Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 8, 2021) - Hosting the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point inside Gregory Arena, the North Central College women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start and fell 57-51 on Wednesday night.
The Pointers scored the first 10 points of the contest before Megan McClure stopped their run and put the Cardinals on the board. With 1:38 left in the opening quarter, IxChel Leeuwenburgh scored her first basket of the game. Jessica Kowalczyk hit a three-pointer with under a minute to play to bring the score to 20-9 after a quarter of play.
North Central responded to start the second quarter as Allison Pearson hit a jumper on the first Cardinal possession. After a few trips down the floor, Leeuwneburgh scored in the paint and McClure finished off a 7-0 run from North Central. Kowalyczk knocked down her second three of the contest. Pearson closed out the half with a bucket to bring the Cardinals within three, 21-24.
Two free throws from Mitrese Smith tied and then gave North Central their first lead of the game with 9:18 to play in the third quarter. Following back-and-forth action, Elle Sutter knotted the game at 31 before Abby Cox knocked down a free throw as North Central retook the lead. The Pointers closed the quarter on a 10-5 run.
Early in the final quarter of action, the Cardinals scored six straight points to regain the lead at 46-45. With 4:07 left, UW-Stevens Point scored a fastbreak layup to go ahead by two points. The Pointers would hold the lead for the rest of the contest, taking a 57-51 win.
Leeuwneburgh totaled 12 points and six rebounds. McClure scored a career-high 10 points to add to her career-best nine rebounds. Pearson and Kowalczyk each added eight points for the Cardinals. Jamie Pfeifer and Jessica Slowik led the Pointers with 10 points each.
North Central travels to Bloomington on Dec. 15th to face off with CCIW foe Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 Pm inside the Shirk Center. Click here for live coverage options.
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