FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
KENOSHA, Wis. (Jan. 18, 2011)-- Jackie Errico poured on a career-high 28 points but it was not enough as North Central College suffered a 73-59 setback to host Carthage College on Tuesday night in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game at Tarble Arena.
Carthage's (12-4, 3-2 CCIW) Dani Ripkey canned a pair of threes to open the contest, helping the Lady Reds roar out to an early 8-0 lead.
Jenny Swanson broke up the run and got the Cardinals (5-10, 1-3 CCIW) on the board just over five minutes into the contest with a trey before Ripkey answered with a three of her own the ensuing possession.
The visiting Cardinals cut the deficit to just three off a pair of Errico free throws with 12:27 remaining in the opening 20 minutes of play. Carthage quickly extended its lead with a 12-3 spurt over a three minute span, eventually taking a 39-28 lead into the break, shooting 50 percent from the floor (14-for-28) while limiting North Central to just 30.4 percent (seven-for-23) from the field.
The host Lady Reds led by double digits the entire second half, building a lead as big as 26 points with just under 14 minutes to go. The Cardinals chipped at the lead and rattled off nine straight points to close within 10 with 4:16 remaining but were unable to come any closer, eventually settling on the final 14-point margin.
Errico drilled five three-pointers on the night, finishing nine-for-13 from the field and five-for-seven from three-point range. The senior was a perfect five-for-five at the charity stripe while leading the team on the glass with six rebounds.
Helen Muleya came off the bench and chipped in eight points and a team-high four assists.
Ripkey paced Carthage with 15 points, all 15 of which came from beyond the arc. Allison Groessl added 13 points while Cailee Corcoran had a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Cardinals return to action on Saturday at 5 p.m., traveling to Rock Island, Ill. to face Augustana College.