After battling back to take a two-point lead headed into the second quarter on Saturday, the No. 21-ranked Ravens Women's Basketball team used a 23-point second quarter to put some distance between themselves and Avila University.

Benedictine (22-4, 14-4 Heart) capped off their defensive effort limiting Avila (3-22, 2-16 Heart) to just eight points in the fourth quarter as they earned a 68-42 win and the regular-season sweep over the Eagles.

The win also extended Benedictine's home winning streak to 17 games as they get ready to host Baker University on Wednesday.

Avila led for much of the first quarter, building as much as a seven-point lead before Benedictine started to find their rhythm on offense.

Back-to-back baskets by from LaRanda Thomas pulled the Ravens even twice inside the final 90 seconds of the first quarter before another basket from Thomas gave the Ravens the lead as the first quarter ended.

The Ravens started the second quarter outscoring the Eagles 11-5 to extend their lead to double figures for the first time midway through the third quarter.

Benedictine finished the first half hitting 54.2 percent from the field to take a 39-24 lead into the break.

The Ravens maintained a double figure lead throughout the entire third quarter and pushed ahead by as much as 28 points midway through the first quarter.

Chayla Rutledge led the Ravens in scoring with 19 points followed by Thomas with 16. Thomas anchored a Ravens bench effort that outscored the Eagles, 30-4.

The win sets up a showdown on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Heart rival Baker University. Baker handed Benedictine a 65-48 loss in Baldwin City back on Jan. 20. Entering Wednesday, the Ravens hold a one-game lead in the Heart standings over the Wildcats after Baker earned a 61-43 win over Culver-Stockton on Saturday.