Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CHICAGO (Jan. 27, 2024) - Earning their first season sweep of the season, the North Central College women's basketball team saw four Cardinals score in double figures to take a 77-60 win over the North Park University Vikings on Saturday afternoon in North Park Gymnasium.

Grace Kieffer picked up a steal on the defensive end and turned defense into offense by dishing it to Elle Sutter who scored the Cardinals' first basket of the game on a fastbreak layup. Josilyn Simmons-Doxie sparked an 8-0 run for North Central to take a 14-6 lead with just under three minutes left in the opening quarter. Megan McClure scored a layup in the Cardinals' final possession of the period as North Central held a 22-11 advantage after 10 minutes of play.

The Vikings used an 8-0 run of their own until McClure ended the run with her eight points of the game. Kieffer knocked down a deep ball before McClure hit another layup to give the Cardinals their double-digit lead back, 37-26. The teams traded baskets as Biz Daly knocked down a free throw to give North Central a 40-30 edge at the halftime break.

North Central began the third quarter with a 10-3 run to force a North Park timeout. Following the timeout, Simmons-Doxie buried a three pointer before Kaeli Ford scored a layup. She later drew a foul in the post and split a pair of free throws as the Cardinals led 59-46 at the end of the third quarter.

Sutter found Ford for a three pointer as North Central opened a 16 point lead when Ford made a layup on the next trip down the floor for the Cardinals. The Vikings scored six points in a row before Sutter hit a fastbreak midrange jumper to keep the lead in double figures. Jocelyn Trotter made back-to-back baskets to put the Cardinal ahead by 15. North Central secured the win by scoring seven points in a row down the stretch to take a 77-60 win over North Park.

The Cardinals return home to Gregory Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3 as they host Elmhurst University. North Central defeated the Bluejays 86-79 earlier in the season. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. with a special presentation for team manager Megan Niklas prior to the game.

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