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

ELMHURST, Ill. (Jan. 24, 2026) -  Never backing down, the North Central College women's basketball team defeated Elmhurst College 71-61 in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin battle for the third place standing.

North Central made a statement early as Biz Daly converted a layup to open the scoring. Jocelyn Trotter followed with a pull-up jumper in the paint, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead, and Daly added a putback to push the advantage to six. North Central held Elmhurst scoreless for the first three minutes of the game. 

Grace Kieffer found Daly wide open on the block for a basket to make it 8-4. The Cardinals reached double digits first when Trotter knocked down a bank shot, then came up with a steal on the other end that led to a Kennedy Hartwig jumper in transition. Hartwig added another mid-range shot off the inbound to extend the lead to 14-6. 

With under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Hartwig hit the first three of the game to put North Central up nine. Elmhurst was unable to convert on its final possession, and the Cardinals carried the lead into the second.

Elmhurst opened the second with a free throw to trail 19-11. Kristin Bukata cut into the deficit with a jumper, and Jacy Fierst followed with a three-pointer to pull the Bluejays within three. Kieffer answered with a second-chance layup, but Elmhurst responded with another three to make it 21-19.

Midway through the quarter, Kieffer found Taylor Marquart cutting to the basket for a layup to extend the lead to 24-21. Both teams applied defensive pressure, going more than two minutes without a score. Kieffer eventually broke the dry spell with a driving layup, but Elmhurst came back with a three-pointer to pull within four. The half closed with Diellza Dalipi draining a three to bring the Bluejays within one at 29-28. 

Elmhurst came out of halftime with intensity, forcing an immediate turnover and knocking down a three-pointer to take its first lead of the game, 31-29. Trotter answered by rising over her defender for a jumper to tie the score at 31. Dolly Smith battled for an offensive rebound to give the Cardinals another possession, and Ameli Sanchez pulled North Central within two with a jumper before coming up with a steal and finding Trotter to tie the game again at 35.

Alaya Redditt went to the line and converted both free throws to knot the score at 37. Smith then came in clutch for North Central, drilling a three-pointer from the top of the arc off a pass from Redditt to give the Cardinals a one-point lead. Elmhurst answered to tie the game at 40, then closed the third quarter with a huge three to take a 40-43 advantage.

Sanchez opened the fourth by fighting for an offensive rebound and converting a second-chance layup to pull North Central back within one. Trotter was then fouled and went 1-for-2 at the line, but a lane violation gave her another opportunity, and she converted the second free throw to give North Central a 44-43 lead.

The Bluejays responded with a pair of free throws to regain the lead, but Daly secured a defensive rebound on the possession and kicked the ball ahead to Kieffer, who knocked down a three to put North Central back in front. Cate Uhren followed with a three of her own, extending the Cardinals' lead to five. 

With four minutes left, Daly went to the line and converted both free throws to push the lead to nine. Trotter continued to dominate in the paint, pulling up for a jumper to give North Central its first double-digit lead at 58-47. Elmhurst briefly cut into the deficit following a steal and basket. 

Elmhurst applied full-court pressure while trailing eight, but Sanchez grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed the ball coast-to-coast for a pull-up jumper. The Bluejays answered with a three-pointer to pull back within eight, but the Cardinals sealed the game at the free throw line down the stretch to secure the 71-61 victory.

Trotter led the Cardinals with season-high 22 points, along with seven rebounds, and two steals. Hartwig added 11 points, while Kieffer finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists. 

North Central shot 41.0% from the field, compared to Elmhurst's 35.6%. The Cardinals scored 12 second-chance points to the Bluejays' seven. The game featured five ties and four lead changes. 

North Central remains on the road Wednesday, Jan. 28 for a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin match up at Carroll University. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. inside Van Male Fieldhouse as the Cardinals look to avenge the close loss earlier this season.