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Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. (Jan. 9, 2010) -- In a game featuring six lead changes and nine ties, it was a 9-2 run late in the game that proved to be the difference-maker, propelling host Wheaton College to the 67-62 win over North Central College in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game at King Arena.

The home side tallied the games first four points before the Cardinals stormed back, scoring 10 of the next 12 to take a 10-6 lead with 12:20 remaining. Becky Bylina started the rally with a pair of baskets with Kaelyn Witkowski, Christine Karl and Jackie Errico all scoring buckets during the run. Wheaton tied the game at 11 and again at 15 before the Cardinals got a basket from Latrice Newson and a pair of free throws from Karl for a 19-15 lead with 7:49 remaining in the half. The lead proved fleeting as Brooke Olson sunk a three to bring the game within one and converted a layup the next possession, part of an 11-0 Wheaton run to take a 26-19 lead. Errico ended the almost four-minute scoring drought with a three pointer as the Cardinals went into the locker room at half trailing, 32-27.

A Jenny Swanson three pointer just 15 seconds into the second half cut the deficit to just two before a Wheaton turnover and a Karl jumper knotted the score at 32 apiece. Olson countered with a three of her own to break the deadlock, giving the Thunder the 35-32 edge. North Central reclaimed the lead at 38-37 on a Karl layup and again at 39-38 on an Errico free throw with 15:04 remaining in what proved to be the Cardinals' final lead of the game.

North Central trailed 51-44 before crawling back within three with 6:22 to go before the Thunder went on a 9-2 run to open up a game-high 10 point advantage with just over four minutes to play.

The Cardinals pulled to within two points on two separate occasions with under three minutes to play but were unable to come any closer, failing to convert on their final six shots of the game.

Errico finished with a game-high 21 points, her fourth straight game in double figures while Bylina registered her first career double-double. Bylina grabbed seven of her game-high 13 rebounds on the offensive end, while also chipping in 11 points. Karl was North Central's third player in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

The Thunder (7-5, 1-1 CCIW) had three players in double figures led by Kelly Brooks' 14 points. Olson and Breanna Bohlen each chipped in 10 points while Annie Bowen grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

North Central shot just 28.4 percent (19 for 67) from the field in the game while Wheaton sunk 41.8 percent (23-for-55) of its attempts.

The Cardinals (3-10, 0-2) return to the hardwood on Tuesday, January 12, hosting North Park University at 7:30 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.