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

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Nov. 12, 2019) – Unable to recover from an early hole and significant deficit on the glass, the North Central College women's basketball team dropped its first game of the season on Tuesday at Saint Mary's College (Indiana), 69-63.

Haunted by a 46-24 margin in rebounding, the Cardinals (1-1) gave up 17 offensive rebounds on the evening leading to 24 second-chance points for the Belles (2-0) in what proved to be the difference in the contest.

Saint Mary's led the entire first half after scoring the game's first four points and opened up a 15-point lead with 4:16 to play in the second quarter.

The Cardinal defense stiffened the remainder of the second quarter however, holding the Belles to only three points while the offense trimmed the lead to just three heading into halftime.  Haydn Braun sparked the run with a three-pointer, before three layups from Maya Walls and another three-pointer from Allison Pearson.

A layup off the hand of Lyndsay Brennan cut the Saint Mary's lead 33-30 at the intermission, but a quick five-point run from the Belles to start the third quarter increased the Cardinal deficit back to eight.

After Alanna Newsome ended the third quarter with a pair of free throws to draw North Central to within one, 46-45, the sophomore gave the Cardinals their first lead of the contest with a layup to begin the fourth quarter.

That lead did not last long however, as Maddie Rzepka knocked down a three-pointer on the Belles' next trip down the court and North Central never led again from that point forward.

The Cardinals had a chance to tie the game late, trailing by three, 64-61 with just over a minute to play but two costly turnovers sunk North Central's attempt at a comeback while the Belles sealed the contest hitting 5-of-8 free throws within the closing seconds.

Newsome led North Central with 17 points, while Page Desenberg also finished in double figures with 11 points.  Walls added eight points and a team-leading three steals, while Brennan dished out four assists.

Giavanna Paradiso finished with a game-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line to lead the Saint Mary's offense.  Bella Dugas grabbed 16 rebounds on the evening including six on the offensive glass, while also adding 10 points to complete the double-double.

North Central opens up a five-game homestand on Saturday, Nov. 16, hosting the University of Dubuque in the home opener at 3 p.m. inside Gregory Arena as the Cardinals celebrate Megan Niklas Day prior to tip-off.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.
 
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