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Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Jan. 7, 2012)-- Molly Etheridge hit a three-pointer as time expired, lifting host Augustana College past North Central College, 66-65, on Saturday in a Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game inside the Carver Center.

The Cardinals (6-7, 0-2 CCIW) held a three point edge with 21 seconds remaining off a Callie Rezin free throw before Etheridge hit a jumper with 10 ticks remaining. Paula Elum was fouled and sent to the line with seven seconds left, hitting one free throw to put North Central up 65-63 before Etheridge hit the game winner at the buzzer off a feed from Whitney Miller, sending the Cardinals their second defeat of the conference season.

North Central held a 32-25 lead at the halftime break, ending the opening 20 minutes of play on a 7-0 run. Sophie Newson sparked the run, hitting a jumper to break a 25-25 deadlock with 2:04 remaining before getting a block on the defensive end of the court. Newson turned the defensive stand into points drilling a jumper on the Cardinals' ensuing possession.

The Vikings led by as many as five points in the second half before the Cardinals grabbed the 57-56 lead with 3:12 to go off a Paula Elum jumper. North Central led by five with 30 seconds to go off a pair of Jenny Swanson free throws before ultimately falling on the buzzer-beater.

Emily Murphy led the Cardinals' scoring efforts, ending the afternoon with 12 points. Swanson sunk three three-pointers, ending the game with 11 points while Rezin and Elum each tallied 10 points. Emily Collins finished with a game-high 10 rebounds and a team-high four assists and two blocks.

Three Vikings ended the game in double figures with Natalie Runge contributing a game-high 15 points. Etheridge had 14 while Gianna Pecora added 13.

North Central hit 52.2 percent (12-for-23) of its shots in the opening half but shot just 34.5 percent (10-for-29) in the second 20 minutes of play while allowing the Vikings to shoot 46.7 percent (14-for-30) in the second half. The Cardinals held the hosts to shooting just 33.3 percent (10-for-30) in the opening stanza.

North Central returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, hosting Elmhurst College inside Gregory Arena with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.