Ball State. "We were just playing as a team."

"We were going inside and looking outside," added Grady, who missed a double-double by 1 rebound.

Benoit called it a "complete game" for the Golden Eagles, who used a 7-2 run to close the first quarter with a 17-10 lead.

Freshman Elizabeth Schwartz sank a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and it became part of a 24-6 run to finish off the half leading 34-14.

Senior Carly Sidor added 9 points for the visitors followed by freshman Kyra Cabusoa (8) and Schwartz (6). Seniors Emily Anderson and Heather Hoffman also had baskets for Jacobs (9-11).

"We had a nice balanced game," Benoit said. "I thought all nine girls contributed (including senior Grace O'Malley and junior Kerri Healy).

"It was really a complete win. So hopefully this gives us momentum going forward and to finish the rest of the season."

Durben finished her 3-point parade by hitting back-to-back for the first 6 points of the final quarter, giving Jacobs a 52-22 lead with 6:03 left in the game.

"Nicole has been a great kid for us this season," Benoit said. "She works hard every day and I'm really glad she had the opportunity to come out and do this."

Grady and Sidor took care of things inside.

"Maggie and Carly really work well together," Benoit added. "So it was really nice to have the inside-outside combination working together."

Cabusoa, a 5-foot-5 guard, also collected 6 rebounds and 5 assists while Healy had 4 assists.

Sophomore Kate Mongold led the Hawks (3-17) with 9 points.

Monraia Wilson, who reached 1,000 career points last season, followed with 6 points.

The hustling Wilson made 3 steals near the Hawks basket in a span of about 15 seconds late in the third quarter. She also had a steal and layup early in the period.

Wilson, Kirsten Besterman and Hoffman manager Stephanie Dortch weer honored before the game for Senior Night.

The Hawks will be part of Barrington's 'Senior Night' today when they visit the Fillies for a 7:30 p.m. Mid-Suburban League West game.

"I told our girls we have to bring the effort all the time," said Hawks coach Mike Koester. "I thought the effort was poor tonight."

Wilson's layup with 6:12 left in the first quarter and Mongold's baseline drive and bank shot with 5:45 left gave Hoffman a 4-0 lead.

But Cabusao's 3-pointer and 16-footer got the Golden Eagles on the board for a 5-4 lead and they never trailed again.

"We came out and executed on our first couple of possessions," Koester added. "But then their pressure started getting to us and we were not running the plays we had worked on."