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

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 30, 2025) - The North Central College women's basketball team suffered an 59-83 loss to Aurora University on Tuesday afternoon, as the Cardinals were unable to keep pace with the Spartans' scoring runs and shooting efficiency.

The teams traded baskets early, with Biz Daly scoring the Cardinals' first points to tie the game at 2-2. Aurora's Kylie Fischbach followed with a six point run to give the Spartans an early advantage. Aurora continued its strong start before Kennedy Hartwig knocked down a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 9-16. 

Cate Uhren added a driving layup to make it 12-19, and Hartwig closed the quarter by converting a three-point play after being fouled beyond the arc. North Central trailed 15-25 after the first quarter. 

Aurora opened the second quarter with a layup from Krystyna Manzanarez to extend the lead to 15-27. Ameli Sanchez put the Cardinals back on the board with a three-pointer off a pass from Hartwig. Jocelyn Trotter followed with two free throws and a layup off an assist from Sanchez to cut the deficit to 22-29. 

With 1:30 remaining in the half, Taylor Marquart converted a layup from Grace Kieffer to pull North Central within 11. Uhren added another driving layup with 30 seconds left, but Fischbach answered with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send Aurora into halftime with a 26-38 lead. 

The third quarter started with an Aurora steal and layup off a North Central turnover. Trotter responded with a driving layup, but the Spartans followed with a five-point scoring run. Sanchez stopped the Aurora run by making both free throws after drawing a foul to put the score at 30-45. 

Midway through the quarter, Sanchez scored on consecutive layups off assists from Daly and Natalie Doyle. After a scoreless stretch of nearly three minutes, Sanchez added another driving layup off a Hartwig pass. Trotter closed the quarter with a pull-up jumper at the buzzer, making the score 43-55. 

Sanchez got the fourth quarter underway by making a free throw to bring North Central within 10 points. Despite the continued efforts from Sanchez and Trotter attacking the basket, Aurora maintained control. Daly added a jumper for her second basket of the game, but the Spartans continued to build their lead, 50-62. 

Though Aurora's Manzanarez continued to score for the Spartans, Alaya Reddit was able to add two free throws in for the Cardinals. Kieffer then knocked down North Central's final three-pointer with a defender in her face, and Doyle capped the Cardinals' scoring with a layup off an assist from Uhren. Aurora pulled away for the 59-83 victory, led by Manzanarez's game high 34 points. 

Sanchez led North Central with 15 points, five rebounds, one steal, and an assist. Trotter recorded a double-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds, one block, and a steal. Redditt finished with two steals, two points and two rebounds.

Aurora outshot North Central 46.4% to 33.3% from the field and connected on 13 of 35 three-point attempts, while the Cardinals went 3 of 17 from beyond the arc. The Spartans never trailed and built a lead as large as 26 points. 

North Central returns home for the first game of the new year Saturday, Jan. 3, when the Cardinals face conference opponent North Park University (4-7) at 2 p.m. in search of their third conference win.