North Central College Cardinals

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

Box Score

DUBUQUE, Iowa, (Dec. 19, 2015) – The North Central College women's basketball team led early and often against the University of Dubuque on Saturday, cruising to a 109-97 win, improving to 5-4 this season as the Cardinals have eclipsed the 100-point mark in each of the five wins.
 
Dubuque (3-6) held a 4-2 lead to open the contest, but a Michaela Reedy three-pointer gave the Cardinals (5-4) a 5-4 lead, proving to be the only lead change of the contest.
 
After missing its first five three-point attempts, the Cardinal offense found its grove finishing the opening quarter with seven long balls, including a pair from Kimberly Wilson to hold a 29-24 advantage after a quarter played.
 
The Spartans held tight throughout the opening five minutes of the second quarter, but a 13-0 North Central run over the next 1:15 to quickly take a 53-37 lead.  The Cardinal run was highlighted by some impressive free throw shooting from Paula Zerante, scoring eight straight points from the charity stripe, while a Mayson Whipple jumper capped the run.
 
Another Wilson three-pointer gave North Central its largest lead of the opening half, 49-69 as the Cardinals finished 14-of-45 from beyond the arch in the opening half.
 
North Central opened up its largest lead of the contest, a 26-point advantage at the 6:48 mark of the third quarter, as a Caroline Heimerdinger three-pointer gave the Cardinals a 80-54 lead,
 
The Cardinals finished 21-of-70 from three-point range, led by Wilson's five long balls, while Reedy and Miranda Grizaffi each finished with four.
 
Five Cardinals scored in double-figures, led by Zerante's career-high 17 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.  Wilson finished with a season-high 16 points, while Reedy finished with 14 and Grizaffi added 12.  Freshman Selena Juarez turned in her best game thus far, finishing with 10 points off the bench.
 
North Central is back in action on Dec. 28, taking on Denison University at the Otterbein University Smokey Ballenger Classic at 5:30 pm (ET).  The link to live in-game statistics is available HERE.