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Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. (Feb. 22, 2013) – Playing to stay in contention for the fourth and final spot in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament, the North Central College women's basketball team was unable to sneak past Elmhurst College, ultimately falling 95-85 at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
The Cardinals held tough in the first half and trailed by just one, 41-40 heading into the intermission as the Cardinal defense forced 18 Elmhurst turnovers, leading to 15 points on the other end.
 
Elmhurst (14-11, 6-8 CCIW) jumped out to a 16-point lead over the first ten minutes of the second half, as Fiona McMahon nailed a jumper to give the Bluejays a 70-54 advantage.
 
With Elmhurst holding a 76-59 lead with just over seven minutes left to play, the Cardinals would go on a 15-2 run over the next two minutes to pull within four points of the lead, scoring on seven straight possessions highlighted by back-to-back steals by Emily Zgoda leading to a pair of easy buckets on the other end, but the Cardinals were ultimately unable to overcome the Elmhurst lead.
 
Maryssa Cladis was the lone Cardinal in double-figures on the afternoon, pacing the Cardinal offense with 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field.  Marion Boeck finished her collegiate career with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
McMahon led the Elmhurst offensive attack with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Karen Senette finished with 23 points and Katie Swanson finished two points shy of a triple-double, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
 
North Central finishes the season with an overall record of 11-14, including a 4-10 showing in CCIW play.