Staring at a 19-point second-half deficit after surrendering 17 straight points, the North Central College women's basketball team faced a tall task Saturday in its quest to remain unbeaten for the season.

The Cardinals were undaunted, however, shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor and forcing 13 turnovers while outscoring the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 56-25, over the final 14:47 to improve to 4-0 for the first time since the 1982-83 season with a 101-89 victory over the Blugolds at Gregory Arena.

North Central trailed, 42-38, after a first half which saw the hosts struggle to score against Eau Claire's zone defense. The Cardinals shot 31.7 percent (13-41) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, missing their final 10 shots of the half. The score stood at 47-45 with 18:57 on the clock in the second half when the Blugolds (3-3) threatened to take the game over, making eight of nine shots while North Central went 0 for 8 with four turnovers in a four-minute stretch and pulling ahead, 64-45, with 14:47 to play.

The hosts halted the Eau Claire rally with a pair of layups fromTess Godhardt and a three-pointer from Jamie Cuny, though the Blugolds stayed in front by at least nine points until two straight inside jumpers by Corinne Rowe cut the lead to 80-73 with 6:16 left. Trailing, 84-78, with 4:16 to go, the Cardinals were finally able to make their bid for the lead as Maryssa Cladis sank a three-pointer and Bobbi Johns came up with a steal and layup before assisting Therese Pettersson for the go-ahead bucket, yielding an 85-84 North Central lead with 3:18 left.

A three from Emily Zgoda gave the Cardinals some breathing room at 90-86, though Eau Claire's Courtney Lewis cut the lead in half with a layup with two minutes left. Lewis' basket, however, was the Blugolds' final field goal of the afternoon as they came up empty on their final five possessions. North Central put the game away with a perfect 8 for 8 effort at the free-throw line as Godhardt and Johns each went 4 for 4 along with a three-pointer from Kimberly Wilson.

Godhardt netted a game-high 34 points (24 in the second half), making 13 of 20 field goals and 8 of 10 free throws, while Cladis put up 11 points and five assists and Johns totaled 10 points and four steals. The Cardinals shot 52.3 percent (23-44) after halftime, including 58.8 percent accuracy (20-34) after Eau Claire took the game's largest lead.

Lewis turned in a triple-double for the Blugolds with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kristin Sahr scored 16 and Teenie Lichtfuss and Madison Johnson each scored 14.

North Central plays the first of two games on the west coast on Tuesday, taking on the University of Redlands (California). Tipoff at Currier Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific time.