Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
KENOSHA, Wis. (Jan 22, 2022) - Facing Carthage in a key conference matchup, the North Central College women's basketball team beat the Firebirds 61-51 for the second time this season. The Cardinals never trailed in the game and shot 43% from the field.
After Allison Pearson scored the first bucket of the game, IxChel Leeuwenburgh scored back-to-back field goals to give the Cardinals a 6-0 advantage to open the game. With 3:46 left in the first quarter, Pearson scored again giving North Central an 11-6 lead. Stephanie Kowalczyk knocked down two free throws to take a 13-8 edge after the first 10 minutes of play.
Mitrese Smith scored a layup on the Cardinals' first possession of the second quarter before Elle Sutter extended the lead to double-digits, 18-8. Megan McClure scored her fourth point of the contest with 2:06 to play in the half. Carthage recorded two late baskets as North Central entered halftime with a 24-17 lead.
The Firebirds began the third quarter with four straight points, pulling their deficit to three. Smith answered with back-to-back baskets to give the Cardinals their momentum back. Kowalczyk hit a three-pointer with 2:20 to go in the quarter, pushing the lead to nine, 38-29. Sutter hit from deep in the Cardinals final possession of the quarter to take a 46-31 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
North Central used a 6-0 run early in the fourth quarter, capped off by a Sutter layup to put the Cardinals on top 52-34. The Firebirds responded with a 9-0 run of their own to put themselves back in the game. Sutter and Natalie Stavropoulos knocked down clutch free throws down the stretch to put the game away as North Central won 61-52.
Sutter and Kowalczyk each scored 13 points, knocking down two three-pointers apiece. Smith tallied 11 points while Leeuwenburgh and Pearson each racked up 10 rebounds in the game. Ayanna Ester led Carthage with 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range.
The Cardinals host Elmhurst on Monday in their second makeup game of the season. Tip-off is set for 6 PM inside Gregory Arena.
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