Allison Pearson
Steve Woltmann
47
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN 0-1,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
58
Winner North Central (IL) NCC 1-0,0-0 CCIW
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN
0-1,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
47
Final
58
North Central (IL) NCC
1-0,0-0 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN 6 21 4 16 47
North Central (IL) NCC 15 10 10 23 58

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Seniors Push Cardinals Past Belles, 58-47

Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 9, 2021) - Playing in their first game of the 2021-22 season, the North Central College women's basketball team bested Saint Mary's College 58-47 behind a senior-led offense as all three scored in double figures.

The Cardinals jumped out to an 8-1 advantage, thanks to an Allison Pearson three-pointer. North Central extended the lead to 15-1 when Mitrese Smith scored her first bucket of the contest, with Natalie Stavropoulos recording the assist. 

Saint Mary's responded in the second quarter, a Megan McClure basket stopped the Belles 15-2 run to knot the score at 17 with 6:55 left in the half. After IxChel Leeuwenburgh forced a Saint Mary's turnover, Elle Sutter scored four quick points in the final minute of the second quarter to shrink the Cardinals deficit to two, 25-27.

In the third quarter of play, North Central scored the first six points to take a 31-27 lead. After Leeuwenburgh scored two points midway through the quarter, the Cardinals locked down on defense and only allowed Saint Mary's to score four points in the period, to take a 35-31 advantage into the final quarter of play.

Following a Sutter offensive rebound, Leeuwenburgh scored a layup on the opening possession. North Central pushed the lead to ten after Smith knocked down two free throws to put herself in double figures. The Cardinals did not look back as they led the rest of the way and secured the 58-47 victory.

Pearson led the Cardinals in the scoring column with 14 points while dishing out a team-high six assists. Smith added 11 points and nine rebounds on the night. Leeuwenburgh posted her second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. As a team, the Cardinals shot 36% and held the Belles to just a 26% mark. 

Elle Deardorff was Saint Mary's top scorer with 19 points, followed by Julia Schultz (13) and Maddie Rzepka (8).

North Central faces the University of Mount Union on Friday night at 5:30 PM in the first round of the Hope College Tip-Off Tournament. You can follow along with live stats HERE.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
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