Sophomore guard Tahanee Bennell scored a game high 30 points leading the Lady Mavs to an 80-69 win over Western Monday night at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.

NOC (6-12) improved to 3-5 in conference play.  Western (9-11) fell to 3-5 in conference.

Bennell had plenty of offensive support from Taylar Watkins and Chelsea Rhoades who each had 13 points for NOC.

"It was a good win over a tough ball club that has been playing well," said coach Greg Krause.   "Our defense continues to show some improvement. Tahanee (Bennell) did a great job of keeping offensive pressure on them down the stretch. It was a good team effort."

The Lady Mavs began to take control Monday night in the latter stages of the first half.  Western led 28-27 before the Lady Mavs went on an 11-2 run to take a 38-30 lead into the dressing room.

Western cut into the Lady Mavs lead in the 3rd quarter cutting the lead to 41-39 but the Lady Mavs then went on a 14-2 run to end the quarter leading 57-41.  Bennell had eight points during that 14-2 run.

The Pioneers cut the lead to 67-60 but that's as close as they would come as NOC made 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch.

NOC showed offensive consistency against Western scoring at least 19 points in each quarter.

Lady Mavs 80, Western 69

                 1     2     3     4--Total

Western    19   11   11   28--  69

Lady Mavs 19  19   19   23--  80

Western -- C. Johnson 16,  R. Wyche 14, P. Jackson 11, D. Brown 8, M. Jackson-Rogers 7, A. Williams 6, E. Cobb 5, T. Armstrong 2.

Lady Mavs -- T. Bennell 30, T. Watkins 13, C. Rhoades 13, M. Brown 7, B. White 6, C. Murray 6, H. Maples 5.