Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
Feb. 13, 2019 – Once again plagued by a single-digit third quarter, the North Central College women's basketball team wrapped up the home portion of the schedule on the wrong end of a 78-68 final to 17
th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday inside Gregory Arena.
North Central (7-17, 5-10 CCIW) held with the Titans (20-4, 13-2 CCIW) over the first 20 minutes as the two teams traded the lead 15 times in the opening half to take a 31-31 tie into halftime.
In what has become a theme this season, the Cardinals came out of the locker room cold to muster only eight points in the third, shooting under 24 percent from the field. The Titans meanwhile took advantage, opening up a 16-point lead on 53 percent shooting in the quarter, holding a 55-39 lead after three.
The Titans held a double digit lead nearly all of the fourth quarter as the Cardinals trimmed the lead down to eight late on a
Page Desenberg three-pointer but proved too little too late in the end.
A career-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting from
Allison Pearson led North Central, while Desenberg finished with 15 points off the bench.
Tyonne Howard also finished in double figures with 10 points, also adding a team-high four assists.
The Illinois Wesleyan offense was powered through Maddie Merritt, as the senior forward finished with game-highs of 26 points and 12 rebounds to complete the double-double. Ashley Schneider added 18 points while Sydney Shanks finished with 14.
Still fighting for one of the final two spots in the CCIW Tournament next week, North Central closes out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Elmhurst College with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. inside R.A. Faganel Hall. Links to live in-game coverage are available
HERE.
