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Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Feb. 12, 2014) – Lighting up the nets with 21 three-pointers, the North Central College women's basketball team steamrolled past Illinois Wesleyan University, 121-113, setting a new conference record for combined point total and the Cardinals first victory at the Shirk Center since 2006.
 
The combined score of 234 sets a new College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) record, breaking the previous mark of 221 set in the opening meeting between the two teams earlier this season, and six points shy of the NCAA Division III record of 240 set in an overtime contest between Oglethorpe University (Ga.) and Wesleyan College (Ga.) in 2001.
 
The Cardinals (11-12, 4-8 CCIW) shot 21 of 51 from three-point land on the evening, five shy of the NCAA Division III record, while making 32 free throws and snapping a 14-game skid against the Titans (15-7, 9-2 CCIW).
 
North Central trailed throughout a majority of the first half, but managed to knot the score 59-59 at halftime as Maryssa Cladis knocked down a pair of free-throws in the Cardinals final two possessions.
 
Of the Cardinals 18 first half field goals, 14 came from beyond the arch on 45 percent shooting from three.
 
Less than three minutes into the second half, Kimberly Wilson nailed a three to put the Cardinals up 67-66.
 
North Central would not surrender the lead the remainder of the contest, opening up a double-digit lead at the 15:18 mark, as Maryssa Cladis capped off a 15-0 run with one of her three long balls.
 
The Cardinals led by as many as 19 down the stretch and converted 23 second half free-throws to secure the eight-point win.
 
Cladis paced the Cardinal offense with 18 points on 3 of 6 shooting from three and 7 of 8 shooting from the charity stripe, while dishing out a team-high six assists.  Tess Godhardt added 17 points and 10 rebounds in just her second game as a Cardinal, while Bobbi Johns and Kelsey Cooling added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Illinois Wesleyan was led is scoring by Shelby Jackson's game-high 23 points, 15 rebounds, and Lexi Baltes added 20 points.
 
North Central hosts Wheaton College on Senior Night, Saturday, Feb. 15 at 5 pm.  Links to live statistics, audio and video are available HERE.