The Beavers Cruise Past Sabercats on Senior Day

CARLINVILLE, IL — The Blackburn Beavers delivered a dominant all-around performance Saturday, overwhelming Maranatha Baptist 87–33 on Senior Day.

The Blackburn Beavers celebrated their four seniors in their game against Maranatha Baptist. Zoe Mitchell joined the team during her sophomore season and has made 59 appearances with 39 starts. She has recorded 310 points, 309 rebounds, 50 assists, 48 steals, and 23 blocks. She posted two double-doubles this season, her first coming in a win over Eureka with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and another against Webster.

Gaby Solis joined the team last season, appearing in 24 games, including 23 starts. She averaged 7.7 points per game along with two steals and three assists. She scored in double figures six times, with a career-high 21 points.

Becca Benoit has been a member of the team throughout her entire career at Blackburn. She appeared in 56 games, including 25 starts. She recorded 240 points, scoring in double figures eight times with a career-high 16 points. She also totaled 224 rebounds, 35 steals, and seven blocks. Benoit recorded her first career double-double in a win over MUW with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Gracie Jent has been a member of the team for her entire career at Blackburn. She made 61 appearances with 27 starts. She posted a career-high nine points on five different occasions and recorded career highs of four steals and eight rebounds. The last two seasons, she was named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

The Beavers were led by four players in double figures. Solis and Elexus Frey led the charge with 15 points each. Benoit and junior India Harris followed with 12 points apiece. Other contributors included Mitchell with nine points and Jent with eight.

Blackburn set the tone from the opening possession as Kenadee Frey scored inside to spark an early run. The Beavers quickly turned defense into offense, piling up steals from Frey, Jent, Benoit, Solis, and Mitchell. That pressure created transition opportunities and helped Blackburn race out to a commanding first-half advantage.

Offensively, the ball movement was sharp and unselfish. Mitchell and Solis connected on perimeter shots, Jent knocked down a three, and Benoit finished efficiently at the rim. Solis added another triple late in the half, while the bench unit extended the lead with energy and hustle plays. India Harris attacked the paint and converted an and-one opportunity, freshman Vicki McGee capitalized in transition, and Elexus Frey controlled the glass with multiple offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points.

Blackburn's defensive intensity never let up. The Beavers forced repeated turnovers and contested nearly every shot, holding Maranatha Baptist to single digits at halftime and limiting clean looks throughout the contest. Mitchell added a pair of blocks and strong rebounding efforts, while the team consistently collapsed on drives and secured defensive boards.

In the second half, Blackburn continued to build separation. Solis and Jent connected from beyond the arc, Elexus Frey finished through contact inside, and Harris added another three-point play. Freshman Nia Fulcher drained a three during a decisive run, and Frey provided a late scoring burst with a three-point play and strong finishes in the paint.

By the final buzzer, Blackburn showcased its depth, defensive grit, and offensive balance. With contributions across the roster and a suffocating defensive effort that fueled transition scoring, the Beavers secured an emphatic 87–33 victory.

The Beavers completed the season 6–21 overall and 3–11 in conference play, marking their best conference record since 2020. The Beavers made significant strides this season, setting a strong foundation for the program moving forward.