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

Nov. 30, 2024 - Six players scored in double figures to give the North Central College women's basketball team an 85-66 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday evening inside Gregory Arena as the Cardinals improve to 4-2 on the season.

Jocelyn Trotter nailed a jumper early in the contest for the Cardinals before Megan McClure scored back-to-back baskets to bring North Central within one, 8-7. A three pointer from Grace Kieffer and a layup from Josylin Simmons-Doxie evened the game at 12-12 midway through the opening quarter. The teams traded baskets until the Falcons closed the period on a 5-0 run, leading 25-18.

Simmons-Doxie found McClure in the paint for a layup, followed by a successful trip to the free throw line for Ameli Sanchez to put North Central within a possession, 15-22. CUW extended their lead to 10 before Sanchez made two layups and Trotter scored a second-chance bucket. Another Trotter field goal sparked a 7-0 run for North Central, capped off by four made free throws from Kaitlin Park. At the break, the Cardinals and Falcons were tied, 38-38.

Trotter buried a deep ball on the first possession of the third quarter. With 7:33 to play, a pair of Biz Daly free throws kept North Central in front by three, 45-42. Back-to-back steals from the Cardinal defense turned into layups on the other end. McClure scored in the paint to push the North Central lead to eight, 52-44. Two three pointers from Sanchez highlighted the 15-1 Cardinal run as North Central took charge in the third quarter, leading 61-48.

Sanchez and Daly hit layups to open the final quarter before a Simmons-Doxie basket extended the lead to 20, 72-52, forcing a Falcon timeout. CUW battled back to bring themselves within 14, but an old-fashioned three point play from Daly halted the momentum. Simmons-Doxie and Trotter scored layups down the stretch to secure an 85-66 victory.

Trotter recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds while adding four assists and two steals to her stat line. Sanchez scored a career-high 16 points with Simmons-Doxie (13), Daly (12), McClure (12) and Kieffer (10) all recording double-digit points. Simmons-Doxie dished out a game-high eight assists as the Cardinals shot 46% from the field, including a 71% mark in the fourth quarter. 

Gracie McNabb led the Falcons with 19 points on the night. CUW shot 48% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc.

The Cardinals host game three of their four-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 4th as North Central takes on the University of Chicago at 5 p.m.

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