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

Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. (Jan. 25, 2017) – A third-quarter lull forced the North Central College women's basketball team to play catch up nearly the entire second half and was never able to overcome the Carthage College lead in the end, dropping a 106-95 contest on Wednesday night inside Tarble Arena.

North Central (10-8, 4-5 CCIW) trailed by just two, 65-54, at the 3:40 mark of the third quarter, but Carthage (9-8, 4-5 CCIW) ended the quarter on a 19-6 run to quickly open up a 75-60 lead.

After Carthage opened up a 94-72 lead with 5:38 to play in the contest, the North Central offense finally came alive to the tune of a 12-0 run.  Jessica Dahle started the run with a layup, while Natali Dimitrova scored a put back after an offensive rebounds the Cardinals next possession.

Anita Sterling followed with a three-pointer, while Dimitrova added a three-point play the next time down the court and Dahle capped the run with a pair of free throws to close the Lady Red lead 94-84.

A layup by Caroline Heimerdinger cut the Carthage lead even further, 95-88 with just under three minutes to play, but back-to-back three-pointers from Bailey Gilbert ended the Cardinal comeback attempt as Carthage held a double-digit lead the remainder of the way.

Four Cardinals finished in double figures, led by Siarra O'Neil's career-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-5 mark from beyond the arc.  Sterling finished with 14 points, while Dimitrova added 13 points and eight rebounds and Paula Zerante finished with 10 points, eight boards and five assists.

Carthage finished with five double-figure scorers, led by Rachel Szydlowski's 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 10-of-14 shooting from the free throw line.  Madie Kaelber added 20 points, while Morgan Harris finished two assists shy of a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

North Central continues College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play on Saturday, Jan. 28, playing host to 25^th-ranked Wheaton College at 5 p.m.