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

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 3, 2026) - With the crowd at full volume inside Gregory Arena, the North Central College women's basketball team completed a comeback to defeat North Park University 67-64 on Saturday afternoon. Kennedy Hartwig sealed the win at the free throw line, knocking down four clutch attempts in the final moments. 

North Central opened up the scoring on a free throw from Biz Daly, and the teams traded baskets early as neither side led by more than one possession. Ameli Sanchez gave the Cardinals an 11-9 advantage with a deep three-pointer, and layups from Jocelyn Trotter and Daly extended the lead to 15-9 with under five minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

North Park responded late in the period, cutting the deficit to 17-15 on back-to-back jumpers, as the score held heading into the second quarter. 

Alaya Redditt started the second with a jumper off an assist from Grace Kieffer, but the Vikings answered immediately. Hartwig was fouled beyond the arc and went 2-for-3 from the line to keep North Central ahead, but North Park tied the game at 21-21 following two layups. 

Dolly Smith converted a layup to regain the lead, though North Park continued to answer, tying the game at 25-25 before taking a 27-25 advantage. Hartwig hit a three-pointer to put the Cardinals back in front, 30-29. North Park closed the half strong, taking a three-point lead before Cate Uhren hit two free throws to send North Central into halftime trailing by one. 

In the third quarter, North Park went on a 7-0 run, holding the Cardinals scoreless for the first five minutes. Hartwig broke the drought with a pair of free throws, but the Vikings pushed their lead to a game-high nine, 43-34. 

Sanchez finished a fast-break layup, and Taylor Marquart added another to pull North Central within four late in the quarter. North Park maintained its advantage and led by four entering the final 10 minutes. 

Smith ignited the home crowd with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three. North Park briefly extended its lead to seven before North Central answered with a strong defensive stretch. Trotter scored on consecutive pull-up jumpers, and Daly tied the game at 56-56 with a layup. 

Natalie Doyle gave the Cardinals a 58-56 lead at the line, but North Park's Aliyah Hershberger hit a three-pointer to regain the advantage. Smith and Trotter followed with key scores to put North Central back in front before North Park answered again to lead 61-62 with under two minutes remaining. 

Following a flagrant foul on North Park, Hartwig and Daly combined to put North Central back on top at the free throw line. Hartwig then went 2-for-2 with thirty seconds remaining to extend the lead to three. North Park scored on a layup but was forced to foul, and Hartwig closed the game with two more free throws to secure the 67-64 win. 

Hartwig went 13-for-17 from the free throw line and added a new career-high 18 points. Trotter recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, along with three steals and four assists. Daly finished with 11 points, while Smith added eight points, three steals, and four rebounds. Doyle recorded a career-high three steals. 

The lead changed 14 times and the score was tied seven times. North Central scored 11 fast-break points to North Park's four and converted 23 of 33 free throws, while North Park went 10 of 17. 

North Central returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, traveling to Augustana College for a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Carver Center, while looking to avenge the loss from last year.