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

Box Score

Nov. 16, 2019 – Spoiling away a 15-point first-half lead, the North Central College women's basketball team fell 80-75 to the University of Dubuque on Saturday in a tale of two halves in the home opener inside Gregory Arena.

North Central (1-2) came out strong in the first quarter, as a layup from Rebekah Foley and two free throws from Allison Pearson opened up a 19-10 lead late in the opening quarter.

Following a Dubuque (2-0) field goal that trimmed the lead 24-17 early in the second quarter, a layup from Allison Pearson sparked a quick 8-0 Cardinal run ahead of a jumper and two free throws from Lyndsay Brennan and another layup from Mitrese Smith gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the contest 32-17 with 6:38 to play in the second quarter.

After taking a 11-point lead into the intermission, the Cardinal offense suddenly went cold, shooting just 2-for-15 from the field in the third quarter to let the Spartans back in the contest.

Still holding a four-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cardinals' offensive struggles continued as Dubuque went on a 24-7 run through the first seven minutes of the quarter to turn the tables and take hand North Central a 77-64 deficit.

With just under three minutes to play, the Cardinals rallied to go on a 11-1 run to cut the Spartan lead to just three with 13 seconds to play, but North Central dug itself too deep of a hole as Dubuque's Josie Thomas sealed the game with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.

The Cardinals shot just 21 percent from the field in the second half, while Dubuque rallied to shoot over 69 percent in the fourth quarter on 9-of-13 shooting from the field.

22 points from Alanna Newsome paced North Central on the afternoon, while Pearson finished with 18 points and game-highs six assists and five steals.  Brennan led all players with 10 rebounds, while Smith added nine points and nine boards.

Four Spartans finished in double figures, led by 15 points from Tabria Thomas, while Allie Bailey and Kennedy Litvinoff each tallied 12 and Thomas finished with 11.

North Central continues the current five-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 20, hosting Concordia University Wisconsin at 7 p.m.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.

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