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

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 7, 2024) - Forcing a season-best 26 turnovers defensively, the North Central College women's basketball team downed Augustana College 64-58 on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena as the Cardinals scored 23 points off the Vikings giveaways.

Jocelyn Trotter scored the game's first points by knocking down a three-pointer. Grace Kieffer followed suit and hit a shot from beyond the arc as well. After a Viking 8-0 run, Sutter and Megan Duffy converted on their trips to the free throw line as Augustana held a 17-13 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Kieffer hit a three on North Central's first possession of the second quarter. A quick four-point swing from Sutter tied the contest at 22 with 4:33 left to play in the half. The teams traded baskets until a three from Duffy with 25 seconds left gave the Cardinals their first lead of the quarter. The Vikings evened the score with a bucket at the buzzer to make it a 30-30 game at the break.

Sutter made a three before Trotter scored a layup off of a Jovanna Martinucci assist to give North Central the lead back, 35-34. Both teams used runs throughout the third quarter, giving Augustana a three-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes, 46-43.

Martinucci forced a Viking turnover that led to a Josilyn Simmons-Doxie fastbreak layup. On the next possession, Martinucci buried a three to cut the Cardinal deficit to one, 49-48. Back-to-back jumpers from Megan McClure followed by a Sutter fastbreak layup put North Central ahead, 54-49. Sutter, Martinucci, and McClure made clutch free throws down the stretch as the Cardinals turned in a 64-58 comeback victory over Augustana. 

The Cardinals forced eight turnovers in the final quarter which they scored 10 points off of while holding the Vikings to just 12 total points over that stretch. With the win, North Central jumps Augustana to fourth place in the CCIW standings.

Sutter led the Cardinals with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four steals while Trotter added 12 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. McClure totaled 14 points with three rebounds. Martinucci posted five steals, four assists, and four points on the night.

North Central hosts Carroll University on Saturday evening for Senior Night. This marks the Cardinals' final home game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.

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