Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
DECATUR, Ill. (Jan. 28, 2023) - Taking on the top-ranked team in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, the North Central College women's basketball team fell to Millikin University 86-60 on Saturday afternoon at the Griswold Center.
Both Megan Duffy and Natalie Stavropoulos scored 12 points with Mitrese Smith and Grace Kieffer adding 10 points each. As a team, the Cardinals shot 39% from the field and 58% (7 for 12) from beyond the arc, their second-best mark from deep this season. Elyce Knudsen led all scorers with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Millikin jumped out to a 10-0 advantage early on as Duffy scored the first Cardinal points of the game on a jumper inside the paint. Duffy knocked down back-to-back three pointers in a span of 24 seconds to bring North Central back within four, 12-8. Abby Davidson answered a Big Blue bucket with a fastbreak layup with 1:34 to play in the opening quarter. After 10 minutes of action, Millikin led 20-13. A Duffy three stopped a 6-0 run from Millikin to begin the second quarter. The Big Blue extended their lead to 20 late in the half as a Smith bucket with 16 seconds left put the score at 46-28 heading into the break.
Kieffer buried a three to cut the Millikin lead to 15 until the Big Blue went on a 7-0 run as they held a 26-point advantage after 30 minutes of play. Stavropoulos opened the fourth quarter with a successful trip to the free throw line before hitting a jumper a few possessions later. Lexie Hernandez and Kieffer hit threes late in the game for the Cardinals as Millikin defended their home court with an 86-60 victory.
North Central returns home on Wednesday as they open a four-game homestand against Carroll University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.
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