FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Dec. 13, 2008 - Making the most of its first home game in two weeks, the North Central College women's basketball team put together a total team effort and put an end to a four-game losing skid by knocking off Loras College (Iowa), 76-68, at Gregory Arena on Saturday.
All eight players who took the court for North Central (4-5) entered the scoring column, four of which reached double figures, and six Cardinals tallied at least two assists.
The hosts seized the early momentum, scoring the first eight points of the game, but the Duhawks followed with a 12-2 run and took a 12-10 advantage. North Central regained the lead after a pair of three-pointers by Gia Navarra (Sr., Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) left the score at 21-16 in the Cardinals' favor. North Central led, 25-18, before Loras fought back once again to take a 27-25 lead on Lindsay Bava's three-pointer with 6:24 left in the first half.
Brianne Parra (Sr., Justice, Ill./Argo) scored to tie the contest at 27-27, and the lead was passed back and forth three times before a 30-30 deadlock. Nicole Kemme (Sr., Teutopolis, Ill./Olney Central) and Meghan McGuire (So., Elgin, Ill./Central) scored back-to-back buckets to move the Cardinals in front once again, and the home team stayed a step ahead until halftime, when it headed into the locker room ahead, 38-35.
The entire second half was closely contested as well, as the lead changed hands eight times. The Duhawks' Alex Hudson and Sarah Pillon scored consecutive baskets to turn a 62-60 deficit into a 64-62 advantage with 3:54 remaining, but North Central seized the lead for the final time with 3:02 to play, as Jackie Errico (So., Blue Island, Ill./Montini Catholic) knocked down a three.
McGuire added a bucket and Amber Cibrario (Sr., Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) sank two free throws to push the lead to five points at 69-64, and North Central was unthreatened down the stretch. The Cardinals made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 28 seconds to seal the victory.
Parra scored a season-high 20 points, making 10 of 13 shots from the floor, to lead North Central. Kemme tallied a career-best 11 points, while Errico and McGuire each scored 10. Navarra grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, and Kemme and Jessica Davis (Jr., Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) each finished with five assists.
Bava led all scorers with 21 points fo the Duhawks (5-3). Hudson scored 17 points and Pillon added 12.
The Cardinals play their final home game of 2008 on Thursday, hosting Franklin College (Ind.) Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
