Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Feb. 3, 2024 - A close game slipped away from the North Central College women's basketball team Saturday, as Elmhurst University departed Gregory Arena with a 60-55 victory over the Cardinals at Gregory Arena.

North Central (11-10, 6-6 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) held a slim lead midway through the third period before losing its rhythm on offense, connecting on just 6 of 25 field-goal attempts in the final 15 minutes of play.

The first half was hotly contested as the lead changed hands 12 times and neither team led by more than four points. North Central took its first lead at 8-7 after a quick four-point run sparked by Jovanna Martinucci, who fed Jocelyn Trotter for a layup before stealing the ball in the backcourt. Inbounding the ball from the baseline, Martinucci found Megan McClure for a layup with 6:07 left in the opening quarter.

The Bluejays went on a 7-2 run to pull in front before North Central closed the frame with inside baskets by McClure and Kaeli Ford. MCClure scored eight of the Cardinals' points in the opening 10 minutes on 3 of 4 shooting. 

A Martinucci three-pointer from the right wing opened the second quarter and the hosts maintained a slim lead until another 7-2 Elmhurst run nudged the Bluejays in front, 25-23, with 3:15 left in the half. The Cardinals tied the score three times before briefly taking the lead on Trotter's layup from Joslyn Simmons-Doxie with under a minute remaining. Elmhurst, however, closed with the final four points of the quarter to take a 32-30 advantage into halftime. 

The Cardinals outscored Elmhurst, 7-2, in the early going of the third quarter as the visitors missed eight of nine shots from the floor. Jocelyn Trotter nudged North Central back in front with a putback off a missed free throw and Sutter drove the lane for a layup to give the hosts a 37-34 advantage with 5:28 on the clock. 

The Bluejays (11-11, 5-8 CCIW) rallied to score eight points in less than two minutes, getting three-pinters from Natalie Harty and Shanyce Makuei, to pull back in front. Elmhurst wound up closing the period with a 15-7 run to take a 49-44 lead into the fourth period, making five of their final seven shots from the floor, as the Cardinals missed five of six in the same span.

Sutter made a bid to begin a game-closing rally with a three-pointer and a putback on consecutive possessions to leave the Cardinals with just a 54-51 deficit with 6:27 to play. A scoring drought of more than three minutes for both teams was ended by Makuei's steal and layup with 3:25 left, though Trotter answered quickly with a fast-break layup off a pass from Grace Kieffer. The Bluejays pulled away for good as North Central endured another three-minute dry spell with five straight missed field-goal attempts. 

Sutter led all scorers with 19 points while also contributing eight rebounds and three steals. McClure put up 14 points and Trotter finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds to post a double-double for the fourth time this season. 

The Cardinals host Augustana College Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2023-2024 schedule and live coverage options.

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