FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

Jan. 15, 2011-- The North Central College women's basketball squad was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling 65-52 to Millikin University in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game inside Gregory Arena.

Both team's got off to a slow start with the homestanding Cardinals' (5-10, 1-3 CCIW) Kelsey Stone sinking the game's first field goal almost four minutes into the contest to grab a 2-1 advantage in what turned out to be their only lead of the afternoon.

A 12-0 run by Millikin (11-4, 3-1 CCIW) midway through the first half turned a three-point lead into a 15-point buffer with 7:04 remaining. The Big Blue led by as many as 20 in the opening half, taking a 36-20 advantage into the halftime break, forcing the Cardinals to shooting just 29 percent (nine-for-31) from the field.

The Cardinals regrouped in the second half, mounting a 7-0 run to close within seven points with 12:32 remaining before the Big Blue responded with a 16-4 run to ice the game, taking a 21-point lead with just under eight minutes to go.

Stone and Jackie Errico each finished the afternoon with eight points to lead the Cardinals. Stone's total ties a career-high as the freshman made her first start of the season while Errico led the team on the glass with six rebounds.

Millikin has three players in double figures, led by Heather Pruemer's 17. Julia Robert added 13 while Elise Wildman had 12 and a game-high eight rebounds.

North Central returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, traveling to Kenosha, Wis. to take on Carthage College at 7:30 p.m.