Contact: Louis Groce, Graduate Assistant to the Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

(Nov. 17, 2012) – The North Central College women's basketball team scored the first seven points and never relinquished its early lead in a, 70-67, win over Alma College in the 2012 Chicago Marriott Naperville Tip-Off Tournament. 

Box Score

Maryssa Cladis' layup with 2:58 gone by in the second half gave the Cardinals its largest lead of the game, 49-30, but Alma would not go quietly. 

The Scots forced the Cardinals to shoot just 7-38 (18.4%) in the second half.  After a Callie Rezin layup with 6:53 to play North Central went cold for the next 5:28 and Alma went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 65-60 with 2:10 showing on the clock. 

With North Central clinging to a 69-64 advantage, Stephanie Faller canned a three-pointer with just four seconds remaining to cut the lead to 69-67.  After making her first free throw with one second remaining, Michelle Todd missed her second freebie, and Mary Schilcher grabbed the rebound but was unable to get a shot off as time expired. 

The Cardinal lead swelled to as many as 16 points in the first half by scoring 20 of its 40 first half points off of the Scots' 22 turnovers.  Bobbi Johns came up with three steals and scored seven points to fuel the North Central advantage. 

Emily Murphy led the way for the Cardinals by scoring 10 points, while Kimberly Wilson and Cladis chipped in eight apiece.  Wilson was also North Central's lone all-tournament selection. 

Schlicher had a big night for the Scots, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.  Despite not scoring, Danielle Hicks made her presence felt on the backboard, grabbing 17 rebounds. 

North Central returns to action on Wednesday when they host Monmouth College at 7:30 p.m.