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

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb.4, 2026) - The North Central College women's basketball team earned redemption Wednesday night, celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day with a 68-55 victory over College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opponent Augustana College 68-55 inside Gregory Arena, fueled by energy from the home crowd and a balanced offensive effort. 

North Central set the tone early with Ameli Sanchez scoring the opening layup, but Augustana answered quickly with a three-pointer from their leading scorer Cali Papez to tie the game at 3. The teams traded baskets throughout the opening quarter, with Kennedy Hartiwg knocking down two three-pointers for the Cardinals. Alaya Redditt added in a tip-in during the scoring stretch. North Central closed the first period on a 6-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back baskets from Dolly Smith, to take a 17-16 lead. 

The Vikings briefly regained the lead early in the second quarter, 17-18, before Smith answered inside to make it 19-18. Hartwig added points at the free throw line, and Cate Uhren finished through traffic to keep the game tight at 23. North Central begun to create separation midway through the quarter as Grace Kieffer hit a three-pointer and Kaitlin Park scored in the paint. Park later converted at the line, and Sanchez drained a three-pointer to push the lead to nine, 33-24. Park added another free throw to make it a 34-24 advantage into halftime. 

Augustana opened the second half with a layup to cut it to 34-26, but the Cardinals responded with baskets from Jocelyn Trotter and Smith. Taylor Marquart added two free throws to extend the lead to 12, and Smith continued to pace the offense as North Central maintained control with a score of 42-30. Park capped a strong third quarter with a three and a layup as the Cardinals stretched the lead to 18, 48-32, before taking a 54-38 lead into the final period.

The Vikings made a late push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 54-46, but North Central answered each time. Uhren connected on a key three-pointer, and Park knocked down her second triple of the night to make it 57-46.

Smith brought the crowd to its feet and the youth in attendance into a frenzy by converting at the free throw line for North Central's 67th point before sealing the victory moments later as the Cardinals closed the 68-55 win. 

Park led North Central with a career and season-high 14 points, while shooting 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and adding three rebounds. Smith matched Park with 14 points and three rebounds, and Sanchez finished with 10 points, three steals, and three rebounds. 

Both teams shot 38.5% from the field, but North Central held the advantage from three-point range, shooting 30.4% compared to Augustana's 26.7%. The game featured six ties and four lead changes. 

North Central travels a short trip to Wheaton College on Saturday, Feb. 7, for a CCIW matchup, with tipoff set for 2 p.m. inside King Arena as the Cardinals look to add to their win total.