FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

LISLE, Ill. (Nov. 28, 2008) - A 14-2 run midway through the first half gave Benedictine University their first lead of the game en route to a 70-60 win over North Central College in a non-conference women's basketball game at the Rice Center. Three Cardinals ended the night in double figures with Jessica Davis (Jr., Chicago/Whitney Young) leading the way with 16 points.

North Central opened up the game fast, building an 11-3 lead just five minutes in. With the score 13-5, Benedictine went on a 14-2 run to take a four-point lead with 7:45 left in the opening half. The Eagles would never trail the remainder of the game, taking a 33-24 lead into the break.

The Cardinals cut the lead to as little as three points in the second half after a Brianne Parra (Sr., Justice, Ill./Argo) jumper at 15:09. It would be the closest the Cardinals would come in a second half that saw Benedictine lead by as many as 16 points.

Davis finished the night as the team's leading scorer with 16 while Parra and Gia Navarra (Sr., Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively. Jackie Errico (So., Blue Island, Ill./Marian Catholic) finished with team-highs in rebounds and assists with seven and three.

Benedictine's Laketa Simpson ended the night with a game-high 25 points with Blair Erickson and Monika Krozel adding 12 and 10 apiece.

The loss drops North Central to 3-2 overall and snaps a three game winning streak while Benedictine improves to .500 at 2-2. The Cardinals return to the hardwood tomorrow night, taking on Aurora University at Gregory Arena. Tip-off for the non-conference game is slated for 5 p.m.