Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 31, 2024) - Despite a 21-10 run down the stretch in the fourth quarter, the North Central College women's basketball team fell in a tightly contested to Edgewood College on New Year's Eve inside the Todd Wehr Edgedome. Three Cardinals scored in double figures while the defense posted a season-high six blocks as a team.
Josylin Simmons-Doxie found Biz Daly in the paint for a layup to open the scoring in the first quarter. After a Megan McClure basket, Simmons-Doxie knocked down a three pointer to give the Cardinals a 7-2 lead. The Eagles battled back to take a 15-9 advantage. Ameli Sanchez converted a pair of free throws to tie the contest at 15-15 with under a minute left in the opening period. A Jocelyn Trotter layup as time expired put North Central on top 18-17 after 10 minutes.
Trotter buried a jumper to begin the second quarter. Back-to-back layups from Daly kept the Cardinals ahead before Grace Kieffer scored to extend the North Central lead to five, 26-21. Edgewood scored the final 10 points of the quarter to take a 31-26 edge at the break.
Trotter, Simmons-Doxie and Daly each scored early in the third quarter to give North Central a 36-35 advantage with 5:51 to play in the third quarter. The Eagles scored 13 of the next 14 points to close the period on a 13-1 run, holding a 48-37 lead.
Back-to-back deep balls from Kieffer kept North Central within reach, 58-48, and forced an Eagles timeout. Elle Sutter forced a turnover and dished the ball to Sanchez for a fastbreak layup. Daly split a pair of free throws to keep the deficit to single digits, 64-55 with 2:58 remaining. Megan Duffy knocked down a three before Kieffer scored a tough layup, drawing a foul to bring the Cardinals within eight, 68-60. Kieffer missed the free throw attempt, but Sutter grabbed the offensive rebound and made a layup. After Daly split a pair of free throws, Simmons-Doxie found a wide-open Kieffer who buried a three to bring North Central within a possession, 68-66. Needing to foul, Daly sent Vivian Guerrero to the line who made one of two attempts to give the Cardinals a chance. Sticking with the hot hand, Kieffer could not connect from behind the arc as Edgewood held on for a 69-66 victory.
Daly led the Cardinals with 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting while Kieffer (13 points) and Simmons-Doxie (11 points) each scored in double figures. Trotter fell two points shy of a double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds. As a team, North Central shot 37.7% from the field and 27.3% from behind the arc. Guerrero led all scorers with 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Eagles.
The Cardinals begin 2025 by returning to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play. North Central visits Elmhurst University on Saturday, Jan. 4 for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside R.A. Faganel Hall.
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
