Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, tkgallisath@noctrl.edu

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Dec. 10, 2022) - The North Central College women's basketball team hit the road for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) matchup against Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday where they fell 81-62 to the Titans inside the Shirk Center. 

Megan McClure gave the Cardinals their first lead of the contest early on in the first quarter with a layup and a pair of free throws. Illinois Wesleyan went on a six-point run to take the lead before Grace Kieffer knocked down another set of free throws and Mitrese Smith pulled up with a jumper to bring the score to 10-12 in favor of the Titans. Illinois Wesleyan held a 17-10 lead through the first 10 minutes of play.

With 6:20 left in the half, Keiffer knocked down a three to start a Cardinal rally where Megan Duffy pulled up with two jumpers and a pair of free throws to narrow the spread to 20-28. Lexie Hernandez and McClure each knocked down jumpers to finish the half 24-34 in favor of the Titans.

Smith opened the second half with eight points of her own to bring the score back within eight. Natalie Stavropoulos and McClure combined for six points to bring the Cardinals to a 38-43 deficit. Illinois Wesleyan opened the fourth quarter with a 15-point advantage and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest ultimately taking the win 81-62.

Three Cardinals were double-digit scorers as Smith totaled 16 points followed by Keiffer with 13 and McClure with 10. McClure picked up nine rebounds on the evening. As a team, North Central shot 32% from the field, 20% beyond the arc and were 85% for free throws. Lauren Huber led all scorers with 28 points. 

North Central is back on the road on Dec. 17 for a CCIW contest against the Elmhurst University Bluejays. Tipoff at R.A. Faganel Hall is set for 2 p.m.

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