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

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 4, 2017) – Falling behind by 21 in the first half, the North Central College women's basketball team battled back to tie the score late in the second half, but the North Park University lead proved too much to overcome as the Cardinals fell 85-78.
 
North Central (10-10, 4-7 CCIW) struggled to get anything going on the offensive end during the first half, as North Park (11-10, 4-8 CCIW) surged out to a 39-18 lead with 4:04 to play in the second quarter.
 
The Cardinals slowly chipped away at the Viking lead over the course of the third quarter, aided by a 11-1 run, capped by a three-point play from Paula Zerante to cut the lead to single digits 53-46.
 
After trimming the North Park lead to five heading into the fourth quarter, back-to-back layups by Kelly Wallner and Jamie Cuny at the 3:18 mark evened the score 71-71, the first tie since the team's traded baskets to begin the contest.
 
The Cardinals were not able to take the lead however, as the Vikings' Liz Rehberger knocked down a three-pointer on North Park's next possession, followed by a pair of free throws the next time down the floor to open the Viking lead back up to five.
 
North Park led the remainder of the contest, knocking down five of six free throw attempts in the final two minutes of the game.
 
North Central shot just 30 percent (27-of-90) from the field on the evening, including 9-of-45 from beyond the arc.
 
Cuny led the Cardinal offense with 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field, while Anita Sterling finished with a double-double, adding 10 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.  Zerante also finished in double figures, scoring 16 points before fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
 
Four Vikings finished in double figures, led by Rehberger's 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Gabby Sandoval also recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 boards.
 
North Central looks to snap its four-game losing streak on Wednesday, Feb. 8 playing host to Millikin University at 7 p.m.