Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Feb. 23, 2021) - The North Central College women's basketball team recorded its first victory at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center in more than four years Tuesday, wiping out a nine-point halftime deficit and taking down the Titans, 66-62.
The Cardinals owned a 43-25 advantage in rebounding and outscored IWU, 36-23, after halftime as they snapped a two-game losing skid.
Trailing by just a 17-15 count after one quarter, North Central (2-8) fell behind early in the second period as the hosts reeled off 10 consecutive points. Two inside baskets by
IxChel Leeuwenburgh, a three-pointer from
Rebekah Foley and a layup by
Sadie Jurkovic enabled the Cardinals to close the gap to five points at 29-24, but IWU (3-2) scored six of the final eight points of the period to carry a 39-30 advantage into halftime.
A three-pointer and an inside jumper by Foley on consecutive possessions tied the score at 54-54 with 6:43 left in the game. The Titans' Kendall Sosa converted a layup to give the hosts lead back briefly before Foley sruck again with a three-pointer to nudge the Cardinals in front, 57-56, with 4:50 on the clock.
Leeuwenburgh and Jurkovic scored in the paint on back-to-back trips down the floor to extend the visitors' lead to 61-56 and North Central never trailed again. The Cardinals limited IWU to 28.6 percent shooting (8 of 28) after halftime.
Foley finished with a career-high 23 points, while Leeuwenburgh posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double and
Haydn Braun totaled five assists and four steals. Sosa paced the Titans with 23 points and Anna Lowis added 14 points on a perfect 7 of 7 shooting from the floor.
The Cardinals host No. 13-ranked Wheaton College on Thursday. Tipoff at Gregory Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.
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