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

Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. (Jan. 6, 2016) -- Holding a steady lead throughout, the North Central College women's basketball team earned its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) win of the season with a 91-81 victory over Millikin University on Wednesday inside the Griswold Center.
 
Trailing 12-7 with 4:01 to play in the opening quarter, North Central (7-6, 1-1 CCIW) closed the quarter on a 22-5 run to quickly take a 29-17 lead after the opening 10 minutes.  The Cardinal run was jolted by three-pointer on three-straight possessions, as Mayson Whipple got the scoring started with a long ball and Michaela Reedy followed with back-to-back threes, both set up from Whipple.  Miranda Grizaffi got in on the three-point barrage later in the quarter, while a lay-in from Anita Sterling as time expired capped the North Central run.
 
North Central led by double-figures the entire second quarter, opening up its largest lead with 6:50 to play as a Therese Pettersson lay-up increased the Cardinal lead 39-17.
 
A 8-0 Millikin run early in the third quarter cut the Cardinal lead to eight, 58-50, but North Central would respond right back, closing the quarter on a 16-7 run to once again increase the lead to double figures 74-57.
 
The Cardinals' shot just 6-for-12 from the free throw line down the stretch, but held on for the 91-81 victory.  The North Central offense was led by Whipple's 16 points and four assists, while Sterling turned in her first career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Pettersson also finished with 13 points off the bench, while Reedy added 10 points.
 
Millikin's Alyssa Saklak led all players with 23 points and 15 boards, while Kelsey Going added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Big Blue (7-7, 0-2 CCIW).
 
North Central continues CCIW play on Saturday, Jan. 9, traveling to No. 17 Wheaton College with tip-off slated for 5 p.m.  Links to live coverage available HERE.