Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 4, 2023) - Competing in their first conference game since December 17th, the North Central College women's basketball team fell to the hands of Wheaton College, 81-65 on Wednesday night as they moved to 1-4 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play.
Natalie Stavropoulos scored the first bucket of the game for the Cardinals and later knocked down a three-pointer to give North Central their first lead, 11-10. Abby Davidson grabbed an offensive rebound and finished the putback as time expired in the first quarter with the Thunder taking a 15-13 lead into the second quarter.
The teams stayed neck and neck throughout the majority of the first half as an old-fashioned three-point play from Stavropoulos cut the deficit to one, 17-16. Megan Duffy buried a three with 5:23 to play in the half to bring the score to 25-24. Three minutes later, a three from Grace Kieffer put North Central on top, 30-27. The Thunder closed the half on an 8-0 run to hold a 35-30 edge after 20 minutes of play.
Continuing their momentum, Wheaton came out of the half with a 9-0 run to give them a 14-point advantage and held a double-digit lead for the rest of the third quarter. Both teams traded baskets until a three from Allison Pearson cut the Thunder lead to nine, 70-61 with 5:08 to play. The Thunder responded with another 9-0 run and secured their third CCIW victory, 81-65.
Stavropoulos led the Cardinals in scoring with 18 points and four assists with Duffy adding 11 points and four assists. As a team, North Central shot 31% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. Four Thunder players scored in double figures as Annika Richardson and Ellie Cassel notched double-doubles.
North Central continues CCIW play on Wednesday as they travel to Carthage (6-7, 2-2 CCIW). The Cardinals swept the Firebirds a season ago. Game time is set for 7 p.m. inside Tarble Arena.
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