Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Dec. 17, 2015 - A diversified offensive attack and a strong fourth quarter helped get the North Central College women's basketball team back to the .500 mark for the season Thursday evening, as the Cardinals turned away a second-half comeback effort and overwhelmed the Benedictine University Eagles, 104-88, at Gregory Arena.
The Cardinals (4-4) had seven players score in double figures as they secured a victory over their local rivals for the fourth straight year. North Central hit the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season and the third time in the past four games.
After giving up the game's first four points, the Cardinals seized control quickly by scoring 14 straight points in a stretch of just under four minutes. The hosts led by as many as 13 before finishing the first period with a 23-12 advantage. North Central scored 14 of its first-quarter points off of 14 Eagle turnovers.
Benedictine (8-2) made a bid to get back into contention with an 8-0 run late in the second period which cut the Cardinals' lead to 40-37 with just under a minute to go. On the final possession of the first half, North Central's Lauren Hernandez knocked down a three-pointer to double the lead to six points at 44-38.
The Eagles made their strongest challenge late in the third quarter, putting up 11 unanswered points in just under two minutes to pull in front, 60-59, with 2:30 on the clock. North Central responded instantly with seven points in the next 38 seconds, as Jamie Cuny scored in the paint, Paula Zerante came up with a steal and layup, and Therese Pettersson fed Cuny for a three-pointer to put North Central back in front. A putback by Aaliyah Johnson just before the buzzer sent the Cardinals into the fourth period with a 72-66 advantage.
The hosts shot 60 percent (12 of 20) from the floor in the fourth quarter to put the contest away, leading by as many as 18 points down the stretch. A 9-2 run, capped off by Anita Sterling's three-pointer with 5:06 to play, sealed the outcome in the Cardinals' favor.
Zerante, Corrine Rowe and Mayson Whipple paced North Central in scoring with 15 points each, while Sterling scored 12, Cuny and Pettersson each totaled 11 and Hernandez scored 10. Cuny also blocked five shots, while Johnson led the way with six rebounds, Pettersson handed out five assists and Kimberly Wilson recorded four of the team's 23 steals.
D'Asia Williams and Raven Willis scored 18 points each for Benedictine, while Nicole Botich scored 15 and Tayler Walker added 10. Alanna Ferry finished with 10 assists.
The Cardinals travel to face the University of Dubuque (3-5) on Saturday. Tipoff at the Stoltz Sports Center is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
