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

WHEATON, Ill. (Feb. 7, 2026) - In a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin match-up in the western suburbs, the North Central College women's basketball team was defeated by Wheaton College 57-64 on Saturday afternoon at King Arena after Wheaton delivered a strong offensive performance.

The Thunder jumped out to an early eight-point lead before Dolly Smith answered with a three-pointer. The Cardinals struggled to generate offense, but Jocelyn Trotter converted an and-1 midway through the quarter to cut the deficit to 6-10. Wheaton held North Central scoreless the rest of the quarter and extended its lead to 6-16. 

Kaitlin Park opened the second quarter with a layup to make it 8-16. Wheaton responded with a layup and jumper, but Cate Uhren connected from beyond the arc to pull the Cardinals within 11-20. Ameli Sanchez chipped away with a free throw and a three-pointer to cut the deficit to seven. Sanchez and Alaya Redditt followed with layups to bring North Central within four at 19-23. 

With under four minutes remaining in the first half, Redditt scored on a layup off a Sanchez pass to make it 21-23 and added another bucket shortly after to cut the lead to 23-25. Wheaton answered with a steal and basket to regain momentum and push the lead back to seven, 23-30. Smith made one free throw late, but Wheaton closed the half with a three-pointer to take a 24-33 lead into the break.

Trotter got on the board first in the second half with a pair of free throws, and Redditt followed with two of her own to trim the deficit to five, 28-33. Redditt continued her strong play in the paint with an and-1 conversion to make it 31-35. 

Wheaton responded with baskets of its own to maintain a seven-point cushion before Grace Kieffer knocked down a three-pointer to make it 35-39. With under three minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Thunder heated up from long range, hitting two three-pointers to extend the lead to 35-47. Sanchez closed the quarter with a three-pointer for the Cardinals.

Smith set the tone for the fourth quarter with a layup, cutting the deficit to seven, 40-47. Park went 2-for-2 from the free throw line to make it 42-47. North Central continued to battle, as Trotter sank two free throws to pull within three, 44-47, before converting a layup to make it a one-point game at 46-47. Wheaton responded with a layup on the very next possession. 

The Thunder pushed the pace with a fast-break layup to keep North Central at arm's length. Uhren drilled a three to cut the deficit to two, 50-52. The teams traded baskets, with Smith hitting two free throws and Trotter scoring on a fast-break layup to make it 54-55. Wheaton answered with a series of layups to pull ahead back to seven. 

Uhren added a free throw, and Sanchez knocked down two more to close the Cardinal scoring, but Wheaton continued to convert offensively to seal the 57-64 victory. 

Sanchez led North Central with 12 points, three assists, and two steals. Trotter followed with 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Redditt recorded a season-high 11 points on a 4-of-5 shooting and added two steals. 

Wheaton outshot North Central 46.2% to 32% and held a 36 to 28 rebounding advantage. The Cardinals committed two fewer turnovers, but the Thunder never allowed the game to be tied or surrendered the lead.  

North Central is back inside Gregory Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for a CCIW match-up against Millikin University at 7 p.m. The Cardinals earned a dominant win over the Big Blue earlier this season and will look to capitalize on home-court advantage.