Pirates Earn Statement Road Win, Bengel Reaches 1,000-Points

Pewamo-Westphalia made the trip to Grand Rapids on Tuesday night and delivered a performance packed with milestones, clutch moments, and a signature victory.

The celebration started almost immediately. In the opening moments of the game, senior Elly Bengel etched her name into the record books by scoring her 1,000th career point, a testament to the consistency and impact she has had on the Pirate program. The historic basket gave PW an early surge of energy and set the tone for what would become a hard-fought night.

Facing a Division 2 state-ranked Grand Rapids Catholic Central squad on its home floor, the Pirates built a lead but had to withstand a furious Cougar comeback in the second half. Catholic Central battled all the way back to tie the game at 53–53 in the closing seconds, creating a pressure-packed finish.

With just three seconds remaining, Alonna Thelen stepped to the free-throw line and delivered in the biggest moment of the night, calmly knocking down two clutch free throws to lift PW to a 55–53 victory.

The Pirates were powered by a balanced and relentless effort on both ends of the floor:

• Adrianna Eklund led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, recording a dominant double-double.

• Elly Bengel finished with 13 points and 4 steals, capping her milestone night in winning fashion.

• Elyse Thelen added 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, providing key plays throughout the contest.

The win stands as one of PW’s most impressive results of the season — a road victory over a ranked opponent, highlighted by a career milestone and late-game poise.

The Pirates continue to build momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season, showing once again their ability to perform in big moments against top competition.