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

Box Score

PELLA, Iowa (Nov. 27, 2012)— Despite holding double-digit leads in both halves, the North Central College women's basketball team was able to hold on for the 88-83 victory over Central College, inside Kuyper Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
 
Starting the game with five lead changes, North Central opened up its largest lead of the first half as Jenny Swanson and Maryssa Cladis hit back-to-back three pointers before Sophie Newson drained one from beyond the arch, giving the Cardinals a 38-21 advantage with just over six minutes left before halftime.
 
Over the next three minutes the Cardinal offense would go cold as the Dutch scored 14 unanswered points, shrinking the North Central advantage to 38-35 with 2:10 remaining in the half.
 
Just before halftime, Emily Murphy sunk a lay-up to give the Cardinals a 44-39 lead at the intermission.
 
After the break, The Dutch (3-1) stormed back to claim a brief 51-49 lead after a pair of free throws by Jessy Stika with 17:16 left to play in the contest.
 
The Cardinals (3-2) would take the lead right back as Swanson drove to the hole, hit the lay-in and was fouled.  She would complete the three-point play, giving North Central a one-point lead.
 
North Central would not squander the lead the rest of the way, leading by as many as eleven points down the stretch.
 
Swanson paced the way for the Cardinals with 14 points, while Michelle Todd chipped in 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
The Dutch's Nicole Strasko led all scorers with 27 points and 22 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half.
 
North Central returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 29, to take on Luther College at 7 p.m. in Decorah, Iowa.