FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Feb. 7, 2015) – Eclipsing the 20-win plateau for the first time since the program's 1983-1984 NCAA Division III Final Four team, the North Central College women's basketball team completed the season sweep of Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, coming away with a 96-81 victory inside the Shirk Center.
The 24th-ranked Cardinals (20-2, 9-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) finished 13-of-39 from three-point range on the evening, including 9-of-21 in the first half, good for a 33 percent clip to Illinois Wesleyan's 1-of-8 shooting from long range.
The two teams traded leads early and often in the first half, but the Cardinals closed out the first frame on a 9-3 run, asTherese Pettersson and Michaela Reedy hit back-to-back long balls, while Corrine Rowe added another to give the visitors a 43-37 halftime lead.
The Titans (9-13, 3-8 CCIW) quickly turned the tables to begin the second half, coming out on a 13-3 run to take a 50-46 lead with 16:48 to play as Molly McGraw contributed 11 of the 13 points on the run.
With the game knotted 64-64 with 9:30 to play in regulation, the Cardinals would go on the game's pivotal run over the next two and a half minutes, a 15-4 stretch highlighted be eight points from Tess Godhardt while Maryssa Cladis added a lay-in and a pair of free-throws to give North Central a decisive 79-68 advantage.
Godhardt led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, including 19 points in the second half. Rowe finished with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range, while Pettersson added 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from long range. Bobbi Johns dished out a game-high eight assists, while Jamie Cuny blocked five shots on the evening.
McGraw led the Titan scoring attack with 23 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the field, while Kasey Reaber added 16 points and five assists.
North Central continues play on Wednesday, February 11, traveling to Carthage College at 7 p.m.