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

PASADENA, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2019) – Beginning their trip on the west coast, the North Central College women's basketball team shook off a first-quarter deficit and outscored California Institute of Technology in each of the final three quarters en route to a 67-58 victory inside the Braun Athletic Center on Sunday.

Following a slow opening 10 minutes in which North Central shot just 4-of-14 from the field, the Cardinals faced a 15-11 deficit but battled back over the second quarter as back-to-back three-pointers from Haydn Braun and Page Desenberg overtook the Caltech lead 31-27 with under a minute to play in the half.

North Central (5-6) led from halftime on as a pair of layups from Natali Dimitrova increased the lead to double digits, 43-33 with 4:19 to play in the third quarter.

The Beavers (2-8) made a game of it early in the fourth, as a quick 7-1 run shrunk the lead 54-51, but once again Dimitrova came through to knock down a clutch jumper, extending the lead back to five. 

Five points was as close as Caltech came to the lead in the closing minutes, as Dimitrova led the North Central offense with 19 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.  Maya Walls added 12 points and six rebounds, while Desenberg also finished in double figures with 10 points off the bench.

Three players combined for 54 of the Beavers' 58 total points, led by 26 from Grace Peng and 20 from Sahana Saikumar, while Alexa Lauinger added eight points.

North Central finishes their quick trip to California on Monday, Dec. 30, taking on Whittier College with tip-off at 3 p.m. (PT) inside the Graham Athletic Center.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.

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