Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Nov. 8, 2024) - Kicking off the 2024-25 season, the North Central College women's basketball team came out firing on all cylinders as the Cardinals never trailed in an 88-49 win over Saint Mary's College (Ind.) on Friday night at the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex.
Megan McClure scored the first basket of the season off of a Jovanna Martinucci assist. Grace Kieffer and Biz Daly each made jumpers before a McClure three pointer gave the Cardinals a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Ameli Sanchez knocked down her first collegiate deep ball to keep North Central in front, 14-4. Jocelyn Trotter hit a pair of free throws as the Cardinals led by eight, 21-13 after the first 10 minutes.
North Central's defense set the tone to begin the second quarter, not allowing a Belles point until 2:54 on the clock. During that time Kieffer, Trotter, Daly, Josylin Simmons-Doxie and Sanchez combined for a 14-0 run. Megan Duffy scored her first points of the season on a three before Cate Uhren buried a deep ball as the Cardinals held a 22-point lead at the break, up 43-21.
Simmons-Doxie used a second chance bucket to open the scoring in the third quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Daly gave North Central a 52-28 advantage. A three from Uhren stopped a Saint Mary's run as North Central took a 60-43 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
McClure scored the Cardinals' first seven points of the final quarter before layups from Trotter and Daly extended the North Central lead to 30, 75-45. With 2:37 left in the contest, Reilly Boyer knocked down a three pointer before sinking another with under a minute to go. Katie Schaible hit a jumper to give the Cardinals an 88-49 victory to open the 2024-25 season.
North Central shot 47% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc while holding the Belles to a 33% shooting percentage. The Cardinal defense forced 29 turnovers, scoring 24 points off the giveaways. McClure led all scorers with 20 points as Daly scored 15. Trotter notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds on the night. In total, 10 different Cardinals scored in the contest.
The Cardinals head west to compete in the Colorado College Tip-Off Classic on Friday, Nov. 15. North Central faces Nebraska Wesleyan University at 4 p.m. (MT) on Friday before taking on the host Tigers at 4 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.
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