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

Box Score

LISLE, Ill. (Nov. 22, 2016) – Improving to 2-0 on the young season, the North Central College women's basketball team powered past Benedictine University, 97-89 on Tuesday, connecting on 17 three-pointers.
 
Benedictine (3-1) led early on but a 11-3 Cardinal run midway through the first quarter gave the visitors a 23-16 lead as Miranda Grizaffi and Mayson Whipple went back-to-back from beyond the arc to start the run, while Michaela Reedy capped the run with a long ball of her own.
 
The Eagles rebounded to take a 35-34 lead with 5:19 to play before the half, but a three-pointer from Caroline Heimerdinger, followed by a lay-in from Diamond Calicott and another long ball from Grizaffi regained the Cardinal lead 42-35 just three possessions later.
 
After North Central took a 53-48 lead into the intermission, Benedictine opened the third quarter on a 8-0 run to quickly turn the tables and take a 56-53 lead with 7:35 left. 
 
The Benedictine offense went cold after that point however, while the Cardinal offense lit fire to the tune of 19-straight points to regain the lead for good 72-56, the largest lead of the contest.  Maya Walls hit from deep twice during the rally, while Anita Sterling and Siarra O'Neil each added a three and a layup.
 
Benedictine drew to within five midway through the fourth quarter, but back-to-back threes from Reedy and O'Neil crushed the Eagle comeback attempt.
 
Four Cardinals finished in double figures, led by Sterling's 14 points and seven rebounds, while Reedy finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.  O'Neil added 12 points and Natali Dimitrova chipped in 10 off the bench, while Whipple dished out a team-leading five assists.
 
Alena Moro led the Benedictine offense with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Samantha McCarthy also finished with a double-double, adding 12 points and 13 boards.  D'Asia Williams finished with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.
 
North Central returns to the court on Saturday, November 26, taking on Rose Hulman Institute of Technology at 4 p.m. at the North Park University Gymnasium.