Contact: Rachel Balinao, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu

MEQUON, Wis. (Nov. 28, 2025) - The North Central College women's basketball secured a 70-59 road victory over Concordia University (Wis.) on Friday night in the R. John Buuck Field House, with three Cardinals scoring in double figures. 

To start the game, Concordia opened with a layup before Dolly Smith answered by banking in a deep three to put North Central ahead early. Taylor Marquart followed with another triple, and Jocelyn Trotter added a third to extend the lead to 9-2. Ameli Sanchez contributed seven first quarter points as the Cardinals closed the quarter 20-15, shooting 5-8 from beyond the arc, with a final three by Kaitlin Park. 

Sanchez came out of the short break with a layup, and Smith added a pair of free throws before knocking down another three for her eighth point of the night. After Trotter secured her first rebound, Sanchez found Smith in transition for a layup, leading the Cardinals to 31-17. Park later buried her second three-pointer to push North Central to its largest lead of the half at 41-21. Despite three late steals from the Falcons, the Cardinals maintained control heading into halftime up 41-25.

North Central came out strong in the third, collecting three quick defensive rebounds from Grace Kieffer (2) and Trotter before Sanchez hit a jumper to extend the lead. Later on, Kieffer found Marquart on a backdoor cut for a layup to make it 47-25. The Cardinals reached the bonus after Kieffer drew a foul and sank two free throws. 

Off a Concordia turnover, Sanchez grabbed a steal and scored a left-handed layup for her 17th point of the night, leading to North Central's largest lead of the night at 58-31. Soon after, Cate Uhren stayed perfect at the line, improving to 9-9 on the season as the Cardinals entered the final quarter ahead 60-40. 

In the fourth quarter, the Falcons found a spark, cutting the deficit to 16 before Sanchez ceased the momentum with a steal. Concordia fought back within 11 behind a layup and free throws, while Trotter delivered back-to-back buckets to restore the large lead to 65-52. The Falcons hit a late three, but Smith iced the game with a deep three in the final seconds, closing the game 70-59. 

Sanchez led the Cardinals with a career-high 17 points, adding three defensive rebounds and a steal. Trotter followed with 16 points, five defensive rebounds, and two steals, while Smith finished with 13 points. Kieffer anchored the boards with a team-high 10 rebounds, four offensive and six defensive, along with six points. 

North Central out shot Concordia from three, shooting 43.8% (7-16) over the Falcons 22.2% (2-9). Concordia slightly outperformed from the field (26-55) over North Central (25-56), but both teams ended with 28 total rebounds, with the Cardinals collecting more on the defensive end. North Central held the lead for 94% of the contest, controlling the game for thirty-seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds.

The Cardinals are back inside Gregory Arena in Naperville, Ill. on Dec. 3 for their College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opener against Carthage College at 7 p.m. North Central looks to continue its streak against the Firebirds after last year's 62-50 win. Carthage enters the matchup ranked third in the CCIW at 4-2, ahead of the Cardinals in fourth.