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

Box Score

Jan. 25, 2012-- A 12-0 second half run by the visitors put a tight contest out of reach for host North Central College on Wednesday night, falling 62-50 to North Park University in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game inside Gregory Arena.

The visiting Vikings (8-10, 2-5 CCIW) held a tenuous, 43-41, lead with 9:24 remaining in the second half before scoring the next 12 straight, taking a 14-point advantage with just under five minutes to go. The run put a tight game out of reach for the Cardinals (6-12, 0-7 CCIW) as NPU led by at least nine points the rest of the way en route to the 12-point victory.

North Park charged out of the gates in the opening six minutes of play, scoring eight fast break points to take a 10-3 lead. The Cardinals regrouped after a 30 second timeout, tallying the next 15 points to take a game-high 18-10 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half.

The Vikings countered over the next four minutes, scoring seven straight to pull within one, 18-17, with 3:38 remaining. A Maryssa Cladis three-pointer with 1:34 remaining bumped the North Central edge to five points before a Sarah Peterson three with nine seconds left cut the Cardinal advantage to just two as North Central enjoyed a 23-21 lead at intermission.

A Sophie Newson jumper gave the Cardinals a five-point edge with just under 15 minutes remaining in the second half before the Vikings scored the next nine, taking the lead for good with 11:49 to go.

23 of the Cardinals' 50 points came from the bench with Cladis leading the way with a team-high 11 points. Helen Muleya added 10 points and four steals while Larynn Shumaker had eight points off the bench and a team-high nine rebounds.

Roxxanne Jones led the Vikings with 19 points while Sarah Peterson ended the night with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 boards.

The Cardinals dominated the boards in the opening 20 minutes of play, holding a 25-16 edge on the glass before the Vikings controlled the second half, outrebounding the hosts by a 25-12 count.

North Central returns to the hardwood on Saturday, making the trek to Kenosha, Wis. to face Carthage College at 5:30 p.m.