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

Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. (Jan. 8, 2014) – Despite a double-digit first half lead, the North Central College women's basketball team needed a last minute basket to sneak out an 87-85 victory over Millikin University, earning its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) win of the season.
 
The Cardinals (8-5, 1-1 CCIW) jumped out to an early 13-2 lead over the game's opening five minutes, as Lauren Hernandez and Bobbi Johns hit back-to-back three pointers to get the rally started.
 
DeJa Moore followed with a steal leading to an easy lay-up and followed with a jumper on the next trip down the court, while Johns completed a three-point play two possessions later to cap of the North Central run.
 
North Central took its largest lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, as Johns and Kimberly Wilson connected on back-to-back long balls, giving the Cardinals a 32-17 lead.
 
The North Central defense forced 19 turnovers while holding the Big Blue (6-7, 0-2 CCIW) to just 36 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes to take a 43-34 advantage into halftime, while the Cardinal offense was paced by Johns' 13 points.
 
The Millikin offense caught fire in the second half, connecting on 21 of 42 shots from the field and making 9 of 11 shots from the free throw line to take an 85-84 lead with 1:20 to play in regulation.
 
With just under a minute remaining, Larynn Shumaker knocked home a crucial lay-up while getting fouled in the process.  Shumaker nailed the free-throw to put the Cardinals ahead 87-85 and the North Central defense was able to hold off a trio of Millikin last second attempts.
 
North Central's defense forced 39 turnovers in the contest and held the Big Blue to just one three-point attempt.
 
Shumaker finished with a team-high 19 points, while Johns ended with 15 points.  Hernandez chipped in 11 points and Uzuri Williams added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Brittany Czaplicki paced Millikin with a 25 point, 12 rebound double-double, while Bria Williams added 21 points and eight boards.
 
North Central is back on the hardwood Saturday, Jan. 11, traveling to 16^th ranked Carthage College.  Tip-off at Tarble Arena is slated for 5 pm.