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

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 3, 2025) - On Wednesday night, the North Central College women's basketball team secured a 70–66 win over Carthage College, using clutch fourth-quarter stops and timely shooting to close out the CCIW opener. The victory puts the Cardinals at 1–0 to begin the 2025–26 conference slate.

Carthage struck fire with a three-pointer, but Ameli Sanchez quickly answered with a driving layup to get North Central on the board. A pair of early baskets, including a free throw from Dolly Smith and fastbreak layup by Sanchez off a steal from Grace Kieffer, helped the Cardinals build a five point advantage. The Firebirds, however, closed the opening quarter with a three to take an 18-16 lead. 

North Central wasted no time responding to Carthage in the second. After a defensive rebound by Cate Uhren, Kieffer found Kennedy Hartwig in transition for the game tying bucket. The teams traded baskets until Carthage pushed ahead by six, 28-22. The Cardinals chipped away with scores from Jocelyn Trotter and Uhren before Trotter's putback tied the game at 30-30. Carthage's buzz-beater sent North Central into halftime trailing 32-30. 

The Firebirds opened the third quarter with momentum, extending their lead to eight and later to ten after beating the full-court press. A jumper from Biz Daly and a crucial defensive block helped North Central, and a key three from Taylor Marquart and Hartwig trimmed the deficit. Alaya Redditt provided an immediate spark off the bench with a layup, and Daly's late score closed the gap 54-50 entering the final quarter.

Carthage again opened the fourth quarter strong, but North Central refused to back down. Trotter and Uhren delivered timely baskets, and Redditt added another layup to bring the Cardinals within four. Trotter ignited Gregory Arena, scoring back-to-back buckets, including the game-tying jumper at 62-62 with under three minutes left. After Carthage briefly regained the lead, Smith tied the game with two free throws. Daly delivered a layup off a Sanchez assist, but the Firebirds matched it at 66-66. 

With under a minute remaining, Trotter drew a foul and hit one of two at the line to put North Central ahead. Smith followed by sinking both of her bonus free throws, and Hartwig added one more to secure the 70-66 victory. 

Sanchez and Daly led North Central with 14 points apiece. Trotter recorded a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals. Daly added three blocks and seven rebounds, while Hartwig contributed nine points. Smith finished with seven points, three defensive rebounds, an assist, and a steal. 

North Central shot 47.3% from the field and 83.3% at the free-throw line, while generating eight second-chance points and eight fastbreak points. The game featured five lead changes and seven ties. The win tonight extends the Cardinals' win streak at home to 3-0. 

The Cardinals remain at home this weekend, hosting No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. inside Gregory Arena as they look to upset the Titans, who enter the matchup second in the CCIW standings.