Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Nov. 9, 2022) - Kicking off their 2022-23 campaign, the North Central College women's basketball team's second-half surge wasn't enough as the Cardinals fell to Saint Mary's (Ind.), 68-64 in a tightly contested matchup on Wednesday night.
Mitrese Smith scored the first six points of the Cardinals' season as she evened the score at 6-6 four minutes into the game. The Belles went on a 9-0 run before Molly Murray sank a three-pointer to make the score 13-20.
Back-to-back layups from Natalie Stavropoulos were the first baskets from North Central in the second quarter of play. A three-pointer from Grace Kieffer brought the Belles lead back to single digits, 23-31 halfway through the quarter. The teams traded field goals as Saint Mary's took a 42-31 lead into halftime.
Kieffer knocked down another three before Smith hit a layup, two minutes into the third quarter. An old-fashioned three-point play from Stavropoulos put the Cardinals within six, 50-44. With under a minute to play, Abby Davidson scored a basket in the paint as the Belles still held a slight 53-46 lead with 10 minutes to play.
After back-and-forth scoring from both sides to open the fourth quarter, a jumper from Smith made it a one-possession game, 59-56. Another layup from Stavropoulos and a basket from Smith tied the contest at 61 with under three minutes to play. A Kieffer free throw gave North Central their first lead since the opening quarter. Allison Pearson found Megan McClure for a layup with 59-seconds to go, as the Cardinals held a 64-62 advantage. The Belles scored the final six points of the game to secure a 68-64 win.
Stavropoulos scored a career-high 18 points to add to her six rebounds and three assists. Smith was one rebound shy of a double-double as she posted 14 points and nine rebounds. In her first collegiate game, Kieffer registered 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Cardinals welcome the University of Chicago to Gregory Arena on Saturday evening for their home opener. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
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