For the second straight conference game, the Benedictine Women’s Basketball team took to the floor against an opponent ranked inside the NAIA Div. I Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Saturday as they hosted No. 14 MNU.

After knocking off No. 21 Baker University on Thursday, the Benedictine (11-6, 4-1 Heart) upset bid against No. 14 MNU (12-4, 5-0 Heart) fell short as  the Pioneers held off a last-second push by the Ravens to earn a 59-57 win.

With the win, the Pioneers remain the only unbeaten team in Heart play as the Ravens fall back a game in the standings but remain a half game up in second place over Culver-Stockton and Evangel who sit a half game back of Benedictine at 3-1.

Benedictine outscored MNU 29-28 in the second half and had a chance to push the game in to overtime as Jackie Ziesel took the ball to the hoop inside the final three seconds of the game only to draw contact but no foul as time expired.

The Ravens led early on by as much as six points before the Pioneers started to heat up offensively to lead by as much as eight points before settling for a 31-28 lead at halftime.

Ali Taff and Ziesel scored on back-to-back possessions for the Ravens out of the half to give Benedictine back to the lead.

After battling through the games second tie and three lead changes, the Pioneers were able to pull ahead of the Ravens over the middle third of the second half but could never pull ahead by more than two possessions.

Jayde Reid pulled Benedictine with one point at 48-47 but that would be all the closer the Ravens could get down the stretch as the Pioneers did just enough to hold off the Ravens upset bid.

Reid finished with a game-high 19 points to lead three Ravens in double figures. Ziesel added 12 points while Rutledge scored 11.

Benedictine was able to score 14 points off 18 MNU turnovers to finish the game with a 14-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Ravens hit the road on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game in Lamoni, Iowa, against Graceland University.

— BC Sports Information —