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

Box Score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Nov. 15, 2011)-- The North Central College women's basketball team opened its 2011-2012 campaign on Tuesday night, suffering an 88-81 setback to host Dominican University in a non-conference game at the Igini Sports Forum.

The visiting Cardinals (0-1) trailed by just two, seven minutes into the game before the Stars (1-0) mounted an 8-0 rally to take a 23-13 lead with 9:37 remaining in the opening frame. Dominican pushed its buffer to as many as 12 points before North Central mounted an 8-0 run of its own to pull within four with 2:29 remaining. Callie Rezin kickstarted the run, canning a pair of three-pointers before Emily Collins converted a pair of free throws. The Stars would counter with the final four points of the half, enjoying the 41-33 lead at the break.

North Central outscored the Stars 48-47 in the second 20 minutes of play, cutting the deficit to just six points on three occasions including with 18 seconds remaining off a Helen Muleya layup.

Rezin led the Cardinals in scoring in her collegiate debut, coming off the bench and sinking all three of her three point attempts, finishing with 15 points. Collins notched her first career double-double, ending the night with 14 points and a game-high 14 boards while Muleya and Kelsey Cooling chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Sisters Katie and Sarah Budz paced the Stars, both finishing with 19 points while Sarah added a team-high 12 rebounds. Ashley Oliver added 17 points and 11 rebounds and a game-high four assists.

The Cardinals return to the hardwood on Friday, opening up their home slate by hosting Blackburn College at 5 p.m. inside Gregory Arena in the opening round of the annual Courtyard Chicago Naperville Tip-Off Tournament.