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Box Score
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (Dec. 28, 2015) – Despite a 18-point third quarter comeback, the North Central College women's basketball team could not hang on in the opening game of the Smokey Ballenger Classic, hosted by Otterbein University, falling at the hands of Denison University, 97-81 on Monday evening.
The first half was one to forget for the Cardinals (5-5), as the Big Red (8-3) held its largest lead of the contest, a 52-34 advantage at the intermission. Denison shot over 51 percent from the field in the opening half, including 5-of-8 from three points range, while North Central struggled to the tune of just 26 percent shooting, including a 2-of-12 showing from beyond the arch.
The Cardinal offense came alive in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 27-7 run to quickly turn the tables and grab its first lead since the 7:23 mark in the opening quarter, a 61-59 advantage with 3:31 to play in the third. The run was highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Therese Pettersson, while Jamie Cuny added six points during the rally.
That lead did not last long however, as the Big Red stormed back, closing the third quarter on a 10-2 run. Despite outscoring Denison, 34-19 in the quarter, North Central still trailed 71-68 heading into the fourth.
Quarter number four was all Big Red, as the Denison defense held the Cardinals to just 13 points on just 4-of-20 shooting from the field, while shooting only 2-for-9 from beyond the arch, as the Cardinals never led in the fourth and eventually fell 97-81.
Pettersson led the Cardinal offense with a career-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Michaela Reedy finished with 13 points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting from long range, while Cuny and Mayson Whipple each added 11 points. Cuny also turned in a team-high eight rebounds and five blocks on the evening.
Denison's Akilah Fletcher led all scorers with 21 points, while Jordan Holmes finished with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Holmes was nearly unstoppable in the opening half, finishing the opening 20 minutes with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing 16 rebounds.
North Central is back in action tomorrow, wrapping up play at the Smokey Ballenger Classic against St. Mary's College (Indiana) at 3 p.m. (ET). The link to live in-game statistics is available HERE.