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

Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. (Jan. 21, 2017) – Struggling to stop the Elmhurst College offense over the final three quarters, the North Central College women's basketball team dropped a 103-81 decision inside R.A. Faganel Hall on Saturday afternoon.
 
The North Central offense came out on fire, jumping out to a 20-7 lead over the first five minutes of the first quarter as Jamie Cuny opened the contest with back-to-back three-pointers, while Michaela Reedy and Jessica Dahle also hit from beyond the arc in the opening quarter.
 
Despite taking a 26-13 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play, it was all downhill from there as Elmhurst outscored North Central, 69-37 over the next two quarters, including a 41-20 margin in the second quarter, just one point shy of the NCAA Division III record for points in a quarter.
 
North Central (10-7, 4-4 CCIW) held a 34-24 lead with 7:27 to play in the second quarter when the Elmhurst offense took over the game to the tune of a 28-3 run over the next five and a half minutes.
 
The Bluejays (14-3, 6-2 CCIW) led by double figures nearly the entire second half, as the Cardinal defense had no answer for Mikaela Eppard.  The junior forward torched the Cardinals for 39 points on 14-of-23 shooting from the field, also shooting 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest a perfect 24-of-24 from the free throw line, while shooting 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.
 
Dahle led the Cardinal offense with 14 points, while Anita Sterling and Paula Zerante each added 10.
 
North Central continues College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play next Wednesday, Jan. 25, traveling to Carthage College with tip-off at 7 p.m.