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

Jan. 29, 2025 - Despite a 12-0 start for the North Central College women's basketball team, Millikin University stormed back in the second half to pick up a 76-69 victory on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena. 

Following a Biz Daly offensive rebound and putback for the game's first points, Megan McClure used two layups to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead. Jocelyn Trotter and Josylin Simmons-Doxie extended the North Central lead to 12, just three minutes into the opening quarter. The teams traded baskets as a three-pointer from Grace Kieffer gave the Cardinals a 23-8 advantage. The Big Blue battled back within seven after 10 minutes of action.

Layups from Cate Uhren and Reilly Boyer opened the second quarter. A jumper by McClure pushed the lead to double digits, 35-24. A second-chance bucket from Simmons-Doxie kept the Cardinals in front before a free throw from the guard ended the half with North Central on top, 40-29.

An 8-2 run from the Cardinals, capped off by a Daly layup, gave North Central its largest lead of the night, 48-31 with 6:44 left to play in the third quarter. The Big Blue cut the lead to single digits with an 18-6 run. Amelli Sanchez converted in the paint with 14 seconds left but the Big Blue answered as North Central held a 56-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Millikin scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter to take a nine-point advantage. Uhren buried a three-pointer to stop the run with just over five minutes to play. Simmons-Doxie sank a pair of free throws to bring North Central within six, 67-61. The Big Blue responded with a 6-1 run as Millikin earned a 76-69 victory.

Daly led the Cardinals with 19 points, adding to her six rebounds. Simmons-Doxie (14 points, four rebounds, and four assists) joined McClure (10 points, four rebounds, and four assists) in double figures. Trotter scored eight points with nine rebounds and tied a career-high with six steals. On the night, North Central shot 41% from the field with a 59% mark from the free throw line. 

Nikkel Johnson led all scorers with 24 points, followed by Bella Dudley with 19. The Big Blue racked up 43 points off the bench, to North Central's 13, on the night. Millikin shot 50% from the floor and beyond the arc.

North Central heads to Augustana in hopes of completing the series sweep following a 72-60 win in Gregory Arena in December. Tip-off inside the Carver Center is set for 2 p.m.

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