FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
WHEATON, Ill. (Feb. 27, 2015) – Overcoming a double-digit deficit early, the North Central College women's basketball team fought back to earn its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament victory in program history Friday evening, holding on late to grind out a 89-87 victory over Elmhurst College at Wheaton College's King Arena.
The Cardinals (22-4) held a 87-85 lead with just 1:11 to play in the contest, but Elmhurst's Mikaela Eppard layed in one of her game-high 26 points to tie the score 87-87 as the two teams saw 13 ties and three lead changes on the evening.
After a missed three-pointer on the offensive end, it was the Cardinal defense that came through in the clutch as Tess Godhardt forced a Bluejay turnover on the next possession and was fouled on the other end.
Godhardt knocked down one of two free throws to put the Cardinals up 88-87 with just 25 seconds remaining and the Bluejays held possession with a chance at a game-winning shot, but the Cardinal defense held tough down the stretch as Godhardt once again forced an Elmhurst turnover.
After Bobbi Johns was fouled with .8 seconds to play and hit one of two free throws, the Bluejays attempt at a game-winning heave fell short as the Cardinals held on to win 89-87.
Elmhurst (16-10) took a 45-39 lead into the intermission and held its largest lead, an 11-point advantage, with just 53 seconds remaining in the opening half as the Cardinals struggled from three-point range in the first half, shooting at just a 21 percent clip, while the Bluejays' Claire Monroe finished 4-of-4 from long range in the opening 20 minutes.
North Central clawed back over the first six minutes of the second half to take its first lead of the contest 57-55 and held its largest lead at the 6:15 mark as a Maryssa Cladis three-pointer put the Cardinals ahead 79-74.
The Cardinals shot a much-improved 7-of-16 from long range in the second half to finish at a 31 percent clip.
Four Cardinals finished in double-figures on the evening asCorrine Rowe and Mayson Whipple each finished with 12 points, while Johns and Cladis each added 11 points apiece.
Eppard led all scorers with 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists, while Fiona McMahone added 23 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks on the evening.
North Central will take on the winner of other semifinal contest between Carthage College and host Wheaton. The CCIW Tournament Championship will tip-off at 7 p.m. at King Arena. More information on the tournament as well as links to live in-game statistics, audio and video are available at cciw.org.