FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Sauer,Graduate Assistant to Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

Nov. 18, 2011-- The North Central College women's basketball team notched their first victory of the season downing Blackburn College, 71-58 in the opening round of the 2011 Courtyard Chicago Naperville Tip-Off Tournament held inside Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (1-1) grabbed a 7-6 lead just four minutes into the game and would hold that lead for the remainder of the contest.  Coming off the bench, Lauren Hernandez led the Cardinals with 9 first half points sinking 4 of her 7 shots from the field as North Central would take a 29-23 advantage into the intermission. 

Coming out of the half, the Cardinals would go on an 11-4 run to increase their lead to double digits.  At the 13:37 mark in the second half the Cardinals would see their largest lead of the game as Larynn Shumaker scored from down low giving the home team a 20 point advantage.

The Cardinals scored 33 points off of 35 Beaver turnovers.  North Central shot an even 50.0 percent from the field while the Beavers made 19 of 45 shots totaling a 42.2 field goal percentage.

Jenny Swanson led the way for the Cardinals draining 3-4 three pointers in the second half to finish with 14 points.  Sophie Newson chipped in 12 points to go along with her 5 rebounds.

Roshanda Willis was the leading scorer in the contest compiling 21 points while going 6-18 from the field.  Shelby Smith tallied 14 points on the evening for the Beavers sinking 4-4 three point shots. 

North Central will take on Trine University in the championship game of the 2011 Courtyard Chicago Naperville Tip-Off Tournament tomorrow night.  Tip-off is slated for 5 pm at Gregory Arena inside Merner Fieldhouse.