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

Box Score

Jan. 2, 2016 – The North Central College women's basketball team's defense had no answer for the North Park University attack, allowing a season-high point total in a 118-108 loss on Saturday to open College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play.
 
North Central (6-6, 0-1 CCIW) held a 10-8 lead four minutes into the opening half and that would prove to be the Cardinals' last lead of the contest as the Viking offense went on a 10-0 run to quickly take a 18-10 lead and would hold the lead the remainder of the contest, out running the Cardinals late.
 
Despite holding a double-digit deficit after the first quarter, North Central held tough over the course of the second quarter, as a Michaela Reedy three-pointer drew the Cardinals to within three, 41-38 with 7:11 to play in the first half.
 
After the Vikings once again built up its lead to double-figures, the Cardinals closed the half on a 11-4 run to yet again draw to within three and trail 58-55 at the intermission.
 
A Jamie Cuny long ball at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter shrunk the Viking lead to just one, 67-66, but that was as close as the Cardinals came to overcoming the lead as the Vikings' countered with a 13-2 run over the next three minutes to increase its lead back to double-digits.
 
North Park (10-2, 1-0 CCIW) led by double-digits nearly the entire fourth quarter, opening up its largest lead, a 16-point advantage with 5:17 left to play.
 
The Cardinals had no answer for North Park's Liz Rehberger, as the junior guard finished with a career-high and North Park single-game record 42 points, to go along with nine rebounds and three assists. 
 
Mayson Whipple led the Cardinal offense with a career-high 21 points , while Cuny and Paula Zernate each finished with 12.  Therese Pettersson added 11 points off the bench, while Anita Sterling also chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
North Central continues conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 6, traveling to Millikin University with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.  Links to live coverage available HERE.