Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
LISLE, Ill. (Nov. 23, 2021) - Playing in their fifth straight game away from Gregory Arena, the North Central College women's basketball fell to Benedictine University 68-63 on Tuesday evening inside the Rice Center.
After falling down 5-0 to open the game, a layup from Mitrese Smith put the Cardinals back on top, 6-5. Each team traded baskets until IxChel Leeuwenburgh and Jessica Kowalczyk each made layups, pushing North Central's lead to three with 4:54 remaining. Elle Sutter scored her first two points of the game with 40-seconds left in the quarter as the Eagles held a slight 18-16 lead heading into the second quarter.
Natalie Stavropoulos tied the game up at 18 apiece, with Allison Pearson recording her second assist of the contest. Leeuwenburgh knocked down a jumper with 5:57 to go in the quarter before Benedictine closed the half on a 12-2 run.
Smith began the second half with a layup to shrink the Eagles' lead to six. With 6:20 left to play in the third quarter, Stavropoulos scored her eighth point of the contest, bringing North Central within five, 39-34. Benedictine scored the next six points before Leeuwenburgh cut the Cardinal deficit to seven to close out the quarter.
The Eagles went on an 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter, stopped by a bucket from Smith. The Cardinals would cut the lead to five late in the game but the Eagles held on and won 68-63.
Pearson (16 points, 10 rebounds) has scored in double figures in each of the six games this season while Leeuwenburgh (14 points, 11 rebounds) notched her fourth double-double of the season. Smith tallied 14 points with Stavropoulos adding nine. Alex Fanning led the way for Benedictine with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Cardinals are off until next Wednesday when they visit the University of Chicago at 7 PM inside Ratner Athletics Center. You can find live video and live stat links to that game HERE.
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