Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 16, 2022) - Playing in their final game of the regular season, the North Central College women's basketball team pushed Illinois Wesleyan University to the brink but came up two points short to the Titans on Wednesday night.
After the Titans jumped out to a 10-2 lead, Stephanie Kowalczyk knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 15-0 run for North Central. To put the Cardinals ahead 17-10, Allison Pearson hit her first three of the game with 44 seconds left in the opening quarter.
To begin the second quarter, Illinois Wesleyan came back to be within one point before IxChel Leeuwenburgh put the Cardinals on top, 19-16. With four minutes to go in the half, the Titans led by nine points until Elle Sutter hit a three. To get within four, Megan McClure scored the final bucket of the half as the first 20 closed at 33-29, Illinois Wesleyan on top.
Both teams traded baskets until the Titans went up by 10 with 4:20 to play in the third quarter. An old-fashioned three-point play by Leeuwenburgh started an 8-0 rally for the Cardinals. The Titans answered to take a six-point lead after three-quarters of play.
Elle Sutter scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter to bring North Central within one, 49-48. Illinois Wesleyan responded with two three-pointers to go back up by seven. After drawing a foul, Pearson split a pair of free throws to close the gap to three, 60-57 with 4:23 to play. Sutter forced a steal and scored a fastbreak layup followed by a basket from Mitrese Smith with under a minute to play. The Cardinals forced a turnover and Leeuwenburgh hit a layup with nine seconds left. The Titans split two free throws but North Central's shot as time expired didn't fall as Illinois Wesleyan won 65-63.
Sutter scored a game-high 16 points to add to her nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks on the game. Leeeuwenburgh recorded 13 points and nine rebounds while Natalie Stavropoulos scored 10. Lauren Huber led the Titans in scoring with 14 points.
The Cardinals await their CCIW Tournament destiny as the rest of the conference finishes out the regular season on Saturday. To see the current CCIW women's basketball standings, click HERE.
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