DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Raven Women's Basketball team outscored (19) Clarke University 40-34 in the second half but in the end, the Pride were able to hold off the Ravens to earn a 68-63 win and avoid the upset bid.

Benedictine (16-10, 10-10 Heart) came out of the gate in the second half outscoring Clarke (22-5, 16-5 Heart) 17-8 to but still trailed 42-40 heading into the fourth.

Clarke nearly the entire first quarter before Aaliyah Raines connected on a shot with 51 seconds left in the quarter to send the Ravens into the second quarter with a 21-19 lead. The two teams combined for 17 points in the second quarter with Clarie holding Benedictine scoreless for just over seven minutes of the quarter as they were able to pull away for a 34-23 lead at the half.

Benedictine opened the second half on a 14-0 to erase their halftime deficit and pull in front 36-34 on a basket in the paint from Ali Brzozowski. Clarke was able to get their offense back late in the quarter to take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.

LaRanda Thomas hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to give the Ravens their largest lead at four points with 7:31 left in the game. The game played through two more ties before Clarke took the lead for good with 4:44 remaining. Clarke hit 11 of their 14 second-half free throws in the final four minutes of the game to hold off the Ravens upset bid.

Thomas led four Ravens in scoring with 15 points. Ali Brzozowski, Kayla Staley, and Skylar Washington finished with 10 points each.

Benedictine returns home on Wednesday to take on Peru State College at 5:30 p.m.