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

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. (Nov. 27, 2016) – Making up for yesterday's lackluster offensive performance, the North Central College women's basketball team responded with a 116-72 trouncing of Manchester University on Sunday afternoon at the North Park University Tournament.
 
After shooting under 25 percent from the field yesterday, the Cardinal offense exploded with the highest point total thus far, shooting over 41 percent from the field, including 17 three-pointers.
 
North Central (3-1) opened the contest on a 19-7 run just five minutes in as five different Cardinals connected from beyond the arc.  Miranda Grizaffi got the scoring started with a long ball, while Anita Sterling hit from deep two possessions later.  Just a few minutes later, Kelly Wallner drained one from the top of the arc, while Siarra O'Neil and Jessica Dahle hit on back-to-back threes and Shannon Ryan capped the run with a lay-in.
 
The Cardinals opened up their largest lead of the first half at the 3:22 mark of the second quarter, as a Selena Juarez lay-up gave North Central a 48-29 advantage.
 
The offensive explosion continued in the third quarter as North Central outscored Manchester (0-5), 43-23.  Back-to-back long balls from Sterling and Grizaffi, followed by a pair of free throws from Lyndsay Brennan gave North Central a 30-point lead, 80-50, midway through the third and continued to pour on the offense late, at one point leading by as many as 48 down the stretch.
 
19 of the 20 Cardinals to dress scored in the blowout win, led by 12 points from Dahle, 11 from Sterling and 10 from O'Neil.  Maya Walls finished with eight points, while leading the team with eight rebounds and four assists.  Dahle finished with six steals on defense, while Mayson Whipple added five.

Additionally, Sterling was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts over the weekend, averaging 9.5 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game, shooting 71 percent from the field including a 5-for-6 showing from three-point range.
 
Samantha Bolen and Maddy Minehart each finished with 14 points to lead the Spartan offense, while Jennifer Lee also finished in double figures with 11.
 
North Central returns home on Saturday, Dec. 3, playing host to Illinois Wesleyan University in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opener at 5 p.m.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.