Allison Treacy’s longtime desire to become a veterinarian ‘just stuck’ with her. Like the Benet senior plays defense.

Leave it to an aspiring veterinarian to play Doberman defense.

Benet senior guard Allison Treacy had her profession picked out at an early age.

“I’ve always been around animals and just loved it right off the bat,” she said. “I knew since first grade that, yep, this is kind of what I want to do.

“It just stuck with me.”

A lot of players find themselves stuck when Treacy is guarding them. Just ask Benet star Lenee Beaumont.

“Every practice, she chooses to guard me,” the Indiana-bound Beaumont said. “At times it gets a little annoying because she is good at defense.

“She does a good job of making sure I’m ready for whoever is matched up against me in a game. She’s the shortest player on our team, but she can guard the post if we need her to.”

Treacy’s talents aren’t well known outside of Benet because she rarely gets to play. But it doesn’t faze her.

“I just try my best just to do my job on the team,” Treacy said. “Whatever coach wants me to do, I’ll do it.”

Treacy finally got a chance to show what she could do in a game when Benet coach Joe Kilbride went with an all-senior lineup against Fenwick for senior night on Wednesday. Treacy and reserves Kelly Getz and Kendall Sheridan got starting nods along with regulars Samantha Trimberger and Sadie Sterbenz.

It was Treacy’s second varsity start, and she made the most of her opportunity, contributing six points, four steals and two rebounds as the Redwings rolled to a 55-31 nonconference victory.

“We were just really excited, of course,” she said. “It was just a positive environment. We were going to go out there and have fun and play together, kind of just celebrating our team.”

It showed. Despite going up against Fenwick’s starters, the Redwings (16-6) jumped to a 17-5 lead after one quarter. They allowed only one basket in the first quarter and three in the first half.

Treacy wasted no time in making her mark against the Friars (13-13). She made three steals in the first six minutes, one of which led to Beaumont scoring Benet’s first basket and another that set up a 3-pointer by Getz that gave the Redwings the lead for good at 7-5.

Kilbride was not shocked.

“‘Al’ plays great defense every day,” Kilbride said. “She guards ‘Beau’ a lot in practice and plays her really tough.

“Al is undersized, but she’s a competitive warrior, and she gets after it. She did a great job today defensively, which she does all the time.”

Treacy also got the job done offensively, recording all six of her points after halftime. She hit a 3-pointer, scored on a drive and split a pair of free throws.

Beaumont, who led all players with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, was pleased to see it.

“It’s great to see that she’s rewarded with those minutes and taking advantage of that time on the court,” Beaumont said. “I love that she’s getting this recognition because her work ethic is unmatched for someone who doesn’t ever know when she’s going to get playing time.”

That work ethic isn’t limited to basketball. Treacy also is part of the Benet Academy Orchesis Dance Company and is serious about becoming a veterinarian.

“It’s a lot of work, but I’m willing to put in the work,” she said. “I have family friends and an aunt who are veterinarians, so they’re like mentors.”

Treacy is a mentor to some of her younger teammates who are playing reserve roles.

“You just have to have a positive mindset,” she said. “Always be ready and be there for the team. Always be the loudest one on the bench.

“Then when you do get your chance, do your job and bring it from the bench to the court.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.