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

Box Score

Jan. 11, 2012-- Unable to keep pace with the visitors during the second half of play, North Central College suffered a 64-52 setback to Elmhurst College on Wednesday night in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game inside Gregory Arena.

The opening half witnessed four lead changes and fives ties as the Bluejays (12-2, 3-0 CCIW) emerged with a 27-25 lead after 20 minutes of action. The Cardinals (6-8, 0-3 CCIW) scored eight of the game's first 10 points to take its largest lead of the night just under four minutes into the contest. Elmhurst battled back to tie the game at 12 before the Cardinals reclaimed the lead with a scoring surge to take an 18-13 edge.

The Bluejays scored the next seven points, highlighted by a Meghan Merklein three-pointer to take the lead as the two squads stayed within three points of each other the final six minutes of the half.

Elmhurst utilized a 9-2 run to turn a three point edge into a 10-point buffer with 15:04 remaining and maintained at least a seven-point cushion the rest of the way, sending the Cardinals their third loss of the conference season.

Sophie Newson paced the Cardinals, finishing with 16 points along with five rebounds while Emily Collins added 11 points and a team-high seven boards. Emily Murphy chipped in nine points while Helen Muleya tallied a game-high four steals.

Merklein accounted for nearly half of the Bluejays offensive output, ending the night with 31 points while Tess Godhardt added 11. Megan Ney added a game-high 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Cardinals return to the court on Saturday, hitting the road to face Wheaton College at 6 p.m.