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

Jan. 12, 2010 -- A nine-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome in a tightly contested defensive slugfest as host North Central College fell, 61-49, to North Park University in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game at Gregory Arena.

Becky Bylina scored the Cardinals' first two buckets of the game for the 4-2 lead just under two minutes into the contest in what proved their only lead of the night. North Park held a four-point advantage with just under six minutes remaining in the opening half before mounting a 9-1 run over the next four minutes, extending their cushion to 12-points before going into the break at half with a 28-19 edge.

Trailing 36-25 with 14:24 remaining, the Cardinals scored eight straight to pull within three points with just under 10 minutes to play. A pair of Latrice Newson free throws started the run before getting back-to-back baskets from Jackie Errico. Newson capped off the rally with a jumper off a pass from Christine Karl before visiting NPU responded with a 6-0 spurt over the next minute to regain a comfortable nine-point margin. The Vikings held at least a nine-point advantage the rest of the way en route to the 12-point victory.

Karl and Newson each recorded their second double-double of the season to pace the Cardinals. Karl finished with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists while Newson chipped in 10 points and 11 boards. Bylina racked up nine points on the night while Errico finished with a game-high four steals.

Lyndsey Thompson guided the Vikings, shooting eight-for-13 from the floor and finishing with 18 points. Kam Acree posted 16 points while Dana Christensen and Sarah Peterson each grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

North Central shot just 18.5 percent (five-for-27) in the opening frame, finishing the night shooting 27.8 percent (15-for-54) from the floor while North Park didn't fair much better, concluding the game 23-for-60 (38.3 percent) from the field.

With the loss, North Central falls to 3-11 overall and 0-3 in conference action while the Vikings improve to 4-10 and 1-2 in CCIW play. The Cardinals return to the hardwood on Saturday, January 16, traveling to Decatur, Ill. to take on Millikin University at 2 p.m.