Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
Jan. 11, 2017 --- Despite a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit, the North Central College women's basketball team pulled to with three points late but the Augustana College lead proved to be too much to overcome, falling 86-79 on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena.
Trailing 75-55 with 7:48 to play in the contest, the Cardinal offense caught fire over the next five minutes to the tune of a 19-2 run, as
Siarra O'Neil,
Caroline Heimerdinger and
Anita Sterling each hit from beyond the arc to trim the Viking lead to 11.
A
Hannah Vitkus layup cut the lead to single digits on the Cardinals next possession, while a layup and three pointer from
Shannon Ryan on consecutive possessions cut the lead even further, 77-71.
After an offensive rebound by
Diamond Calicott on the following Cardinal possession, Calicott hit
Michaela Reedy for yet another three pointer, cutting the Viking lead to just three, 77-74 with 2:39 to play, but that would be as close as the Cardinals would come to overtaking the lead.
Augustana responded with a quick 7-0 run, five coming from Kaycee Kallenberger to extend the lead back to double digits with under a minute remaining in regulation.
North Central led for just 1:20 of play, all coming in the first half, shooting at just a 30 percent clip on the evening.
Ryan paced the Cardinal offense with a career-high 18 points, shotting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. O'Neil finished with 12 points, while Sterling also finished in double figures with 10.
Paula Zerante led the team with eight rebounds on the evening, while Heimerdinger and
Lyndsay Brennan each dished out four assists.
Kallenberger finished three blocks shy of a triple-double, leading the Vikings with 18 rebounds, while also adding 14 points and seven blocks. Corrie Reiley led the Viking scoring attack with 16 points, while Carly McCameron added 10 off the bench.
North Central continues College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CIW) play next Wednesday, Jan. 18, playing host to Carthage College at 7 p.m.
