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

AURORA, Ill. (Jan. 2, 2010) -- The North Central College women's basketball team ushered in the new year with style on Saturday, defeating Aurora University, 76-71, in a non-conference match-up at Thornton Gymnasium. Four Cardinals finished the afternoon in double figures in the team's final tune-up before College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play opens up on Tuesday.

Jackie Errico sunk a three-pointer to open up the game's scoring, helping the Cardinals jump out to an early 12-6 edge. The host Spartans would respond, putting together an 8-0 run to take its only lead of the game at 14-12 with 12:42 remaining in the opening half. North Central went on to outscore Aurora 18-4 over the next seven minutes, building a 30-18 advantage with just under six minutes to go before the Spartans closed out the half on an 8-0 run. Beth Thomas scored five of Aurora's eight points including a jumper at the buzzer to cut a 10-point Cardinal lead to just two at 32-30.

A 9-0 run early in the second half, pushed a slim one-point Cardinal advantage into a 10-point bulge with Christine Karl and Errico accounting for all nine points during the surge. A Jenny Swanson basket with 9:30 remaining gave the visiting Cardinals their biggest lead of the day at 58-42 before the Spartans began chipping away at the lead.

A 10-point Cardinal buffer with 3:39 remaining evaporated to just a four-point cushion over a minute later as the home side mounted a 6-0 run. North Central would respond down the stretch, sinking six of seven free throws to preserve the victory.

Karl finished the afternoon 10-for-18 from the floor, scoring a team-high 24 points along with seven assists, three blocks and three steals. Errico finished with 18 points while Kaelyn Witkowski and Swanson chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Becky Bylina led the team on the glass, registering 10 rebounds with six coming on the offensive end.

Jen Robinson paced the Spartans with 24 points with Megan Russe and Becky Gifford tallying 13 and 10 points, respectively.

North Central shot a season-high 44 percent (eight-for-18) from three point range while finishing the afternoon shooting 46 percent (29-for-63) from the floor.

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 3-8 overall while the Spartans stumble to 2-8. North Central returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, January 5, hosting top-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. inside Gregory Arena to open up CCIW play.