Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
WAUKESHA, Wis. (Nov. 30, 2022) - Kicking off College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play against the team that knocked them out of the CCIW Tournament a season ago, the North Central College women's basketball team found themselves on the losing side of a 72-50 conference outing on Wednesday night inside Van Male Fieldhouse.
Grace Kieffer knocked down the first field goal of the night for the Cardinals before Abby Davidson hit a jumper to set the score at 5-6 as the Pioneers held an early lead. A Kieffer three-pointer put North Central in double digits, ending a 20-4 Carroll run spanning into the second quarter. Megan Duffy buried a deep ball with 5:55 left in the first half, but another rally from the Pioneers made the score 39-15 with less than two minutes to play in the second quarter. Allison Pearson and Kieffer each hit a pair of free throws as the Cardinals faced a 41-19 deficit through 20 minutes of action.
McClure began the second half with a basket on the Cardinals' opening possession before Davidson converted on a layup with 8:09 to play in the third quarter. North Central's defense found their rhythm as they held the Pioneers scoreless for over five straight minutes as a three from Molly Murry capped off a 9-0 Cardinal run. Duffy scored her 10th point of the contest on a three-pointer to make the score 37-53 after 30 minutes of action.
A Natalie Stavropoulos three-point play followed by back-to-back McClure baskets cut the deficit to 12 with 6:27 left, 46-58. That would be as close as the Cardinals came to the comeback attempt as the Pioneers closed the game on a 14-4 run to secure a 72-50 win.
McClure finished with 13 points on the night followed closely by Duffy with 12. Davidson notched her second four-block game of the season adding to her six points and nine rebounds. As a team, the Cardinals shot 30% from the field and 20 % from beyond the arc. Allison Thompson led the way for Carroll with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Cardinals continue CCIW action on Saturday evening as they welcome North Park University to Gregory Arena for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff.
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