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

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec. 21, 2012)—The North Central College women's basketball team avenged Thursday's loss at the Las Vegas Hoopla, coming back from an early deficit to take a 104-90 victory over Goucher College (Md.), Friday at Centennial Hills.
 
The Cardinals (7-4) fell behind early as Goucher jumped out to a nine-point advantage as Latifah Butler layed one in to give the Gophers a 22-13 lead at the 12:31 mark in the opening half.
 
North Central responded with a run of its own over the next three minutes as Bobbi Johns sunk one from beyond the arch, while Larynn Shumaker and Emily Murphy put home back-to-back layups, closing the Gopher gap 22-20.
 
Paula Elum hit a three-point play to knot the score at 27-27, while Sophie Newson gave the Cardinals the lead at the 7:27 mark, sinking a jumper for two of her 10 points on the afternoon.
 
The Cardinals ended the first half on a 12-2 run, backed by a pair of threes from Jenny Swanson and AnnMarie Bachmann, to take a 53-38 lead into the intermission.
 
In the second half, the Gophers (4-6) would go on a 9-0 run in just over a minute span, coming within five points of the lead on two occasions, but the Cardinal defense held strong while forcing 33 turnovers on the afternoon.
 
At one point, the North Central offense was able to open up a 19-point lead late in the second half, cruising to the 104-90 win.
 
Larynn Shumaker paced the Cardinals with 22 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the floor while going 12 of 12 from the free throw line.  Paula Elum added 12 points and Newson finished with 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds.
 
Latifah Butler led the Gophers in scoring with 26 points while Taquasia Lambert finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds.
 
North Central is idle until after the New Year, travelling to Elmhurst College to open up College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on Jan 2.  Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.